MIG or ARC

[agent87]

If I want to:

1) build small to medium sized metal art
2) fireplace screens
3) tables/stands
4) metal arbors
5) other outdoor garden art type stuff

Would a MIG do all of this? It seems MIG is mostly for sheet metal. Would ARC be more universal or too messy for artwork?

Not currently welding (no pun intended). Considering starting.

 

[Hitch]

When you say small art, how small....

For the most, i thing a mig would be ideal.
I fear arc has the potential to be a little too messy for furniture.

Plus with the mig, you have the ease of tacking things.

 

[agent87]

Thanks...I know that set of questions is probably worn out on this forum. It seems MIG is a bit neater for aesthetics. Just wasn't sure if it would weld metal rods...I'm sure it depends on how robust the particular model. Thx again.

 

[Drains]

Agent, for all the stuff you want to do, it's mig all the way unless you'll be working outside. Who told you mig is mostly for sheet metal? Arc isn't for thin sheet, but mig's just as good for thick plate if the machine's big enough.
Get a 180+ amp 240v mig set, you'll be able to do almost anything, indoors.

 

[keith19]

As above, but if you are going to be working outside, consider buying a mig that will use both gas and gasless mig wire.

Not too important if you are creating art for yourself, but if you have to work outside to a time schedule to get things finished, gasless wire will still be usable on the windiest of days, even in awkward places where you can't sheet up.
It is a little harsher than gas wire, but on art work outdoors you will be unlikely to be working on anything less than 1.5 mm in thickness, so you should be fine.

I have a Clarke 151EN which is capable of both gas and gasless mode, and for most outside stuff I do I use gasless, because it's quite windy where I live, and I don't want the hassle of sheeting up every time a gate or a bit of fence need welding.

 

[agent87]

Fantasic information. Thanks!

 

[chunkolini]

Hi agent87
Mig for definite as said above. Think about what you are doing and get a welder a bit more powerful than you think you will need.
My first Mig was a clarke 130amp model, a great stater machine, took me 6 years to kill it off. I was ging to buy a lower spec SIP model, was put well off that idea via an internet forum.
Going over the power you tink you might need means you are working the machine less hard.
I upgraded to a 180amp machine which makes life a lot easier.

Will you be working inside or outside? I make a lot of outdoor ornamental work but do it all indoors.

Also remember if you are getting this arty farty nonsense that a mig welder is not just for sticking things together.


Best wishes from another ornamental metal botherer.

Chunko'.

 

[Ed.]

MIG is definetly the way to go instead off MMA, it's cleaner, quicker, no slag to clean up (provided you don't use fluxed wire), can do reasonably light to heavy welding depending on the machine and your skills. For artwork, I would also recommend TIG but I know you didn't include that in your choices, but it is really good for those tiny inconspicous welds (ie artwork) which can't be done by MIG or MMA. But you would end up with 2 bottles, you would need a straight Argon bottle for TIG and a mixture for MIG which will be pricey paying rental for both.

Also I don't know where you got your info from regarding "MIG is for sheet metal", but depending on your machine, you can use mig to weld from 0.5mm right up to several inches of plate steel.

 

[KemppiFrog]

+1 for Mig. I bought a little 100amp many years ago. Used it for 20% of my welding, mostly on tube and sheet of 2mm or less. Then got a 150amp much better set and found myself using it for 80% of the work. Only using the stick welder for heavy(+4mm) stuff, were penetration is a problem and strength important (trailers). Lot of my work is what you are talking about.
KF