Mig to Tig

[Psymon]

Just wondering if it could be possible to convert a MIG to a TIG? I.e. leave the wire off and change the tip for a tungsten and change gas to Argon? Does something like this exist already? Would it be possible? Seems like a simple modification to me and not as expensive as buying a TIG. Ok so no foot pedal and various other controls but may work. What does everyone think?

 

[Wozzaaah]

Simple answer, no. Not easily anyway and probably not very usable if it is done.
Tig is constant current and mig is constant voltage.
Discussed many, many times on here over the years, if it was doable then with the amount of clever members we've had and still have we'd have seen it done on here.......and we haven't.

 

[Lawnmowerboy]

But you can use a cheap inverter arc welder as a tig with the right torch and a bottle of argon amongst other things.

 

[Psymon]

Ok thanks for clearing that one up. Just a thought didn't know the technical side of things.

 

[Wedg1e]

Simple answer, no. Not easily anyway and probably not very usable if it is done.
Tig is constant current and mig is constant voltage.
Discussed many, many times on here over the years, if it was doable then with the amount of clever members we've had and still have we'd have seen it done on here.......and we haven't.

That said, Woz, there are combination machines that can do it and I can't believe they'd use separate transformers/ rectifiers etc. so there probably is some electronic/ electrical way of furgling it... probably not on a DIY-economical scale though.

 

[Wozzaaah]

Indeed there are, several manufacturers including our friends at TechnicalArc (Portamig) build them but as you say, probably not feasible or cost effective for average Joe to convert their bog-standard mig welder.
I'd imaging they're fairly complex beasts.
Would genuinely love someone to have a go though, it would be a great project if you could source the parts cheaply.

 

[shenion]

Once you do an inverter, MIG, TIG and Arc is just software

 

[Wedg1e]

Indeed there are, several manufacturers including our friends at TechnicalArc (Portamig) build them but as you say, probably not feasible or cost effective for average Joe to convert their bog-standard mig welder.
I'd imaging they're fairly complex beasts.
Would genuinely love someone to have a go though, it would be a great project if you could source the parts cheaply.

Hmmm, I have both MIG and AC/DC TIG machines, I can feel a perusal of the schematics coming on
Off the top of my head I guess you'd need to add the TIG's thyristor control circuit to the MIG's transformer then leave the MIG voltage switch on one particular setting, varyng the thyristor control to adjust the output... but that's a wild, rum and golden syrup cake-induced thought