The Difference Between MIG Welders and TIG Welders
Ξ November 21st, 2008 | → | ∇ Welding |
There are two types of conventional, advanced arc welding. One is Tungsten Inert Gas welding, also known as TIG welding. It is done by TIG welders. The other is Metal Inert Gas welding, commonly called MIG welding. This is done by MIG welders.
How MIG Welders and TIG Welders Work
In order to understand how MIG welders and TIG welders work, it helps to have an overall understanding of the welding profession. Following is a brief overview.
To date, there are in excess of 80 different welding processes used by welders. Some are manual, where the work is controlled wholly by the welder. Some are semi-automatic. In semi-automatic welding, welders use machinery, eg, wire feeders, to assist them in their duties.
This brings us back to the aforementioned arc welding. MIG welders and TIG welders are, by definition, skilled professionals. However, they approach their duties differently.
MIG Welders and TIG Welders: Who’s Manual, Who’s Semi-Automatic
TIG welders most often work with stainless steel and/or aluminum. They work holding a welding rod in one hand and an electric torch in the other. The torch melts the rod and the piece. One might surmise that TIG welders are in complete control of the process, making them manual welders.
MIG welders on the other hand, can be thought of as semi-automatic welders. To fuse their metals, they use a spool of constantly fed wire instead of a rod. The way they accomplish this is by holding the wire feeder, which acts as a kind of alligator clip in arc welding.
In arc welding, alligator clips are the carriers of electric currents. There are two of them. One is attached to a part of the metal that is being welded. The other clip is attached to the welding rod. Once they touch, the heat generated by the electrical currents melds the metal together.
The advantage MIG welders enjoy is that they can fuse longer stretches of metal at one time. They don’t have to stop and replace a rod, for example.
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