Re: TIG or MIG?

Posted by shinyribs on Jul 07, 2015; 4:30am
URL: http://vintage-and-classic-hondas.81.s1.nabble.com/TIG-or-MIG-tp4057475p4057483.html

I've got both, but if I had to have only one welder, it would be a MIG. Between my $250 Hobart MIG ( lucky deal) and my $2,200 Lincoln TIG, the MIG is my go-to. Cheaper,quicker, less heat introduced in to the metal and much easier to operate in awkward positions.

If you are considering a TIG then I assume you don't mind paying a little extra and getting a 220v MIG that will use gas, vs a 120v flux core machine. But if you do decide to go flux core do some research first. Some machines can be setup to work really,really well with flux core wire, whereas other machines just can't seem to ever produce a decent weld with flux core. Youtube has a lot of good info regarding setting up the polarity to weld correctly with flux core.

When someone is thinking about spending hard earned money to start tooling up for metal working I always give the same advice: start with a torch. MIG's are great and easy to weld with. TIG's are fun, but very rarely ever needed in a home/hobby situation. But a nice oxy acetylene torch is a do-it-all tool. It heats (think frozen fasteners), it heats to allow bending thick metal, cuts just as well as a plasma cutter ( just introduces a little extra heat in to the metal), it welds, it brazes and you can use it to heat to harden metal. No other welder can do all those things. A good torch with a few correctly sized tips is soooo versatile.