TIG Welders - input needed

[Broman]

I have access to a MIG welder whenever I need it, but here's the thing. I don't want to keep borrowing it and/or going over to dad's shop to use it.

I was thinking about getting my own MIG but then I thought about it a little longer and now I wonder if I should get a TIG instead.

I'd use it for chassis work, motorcycle frames, cars, campers, whatever fabrication comes around....

On the other hand I could end up needing sheet metal work too, so a MIG would still be handy. Being the devil's advocate though I thought to myself - ahh, when you need sheetmetal work just borrow the old man's MIG when you're in a pinch.....

Plus - if dad wanted to use a TIG he could borrow mine - sort of like a barter and trade - you skratch my back I skratch yours thing....

So basically I am stuck.

What would you do?

And hypothetically - money isn't the issue.....or is it? You help decide. Could I spend my money elsewhere and be better served?


I'm so confused.

 

[tubeman]

small stuff = TIG
lots of long welds = MIG

Seriously, the TIG is much more versatile. You can weld anything with it. But if you need to do alot of non-critical welds then MIG is point and shoot. I have both and use both often. I couldn't imagine being without on or the other. If I am welding a trailer I'll go with the MIG. If I am welding a fitting or engine part I use the TIG.

 

[REFLEXX]

Buy a nice gas mig ($500-$1,000) and get really good with it.

Buy a Harbor Fright Mig ($200) and learn how to use one. Then later upgrade to a nice Tig. That's what I'm doing.

A good Mig (AC/DC) is $1,500 plus (used).

 

[bobbyd]

Be prepared to do a lot of practicing with a TIG. If you already have TIG or Oxy/Acet experience then disregard. Sounds like you have plenty of MIG experience, but that doesn't necessarily translate to TIG very well.

I think for the money that your going to spend on a reasonable TIG set-up, you can get a hell of a MIG rig and be able to weld anything you needed to, including aluminum. Unless your into production chassis, roll cage, frame or other critical component fabrication, or are welding exotic materials like 4130 chromoly, the MIG is the way to go.

BTW, check out the new Millermatic MM350p Mig set-up. WOW. (No, I have no connection with Miller).

 

[kartracer55]

Ive done both, and Tig is MUCH MUCH MUCH easier said than done. I can make a decent mig weld but I can barely lay down filler with GTAW. Its alot harder, so dont expect to be able to weld nearly as well as you can with Mig.

I guess it comes down to what your doing and how much of it. I know for me, Mig makes alot of sense becuase most of what I do is smaller things usually on 1/8-3/16 steel.

Mig is way easier, if you have a decent instructor you can get the basics down in an hour or two. I have a good 4-5 hours of solid Tig practice and I dont really have anything to show for it

Jim

 

[Dave Carney]

I have a gas welder, MIG, TIG, and stick. I think you need them all.

 

[jim dillon]

I started out with a buzz box stick welder and a torch to Oxy Acetylene weld and got by for years. I moved up to a mig and then a tig. I still do gas and mig and tig and wouldn't want to give up anyone of the methods, they all have advantages. I often use all three welding priciples on the same project. If for some reason I was forced to give up all but one method or machine I would keep the tig. It is far better at sheet metal than mig once you get the hang of it, you can weld the little and big stuff and if I wanted to I could stick weld with my tig machine. They are a bit more pricey for a good tig. Once you get that then you can convince yourself to buy the mig, it will seem to be a bargain in comparison. As yo have probably learned mig is a very fast and efficient way to weld. Part of the fun of acquiring tools is figuring out how to afford all the good ones.-Jim

 

[sberry]

If I wanted to TIG and not stickweld with the unit it would be a TA185, a 3 grand Miller Dynasty will likely be my next machine but for general fab work on steel a MIG is the workhorse. Most of them are good but a MM210 would be my pick for the small shop. Brand new reasonabley priced and it will do what you want, works well with extension cords if needed and will even run from common dryer circuits.

 

[mikeyr]

Only complaint I have about MIG is that it is so easy to get a good looking weld that only looks good and does not have good penetration. I have all 3 oxy, MIG, TIG and they all have their use. If I had to only have one, it would be TIG, TIG can do everything MIG can but of course it does it a LOT slower. I prefer to TIG everything because I find it easier to get a good weld but if I am in a hurry, MIG is it.

 

[MXtras]

TIG - for sure.

I don't really get where folks say TIG is so difficult. I think most folks MIG first then try/learn the other welding methods - this might explain some of the difficulty with learning the TIG process as they have never had the capacity to control the heat and the deposition rate seperately.

Even if I am in a hurry I will TIG - I just prefer it most of the time and I do not think it is that much slower - especially on Aluminum. For thick (3/8"+)Aluminum, I will MIG - otherwise I will TIG.

With TIG it is very easy to correctly join almost any joint configuration perfectly on the first attempt, every time. This is not always possible with MIG - not without a set-up piece and a few practice shots.

Scott

 

[tubeman]

I agree with some of the others that if you learn to TIG weld, you will be a better all around welder because you'll understand what is happening with the stick and MIG. Think of it as a "manual" vs an automatic!

 

[sberry]

What welder is always a big question and it boils down to what you want to do. If you are building custom work, have a specialty or have some burning desire to be a weldor then it would effect machine choices, if a guy wants to build stuff in a general way then its a steel world and the real workhorse is a 200A mig or better. I have it all too but the feeders really do the work. Everything else gathers dust by comparison, a feeder for steel really gets used a lot and you get your moneys worth, they dont sit in the corner. You decide later that you need something else then get a specialized machine. Even doing the fitup and fab it can be worth paying a few bucks for the occasional tig weld for the avg guy.

 

[Broman]

I guess I should have added that I have experience welding in TIG, MIG, Ox/Ace, Stick....hell I even ran a RF welder.

I guess I have the most experience with MIG and it seems like the quick and dirty solution on most jobs, and it seems like the most accessible of the choices.

My TIG experience is (and has been) limited to **** welds of short distance - when penetration and smoothness of weld were important. (I worked in a tube mill and welded coils of steel together to keep the mill full of raw material).

So to put it short. If you had one welder to yourself and you could pick anything out there - would it be a MIG or a TIG?

The next logical question after that would be which welder make/model? I read the other post on MIGs (lot's of great help too BTW) - so how about suggesting good TIGs this time around....

You guys are a great help thanks.

 

[mike944]

Definitely a vote for TIG. I don't think TIG is any harder than MIG, just different. It's definitely much slower, so if you're planning on laying down long lengths of weld, MIG might be the better choice.

TIG is a much more precise process, and easier to get a weld with good penetration. Mig will lay a bead easier, but it's very hard to know how solid it is, until it breaks.

If you do get a TIG, definitely get an AC/DC machine. All of the "bargain" ones are DC only. You need AC to do aluminum, and that's half the reason for getting a TIG.

I'm looking for a TIG machine right now, and it's down to the Thermal Arc 185TSW, and the Miller Dynasty 200. I'm probably going with the T.A., because it's about 1K cheaper (after you include all the accessories that the Miller doesn't come with). The only disatvantage that the TA has over the Miller, is the TA runs off 220V only. The Miller can be plugged into pretty much anything. 110, 220 & 440 They both have the same warranty, Miller has a slightly better name, but Thermal Arc is a well-respected brand as well.
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vaporizer pipe

 

[sberry]

Another advantage of the Dynasty is that it is a very good stick machine, there are some issues with the TA in that dept, too technical and way over my head though. My choise for a small shop would be 200 Dyn DX, there are some cheaper options but none much better unless maybe you want a 350.

 

[mike944]

The T.A. 185TSW does stick welding too.
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