Welder question: MIG or TIG?

[lippy]

I know this isn't a welding forum, but I'm guessing folks here will have some pretty good opinions. I want to sharpen my welding skills (and teach my kids) and am looking to buy either a MIG or TIG machine. Probably a used Miller/Hobart/Lincoln, or a new cheaper brand (not HF). I've welded a bit in the past but not recently, and have been reading over the past couple of months.

One of my main considerations is that I want to be able to weld in my garage and not make a complete smoky mess with a ton of splatter. This obviously eliminates FCAW. My main question is: If I buy a MIG and use it with gas, is it a pretty clean and confined process that I could do on a bench without a big mess and screwing up nearby things? I can get a 115/220 machine relatively cheaply. I know that TIG is the cleanest and is very confined and versatile, but it is also complex and more expensive. The cost and complexity aren't out of the question, but I would rather do MIG if it suits my needs and can be used on a bench.

Thanks!

[madmaxx]

I debated between the Hobart 210 MPV and Millermatic 211 both duel voltage, 110/220 and can weld 3/8 in one path. I then found lincoln came out with a new multi welder in November which can TIG,MIG,Stick,Spool gun for $999. TIG is dc only so no aluminum you would have to use the spool gun. It only weighs 48 lbs vs 90 lbs for the Hobart and Millermatic. You can get the Hobart from Northern tool with online coupon for $920 the millermatic 1045 at welders supply free shipping no taxes so the difference in price is within $100. The lincoln looks cool but by the time you add spool gun, TIG kit you are $1500 on a newly released machine....

[jetblue69]

Depends on what you want to do. A Mig is very usable for just about anyone and is good for most automotive jobs. A 115V is fine for steel and you'll need a 220/240 for aluminum as aluminum requires more power for welding. Tig is mostly for precise welding and for welding exotic metals. I have a Hobart 140 Mig, runs on 115V and makes gorgeous welds with no splattering at all as long as you use an inert gas with it. Mine came with the valves and I bought an Argon/CO2 bottle (the big one) on Craigslist for $150.

[lippy]

Multiprocess seems cool, but usually multipurpose machines aren't as good as dedicated ones. Is that true with multiprocess welders? And I don't really want to drop $1500.

[madmaxx]

I would guess the Miller multimatic $1800 is pretty good. The hobart handler 140 is probably the best of all worlds in the 110v realm. About $450 new on sale. No TIG but mig with and without gas. You can buy an aluminum spool gun but at best used for tacking and it cost $400, if you plan to weld aluminum you need at least the hobart handler 190 but I would go the extra $$ and get the 210 MPV or millermatic 211. I have had close to zero luck looking for a used one.

[lippy]

I checked out the Lincoln 210 MP welder. Yikes, looks nice. Not *cheap* but not insanely expensive either. $999, and I can probably get a coupon. I could get rolling on MIG with the kit as-is, and could add TIG and/or an aluminum spool gun later if I need to. It's multi-voltage and 210 amps also.

[azsprint6]

For the past couple years I've been trying different brands of Tig welders. I put them together as complete setups and put them on Craigslist. I've had 5 makes of the 3 in 1's from $350.00-$1600.00 and have seen no problems with any of them. Although mig seems to be the most commonly used (price and speed) it does not compare to tig. Before I had my roll bars chromed I ground out all the mig welds (which were almost acceptable) and tig welded them. Not to do a commercial here but the best buy I've found so far is the AHP Alpha tig 200x. I had 2 2014 models and just ordered 2 2015's. A/C D/C dual voltage, $719.00 ea, and $30.50 to ship both. Check Amazon and the reviews. They ship from CA with a 3 yr warranty and phone support. I've had Millers and Lincolns and with the price of AHP and all the features they are a much better value. This is just my opinion of course.

[Paul F]

As said, it depends on what kind of welding you want to do. i have both and I use TIG a lot more than MIG.

You can't do this with MIG. It's a front turn signal for a motorcycle.
That's stainless. It was welded and polished. No grinding. No sanding.

I'd avoid the 120v MIG. It's ok, but you may be disappointed.

[indianamoon]

If I was going to have only one, it would definitely be TIG. Much more versatile, more controllable, and you can use it for a stick welder if you want. I bought two used Miller's very reasonable, a 500 amp machine for the shop and a 250 for home. 500 was used and set me back $800, the 250 was a month old and was $1500

[Jerry Clayton]

Also be aware of what amperage you have in your house/garage---If you only have 100amp service you'll need to stay around 200 on welder and wife can't be baking anything with a/c on in summer while your trying to weld-------

A suggestion--I enrolled both my boys in welding class at junior college evening class--

[lippy]

Originally Posted by Jerry Clayton

Also be aware of what amperage you have in your house/garage---If you only have 100amp service you'll need to stay around 200 on welder and wife can't be baking anything with a/c on in summer while your trying to weld-------

A suggestion--I enrolled both my boys in welding class at junior college evening class--

245 service

[madmaxx]

TIG is much harder than MIG. You have gas, tungsten and rod all have to be worked together. MIG you point and pull trigger. Structurally a MIG is as good as a TIG if done right. I like the idea of finding a junior college to take a course before buying a welder. Take a TIG course if you like find a TIG....

[Paul F]

Originally Posted by madmaxx

TIG is much harder than MIG. ...

This should not be a deciding factor. Get the machine you need for the type of work you are doing. TIG is only harder because there are no good tutorials on how to weld with TIG. Go play with TIG. When you can't figure out what you are doing wrong, buy and hour or two of a local welder's time and you will get the tips you need. Once you know how, it's just as easy and much more versatile.

[map]

Look around on Craigslist you can find some great deals on Tig machines. Also buy the highest amp machine you can afford.

Tig on youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/user/welding...dtricks/videos

[redmt]

I have small Century (lincoln) 130 with gas bottle that I'll make you a great deal on. It's a nice little learner machine for smaller projects. I run 3 different mig machines from an SP 175 an SP 200 and a Ranger 9 for different projects I also have a Miller Econo-tig that gets seldom use. The SP 175 is usually my go to machine for light projects. I'm not to far from you if you want to test drive different classes of machines.

[COBRA427]

I have owned a Miller Tig and Mig for 11 yrs now and never had a problem.

By far, I use the mig 10x more than the tig. The mig is so much more easy to use and you can get into hard to reach places much better than with the tig.

Tig welds are more precise , and cleaner, but you should take a class and really learn how to weld with it. Tig is a lot slower going than mig.

My recommendation, if you get just one welder, you'll get more and easier use from a mig. You can always get a tig later if you really need it.

When it comes to buying something like a welder, I would only buy a quality USA made one and would NEVER buy these attractively priced Chinese ones. You get what you pay for. !!

[Jerry Clayton]

buy a Lincoln or miller tig 200 amp machine-you can stick weld with it anything that you could wire feed wth a mig. ALL AIRCRAFT, SPACE, AND RACE CAR STUFF IS TIG WELDED

[lippy]

I agree that TIG is better but more difficult. I can learn it. But to get started with TIG, it's going to cost.

I don't really want a Chinese machine, even though the AHP is probably a decent machine, $750, AC/DC TIG, dual voltage. The new Lincoln 210 MP is slick at $1k. It does MIG, TIG, and stick and I could start with MIG. But to do TIG I would need a torch ($180) and maybe a foot pedal. I could add a spool gun for light aluminum work later. Alternatively, I could get a little Hobart Handler 125 MIG for $369 and be done for now.

If I got the Lincoln with a torch, would I *need* a foot pedal or could I realistically get started with TIG without it?

[Paul F]

Forget the Lincoln. It only does DC TIG, so no aluminum (unless that's ok with you). The combo systems are always a compromise. Don't do it. You'd be much better off buying a full-featured TIG or a MIG for much less.

TIG without heat control is not practical (and the welder probably doesn't work without it). It takes away a key feature of TIG. You need a footpedal or finger control or just stay with MIG.

[razerwire]

Watched my uncle weld 3 night twister air frames together in his garage with a gas welder. He did a beautiful job and they passed inspection no problem. Just a idea, you can braze with gas also. I had the sales rep come by my house to help me set up tig machine and if I change to different task I have to have him come by to get me started again. Would be nice to take some classes at local college. The tig is nice since you can stick weld with it also. I bought spool of cable and cut in half so I have 100 foot ground and hot cable. That has come in handy more than once. If you buy from local welding supply the guys will help you, at least they did me, and I always need help.