mig or tig - does it really make so much difference?

admin

Hi everybody,as an apprentice weldor, i am still a bit confused which machine to choose to weld bicycle and motorcycle frames-mig or tig?Excluding the better appearance of tig welds, does tig really have a much narrower HAZ compared to mig? I have seen several mig welded steel bicycle frames which appear robust.What do you think?regardscheapstick
Reply:With good welding, there is nothing wrong with mig welding. Only thing is like you said, apperance.
Reply:Yes it makes a BIG difference. Control is the key word. With a foot control on tig you have absolute over the puddle. Not so with mig.
Reply:Originally Posted by cheapstickHi everybody,as an apprentice weldor, i am still a bit confused which machine to choose to weld bicycle and motorcycle frames-mig or tig?Excluding the better appearance of tig welds, does tig really have a much narrower HAZ compared to mig? I have seen several mig welded steel bicycle frames which appear robust.What do you think?regardscheapstick
Reply:I would vote for tig.  Like Alan said " Control ".DennisThermal Arc 185-TSWMillermatic Challenger 172VictorO/AAtlas Craftsman 12 by 24 LatheEsab PCM-875Wholesalem Tool Mill-Drill
Reply:I say, that unless you're a MASTER at TIG, a smaller heat affected zone will  come with  mig . remember , tig is a replacement for  oxy-acet.  welding ! in the long run , everyone will choose his method , & defend it , no matter what the facts  MAY  BE .
Reply:1st, I'm an experienced but still novice welder.    I use MIG for almost everything, steel or aluminum.  The only time I have borrowed the TIG at work, was to weld thin walled (.055") aluminum.    I tried to MIG it, but was unable to control the heat enough to prevent burn though.    At work, we have projects where the customer has spec'd TIG welding.    We've been able to submit MIG'd parts for their review and testing and with the exception of one part that required good aesthetics, all accepted the switch to lower cost MIG.There are no small projects
Reply:if your focus is steel frames, I would figure either would be fine.  The final product WILL look different and there might be some issues with mig integrity if you are not experienced, but the same is true for tig...A good mig welder can make good mig welds on a steel frame...at least good enough.but, if you are talking about aluminum tubular frames, aluminum mig on light material might not be the best.   If done by hand, failure rates would most likely be higher than for tig, and it might also be harder to do by hand.  Also, when considering a 160 amp ac/dc tig versus a similar sized wire feeder + spool gun, you are really looking at nearly the same price...about $1500 if you are frugal, but the mig will not get to the same bottom end amps as the tig will.  Most tig machines will start at 1-5 amps and you do have amp control on the fly...not so with any mig machine I know of in that price range.But, like I always say...just another opinion.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:I think it comes down to (with respect to steel) do you have all day or not.   If the time is there then go the TIG route for appearance.    If not go the MIG route.    Now before going the MIG route I'd want to review all welders of recent manufacture to see which can be tuned to produce a better looking weld.    MIG has come a long way and a newer machine MIGHT produce a better weld.    I say might because the only MIG I'm working with is very basic, but I do know that the manufactures are trying to out compete each other on weld quality with their professional machines.As to the HAZ I was always under the impression that for a given bead size MIG put less heat into the weld.    I'm not even sure where that belief came from so a second opinion is in order.Dave
Reply:tig ---mig --- ?  4what i do it's a no brainer--(mig)-- it dont work "" need the control of the foot pedal an the torch+rod-- but if for long beads mig-- but for personalized weld it's  tig you can control the heat an flow of the weld
Reply:id do a tig weld, just because it is WAY more astetically pleasing, plus playing with tig is way more fun then mig anyway
Reply:they both have their advantages...tigging is for appearance..yes it looks niceno spatter..no grinding..clean up is a breezzzetime consuming..mig is good too..with the right mat. and heat the spatter can be kept to a minimum.its easier to fill not so "fitting" stuff together...timewise its a no brainer...you can blow thru stuff in no time...but lets be real...when building race carsmost nice drag cars are tigged..they double as show cars sometimes and cosmetics is everything stock cars...midgets..any roundy round car is normally miggedwhy spend all that time tigging a car together when you can total it in the first lap... (edit...but the irl and indy cars are tigged because of the exotic materals used in construction)drag cars in general have a long shelf life...just another pro's and con's angle......zap!Last edited by zapster; 05-21-2006 at 02:45 PM.I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.