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Should You Use TIG or MIG Welding Equipment?

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If you have to put together a complicated structure for an upcoming event, then you will need to make sure that you use the right technique. The structure may be under pressure during the event, may need to deal with different loads and will need to be perfectly safe for any people who are in the vicinity. You may be trying to decide how to fix the various parts of the structure together at this point and will probably need to use welding equipment. However, as there are two different types of equipment to choose from, should you use TIG or MIG for your gig?

How to Determine Your Approach

While both TIG and MIG welding techniques have some similarities, one could be favoured over the other in different circumstances. They both use arc welding processes with an inert gas, but that is where the similarity ends. A MIG welder (metal inert gas) relies on a continuously fed wire, and this is applied to the surface and melted to form the filler material. TIG welding (tungsten inert gas), on the other hand, uses a non-consumable approach. The welder will need to heat the objects to the right degree in order to form the bond.

Thickness of Metal

MIG welding is often chosen for thicker objects because the filler material helps to make the bond. In this case, it would be difficult for the TIG welder to heat the individual parts to a sufficient degree in order to form the bond. To begin with, you need to determine how thick the individual pieces are, as this will dictate the efficiency of the job. You will need a lot more energy to achieve the melting point with a TIG welder and should invariably choose a MIG machine in this case.

Inherent Conductivity

You will also need to determine the level of conductivity. If the metal is resistant to electricity, then it will heat up more quickly and make it easier to weld without any filler material.

Different Types of Metal

If you happen to be welding metals that are dissimilar, then you should probably choose a MIG machine for this job. However, you will need to choose the filler material carefully and pay additional attention to the job to make sure that the bonds are secure.

If you're not sure which approach to take in your case, ask the experts for their advice.


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