calizum

What is the difference between MIG and TIG welds? Can you purchase any of the two at a store that specializes in products for these jobs, and how much do they generally cost?

own6volvos

Hmm, can you be a bit more specific? That has to be the vaugest question I have ever heard What kinda materials are we talking about? What thicknesses? There are so many variables it would be hard to give you a proper idea without a lot more info.

Some shop rates can range from 50-200+ an hour depending on the job.

Flashmn

Well, I'd say TIG is closer to stick welding, maybe a bit more control over the filler material, and its slower so you can make the welds look pretty darn good, tig is way easier on aluminium. Mig is faster, welds can look good if the operator is good, but they'll look crap if you're just doing everything with a rush.
I think thats a brief intro

ManBearPig4silly

Well if we are talking structural automotive welding... Tig > Mig > Stick.

Kind of there are exceptions of course. I wouldn't tig to seam weld a car. I think I would go insane.

david@didrace.com

Tig - person controls feed/amperage while welding, non-consumable electrode, filler fed by hand, uses shielding gas

Mig - machine adjustable feed/voltage before you start the arc, very little adjustment while welding (arc length determines voltage to a degree), consumable electrode, filler fed by machine, uses shielding gas and/or flux

Stick - machine adjustable amperage, filler fed by hand, consumable electrode, uses flux

Tig is the ideal welding process for precision weldments, joints with varying thicknesses, and exotic metals but it is a relatively slow process, A/C - D/C currents

Mig is great for fast, continous welding, D/C currents

Stick is great for fast welding with a smaller machine so it has more versatility as to where it can be used, A/C - D/C currents

5STAR3

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Flashmn &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Well, I'd say TIG is closer to stick welding</TD></TR></TABLE>

if by stick you mean OA

Flashmn

Yeah exactly, not stick as in arc, stick as in oxy-acetylene.

Engloid

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Flashmn &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Yeah exactly, not stick as in arc, stick as in oxy-acetylene. </TD></TR></TABLE>
That's why "arc" is an improper term to name a particular process...cause several use an arc...and oxy-acetylene doesn't.

for example, mig, tig, stick, and sub-arc all use an arc. Oxy-acetylene, friction stir do not.

So, if you say you are going to arc weld something, it really only means that you will mig, tig, stick, or sub arc it. The technical terms are Metal Inert Gas (or Gas Metal Arc Welding), Tungsten Inert Gas, Shielded Metal Arc Welding, and Submerged Arc Welding.

Flashmn

Good point...