Is TIG as strong as MIG

[clarkey]

once again sorry i'm new so forgive me if this has been covered before.

Looking to replace my MIG and was wondering if a TIG welder can do all the jobs a MIG can do, my first thoughts are costs, time and strenth..

I want it for to use on my race car were i'm making a range of things from steering parts brackets and body work. I'm fed up at how tractor spec mig looks, and would prefer the tig clean and tidy welding.

well looking at it from my point of view MIG looks stronger because it looks bigger and more surface area were tig looks small and altho it looks neat is it as strong ?

I look forward to set me strait

I can TIG weld but don't know the theory or the ins and outs, if someone sets it up i can weld with it, but if i bought a tig i would be using it every day so willing to put the time into practicing.

thanx

 

[hotrodder]

Weld 'strength'... need to look at the complete picture (rather than just weld size for exmaple), a chain is only as strong as it's weakest link and all that. Assuming welds have proper fusion most metal/weld failures are the result of fatigue rather than lack of outright strength- a sharp edge, notch, bump etc concentrates stress in one area and with time a crack forms, grows and then (when the section has been weakened sufficiently) fails. An oversize weld can be a stress riser as can an undersized weld.

In the wrong hands... MIG is more prone to lack of fusion defects (that big weld's just sitting on the surface) and stress risers at the weld toes (sharp bump). TIG is more prone to undercutting (sharp notch and a reduction in section thickness at the same spot) from nervous hands and a desire to get a small, pretty weld!

A good MIG weld will be 'stronger' than a bad TIG weld and visa versa. It's quite hard to produce a lousy but good looking TIG weld, MIG on the other hand...

TIG is the most versatile process there is with regards to materials that can be welded- if it's metal and weldable it can be done with an AC/DC TIG, press a couple of buttons grab the correct filler and you're good to go. No changing of gas mixes or swapping out wire reels. Downsides would be initial equipment costs and weld deposition rates. MIG is typically faster, especially on heavier sections that require larger welds.

 

[fingers99]

Pretty much all covered. For steel bodywork -- car repairs, etc. you'll find TIG very slow compared to MIG.

Generally TIG is superior where disimilar materials are to be joined.

Many more varieties of filler available (and in sensible quantities).

One gas does all.

I'd keep the MIG and buy a TIG............

 

[NTwoO]

Weld 'strength'... need to look at the complete picture (rather than just weld size for exmaple), a chain is only as strong as it's weakest link and all that. Assuming welds have proper fusion most metal/weld failures are the result of fatigue rather than lack of outright strength- a sharp edge, notch, bump etc concentrates stress in one area and with time a crack forms, grows and then (when the section has been weakened sufficiently) fails. An oversize weld can be a stress riser as can an undersized weld.

In the wrong hands... MIG is more prone to lack of fusion defects (that big weld's just sitting on the surface) and stress risers at the weld toes (sharp bump). TIG is more prone to undercutting (sharp notch and a reduction in section thickness at the same spot) from nervous hands and a desire to get a small, pretty weld!

A good MIG weld will be 'stronger' than a bad TIG weld and visa versa. It's quite hard to produce a lousy but good looking TIG weld, MIG on the other hand...

TIG is the most versatile process there is with regards to materials that can be welded- if it's metal and weldable it can be done with an AC/DC TIG, press a couple of buttons grab the correct filler and you're good to go. No changing of gas mixes or swapping out wire reels. Downsides would be initial equipment costs and weld deposition rates. MIG is typically faster, especially on heavier sections that require larger welds.

Good coverage there hotrodder. Switching between DC and AC requires a change of Tungsten, but that is usually less than 30 seconds.

 

[pedrobedro]

Good coverage there hotrodder. Switching between DC and AC requires a change of Tungsten, but that is usually less than 30 seconds.

Use Ceriated tungstens and you don't need to swap.

 

[NTwoO]

And weld your SS/mild steel with that balled tip?!