When it comes to welding, it is understandable to want the strongest weld possible. As such, people often find themselves asking “what welder will produce the strongest weld?” and even comparing the results of different types of welder. MIG and TIG are two that are often compared.
Now, as similar as they may sound, they are two types of welding that share some differences. In this article, we will be answering once and for all two of the most commonly asked questions regarding MIG and TIG. We will be assessing which is stronger and which is hotter, in the hopes that you will know which welder is best for you.
However, we want to preface this by letting you in on a secret…sometimes it’s not about which is the hottest or strongest but instead more about which is better suited!
What’s stronger MIG or TIG?
The most straightforward answer to any question regarding what is the strongest out of MIG and TIG is simply TIG. TIG is known to be the strongest method of welding in the industry, so much so that it is the method that is most commonly used in the aerospace industry.
However, as we know, things are rarely this straightforward, because the truth is, whilst TIG is technically the strongest as it produces (at least in general) the strongest weld, it is not ideal for all metals. For example, stainless steel requires a MIG welder as nothing else will be strong enough. TIG on the other hand will not weld it as well and will not be as sturdy.
With this scenario in mind, it seems that the strength of any welder is largely based on the metal that is being welded. Whilst TIG may technically be stronger than MIG this does not translate to being better than MIG. As well as this, MIG is still extremely strong, and it is certainly the most accessible of the two with some impressive MIG welders on offer for professional and personal use.
Of course, if you want to explore which is generally stronger, then the answer is always TIG. After all, aerospace engineering and craftsmanship require the best quality weld possible to ensure strength and sturdiness.
That being said, you should not always choose TIG by default, and if your specific job requires another method of welding such as MIG then you should use it. Professional welders try to be adept at using both types of welding as they know that some metals demand one over the other.
Which is hotter MIG or TIG?
To answer this question in its most simple term, we can tell you that, based on cooling times, it seems that TIG is the hottest when compared with MIG. MIG cools down much quicker than TIG does. However, some other caveats must be explored for a more in-depth answer.
Determining the temperature of a welder can be important in ensuring that you get the best and strongest weld possible. Now, we don’t mean that you need to know the exact temperature. In fact, quite the opposite as if you were to attempt to find the exact temperature you would likely melt and obliterate any temperature gauge (as well as your hands in the process).
What we do mean is that any welder knows how important a high heat welder is. The higher the heat the better the weld. As such, it makes sense to want to know what welder gives the hottest heat. However, it is not always as straightforward as this.
Out of MIG and TIG, it is safe to say that both of them reach extremely high heat. You can expect the arc produced on both a MIG and TIG welder to be hotter than a candle flame. As well as that, they are both very intense forms of heat (I mean, it melts metal!).
In terms of the actual temperature, it is very likely that both are almost identical, or at least very similar. As such it is difficult to give a definitive temperature based answer. As we say, in terms of how long they take to cool down, TIG stays hotter for longer. With this in mind, and for argument’s sake, you may want to accept TIG as being slightly hotter.
Although, keep in mind that this may only be marginally, and this does not simply indicate that it is more efficient or better. You should use whatever welder is recommended for your specific job.
Summary
To summarize, whilst it seems (at least on the surface) that TIG has trumped MIG in terms of strength and temperature, it is not quite that straightforward. Sometimes MIG may be the better choice, other times you may want to choose TIG. It depends on the specific situation and metal being welded, rather than the overall strength and temperature of the welder.