The arc or the structural steel welding processes are much varied because of the workpieces created by it, so selecting the right process is a necessity for the project to be successful. With welds being formed through the TIG and MIG processes that use the electric arc, yet both the processes are remarkably different.
Nevertheless, MIG and TIG welding processes use the electric arc for creating the weld, there are stark differences between the two. The prevailing difference between these two welding processes is the method of using the arc.
MIG or Metal Inert Gas welding involves using a feed wire, which moves on constantly through the gun for creating the spark. Next, it melts in order to form a weld. Alternatively, TIG or Tungsten Inert Gas welding involves using the long rods for fusing two structural steel or any materials together directly. The points of differences between these two welding processes for welding structural steel that makes the MIG welding better compared to the TIG welding are based on certain factors.
• Diversity
Many reasons rank MIG welding as the superior choice to weld the structural steel. First of all, the process is a diverse one, whereas, TIG welding is applicable to more metal types that limit it in its effectiveness on more thicker welds. MIG welding is suitable for steel, stainless steel, and aluminium and on every thickness starting from 26-gauge sheet metal and ranging to the heavy-duty structural plates. MIG structural steel welding is advantageous over TIG welding because the fire feed serves the purpose of both an electrode and filler. Ultimately, the result is the thicker pieces being fused together but without heating them in the process. Since the process uses filler apart from fusing, MIG is suitable for welding together two different materials.
• Speed
Yet another to choose the MIG welding over the TIG welding for structural steel is speed. A well-designed MIG gun is purposefully decided for running constantly for a longer duration, thus the MIG welding process is more productive and efficient compared to the TIG welding. To suit the large scale industrial operations where higher production rates are a necessity, the suitable choice is MIG welding. The process even caters itself better to automation. On the other hand, TIG welding is a slower process compared to MIG welding as TIG is detail-focussed.
• Expenditure
As needed by any type of manufacturing job, time and money are weighed on the same scale. Since the MIG welding process is faster, it is equally cost-effective. Moreover, the MIG parts can be acquired easily and these are more economical compared to TIG. MIG welding is way more flexible and easier for learning and a few training weeks are necessary to get that perfection. Rather, the process can even be referred to as the “hot glue gun” of welding – the trigger needs to be pulled for starting the shopping the weld. MIG weld has the capacity to hold and even operate the gun using just one hand, so it is an easy option for budding welders.
On the other hand, TIG welding is a specialized structural steel welding technique that needs both hands and one foot – to get separate things done.
The two widely used structural steel welding is discussed with special mention to MIG welding. Although MIG and TIG welding structural steel procedures have their own share of properties yet the MIG structural steel welding wins the competition with its effect.
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