MIG vs. TIG

[Billy Clyde]

Which is overall stronger?
Which would be the prefered method of welding a rollcage (.120 wall HREW) into a Jeep? I have only had experences with ARC and Mig welders, so Tig is kinda new to me.

[Mike Sherman]

Assuming your skill level is the same with both processes and you apply each correctly, there is no difference in the "strength". I have welded roll cages with both processes. It has always depended on the material used and how much the customer wished to pay. The last roll cage I did was in an E-Mod and I GMAW it.

[Dan]

Originally posted by Mike Sherman
Assuming your skill level is the same with both processes and you apply each correctly, there is no difference in the "strength". I have welded roll cages with both processes. It has always depended on the material used and how much the customer wished to pay. The last roll cage I did was in an E-Mod and I GMAW it.

Mike

Im just curious, what if it were a personal project for yourself. Which process would you choose then? For me it would be GTAW no matter the material being used. I don t like using GMAW on small round tube because of the cold start issue. Just my personal preference though. I know a lot of roll cages are built with GMAW, and they hold together in some pretty scary looking wrecks.

[Mike Sherman]

Properly applied GMAW on a .125" wall material does not cause me any concern whatsoever. Cold starting on this thin material should not be a concern.

[Billy Clyde]

Thanks for the response guys. So I guess it is a matter of preference. I just had a friend that was going to have a cage welded in by me (MIG) or another person (TIG).I have never TIG welded before, I have heard it is "sparkless"? What kind of filler rod is used? Can you guys in brief explain the TIG process to me and do you have any pics of TIG welds?
Thanks.

[ZACHV]

BC, search on this forum under Dan's name. He seems to be a very prolific poster of his quality welds and has some real beauts on here.

I have done some Jeep cages out of HREW and DOM and feel that a quality MIG weld is very sufficient for the uses that we need them for. If it was a chromoly cage then TIG would be almost necessary. Just remember to triangulate as much as possible.

Here are some terms for you:

TIG Welding (GTAW or Gas Tungsten Arc)- Often called TIG welding (Tungsten Inert Gas), this welding process joins metals by heating them with a tungsten electrode which should not become part of the completed weld. Filler metal is sometimes used and argon inert gas or inert gas mixtures are used for shielding. Consumables: tungsten electrode, filler metal, shielding gas.

MIG (GMAW or Gas Metal Arc Welding)-An arc welding process which joins metals by heating them with an arc. The arc is between a continuously fed filler metal (consumable) electrode and the workpiece. Externally supplied gas or gas mixtures provide shielding. Common MIG welding is also referred to as short circuit transfer. Metal is deposited only when the wire actually touches the work. No metal is transferred across the arc. Another method of MIG welding, spray transfer moves a stream of tiny molten droplets across the arc from the electrode to the weld puddle. Consumables: contact tips, shielding gas, welding wire.


They were taken from here