i currently have an aem cold air intake and comptech axle back exhaust on my integra. i'm looking to add the b-pipe and header now. from what i have read, the two comptech headers are made from the same pipes and should perform the same... the only difference (accounting for the price difference) is the amount of time it takes to do TIG welds.

is there a durability issue here? will the TIG welds hold up better over time? or should i just save the $100 or so and be happy with the MIG? i don't plan on showing off my engine bay, so the looks aren't that big of an issue.

thanks,
phil

 

Side by side compairision......???

Tig is for aluminum as far as I know.....maybe it doesn't get too hot and screw up the metals "fatigue"

 

here is the MIG:

and the TIG:

 

No "TIG" is Tungsten Inert Gas welding. It uses a high frequency AC arc that you feed rod to manually just like Gas welding. Cleaner no splatter.

 

so is the difference just looks (no splatter on the outside), or is it functional as well (potential splatter on the inside making the surface rough, disrupting flow of gas (i'm probably stretching here)?

basically, is there any good reason to pay the extra money for TIG?

thanks again,
phil

 

A TIG weld looks as good as a gas weld, no slag no splatter, and really needs not grinding since they are so clean. A good "stick" acr weld looks cleaner than your average MIG before its cleansed up, but a TIG weld can be a thing of beauty. Well you will get a higher quality weld out of a TIG than a mig. just that a "Cheap" TIG will cost in the thousands and a good one close to 10k. But a TIG is done by hand Can not be done with robotics. So higher labor charges. You can TIG weld aluminum and things like Chrome-Moly steel that can't be welded by some other methods. Just by changing the type of rod used and the type of Inert gas or mix used. Havent done it myself but have seen it done buy some friends with their own equipment. I have done Gas , Stick and Mig Welding myself but only watched TIG welding being done.Nothing Beats a TIG weld done by a pro. The weld quality will be higher, the welds will be smoother, is it worth it to you. Only you can decide, performance wise will you notice a difference, I doubt it. But the TIG welded header may be less likely to crack, but thats just my opinion speaking on that. You should have fewer stres cracks due to the heat being more constant during the welding process with the mig having ther greatest thermal cycling during the welding process. The TIG welding process will stress relieve the welds to a degree just through the welding processs.


[Modified by virginia_dude, 12:22 PM 6/20/2002]


[Modified by virginia_dude, 12:26 PM 6/20/2002]


[Modified by virginia_dude, 12:28 PM 6/20/2002]

 

AC is for aluminum to break up the surface oxides.

Steel is always TIG welded with DCEN.

 

Like I said I never did TIG myself, but know you have to use DC when you Stick weld Aluminum, MIG and Stick welds of Steel are usualy AC but DC can have an advantage with Vertical or overhead welds which are a real bear to do unless you have mucho experience doing it.