TIG OR MIG ?

[captred1968]

WANT TO START WELDING ON MY RECEIVER. I HAVE A LARGE MILLER 250 MIG WHICH IS TO BIG. I WANT TO BUY A SMALLER MIG {110 VOLT 90 AMP} OR A TIG. ANY HELP ON TIG OR MIG. THIS ONE WILL BE FOR GUN REPAIR OR BUILDING ONLY. THANKS CAPTRED1968

 

[suka5168]

WANT TO START WELDING ON MY RECEIVER. I HAVE A LARGE MILLER 250 MIG WHICH IS TO BIG. I WANT TO BUY A SMALLER MIG {110 VOLT 90 AMP} OR A TIG. ANY HELP ON TIG OR MIG. THIS ONE WILL BE FOR GUN REPAIR OR BUILDING ONLY. THANKS CAPTRED1968

If you already have the Heavy duty MIG. Get the TIG for more delicate work , such as Gunsmithing.

 

[makoman]

TIG welding is far superior to any size MIG welder for light work such as receivers.

 

[Jimmy2Times]

+1 definitely TIG for guns.

 

[Capt. Zorro]

Tig is good..

For working on thin metal, but it takes quite a bit of practice to become proficient at it. It's sort of like patting your head and rubbing your tummy at the same time. I've got a Hobart 250 Mig and I use it more than my Miller Tig, just turn down the heat and use a smaller dia. wire.

 

[carcass]

Real men use oxyacetylene.

 

[TexWildcat]

I have two small migs, ones a miller w/ gas the other is a cheap Harbor freight 90 that my wife bought me.

When I turn the heat down, I really have to watch puddles and bouncing.
Usually high heat makes it a lot easier, but sheet metal can really be challenging to run a real nice low bead.

I wished I had a small Tig welder that was set just right for small stuff, I'm just not that good yet.

Can any of you pro's Tig weld a small bead, straight like a snail trail w/ out needing sanding? I alway's seem to need to use a grinder to fix.

One things for sure, you have to use argon or some type of gas to keep the splatter down or you'll have a huge mess to deal with.

Another tip is to cover the surrounding area w/ petrolium jelly. It keeps the little splatter spots from sticking too bad. I've heard that extra Virgin olive oil works as well, but don't think strating a fire would be that fun.

welding period takes practice. And lots of it.

 

[captred1968]

THANKS WILL GO WITH THE TIG.

 

[pioneer]

Hey Cap,

Are you really going to use the TIG more than the MIG? I use both TIG and MIG but for stainless and Aluminum I use the TIG more. Zorro was right, if you use smaller wire and turn the heat down you will have the cap. to run thin metal. Argon is great, for aluminum. Try something different for light gauge work. 75% argon/ 25% CO2. Stainless steel, ask the tank man to fill you with a tri-mix. I find the tri mix great for all my thin steel/stainless work. Personally, I would get the Millermatic spool gun and load it with small gauge wire. I do a lot of aluminum with it so I dont have to change my MIG around all the time.

If you cant make a straight line doing MIG you are pretty well F**K'd trying to TIG. Esp if you have to use a lot of filler while trying to control heat. I will say that if you are using the same thickness material on work piece than a simple pass will be ok. Just control height of 'trode. Drop me a line if you have questions on anything I said here. More than happy to help.

 

[SubGunFan]

.

You guys are talking GREEK to me.......... BUT I LIKE IT......

.

 

[tommygun2000]

Real men use oxyacetylene.

Only until they FUBAR an expensive receiver......then they buy a TIG. Oxyacetylene has no place in gunsmithing except demilling or heating rivets to be peened, and evn then, a MAPP torch will work just as well.

 

[macaholic]

Only until they FUBAR an expensive receiver......then they buy a TIG. Oxyacetylene has no place in gunsmithing except demilling or heating rivets to be peened, and evn then, a MAPP torch will work just as well.

I agree, I use a Miller 160 Mig set up with gas and I keep my heat setting low for thin metal like magazines and so on.

 

[METALMAN]

A tool for every job. I have to agree that if you cant run a straight smooth bead with a MIG, you have a way to go with a TIG.

MIG has its place in the carbon steel world, and if you can keep up with it, you will get great results.

I weld a ton of kitchen and hospital stainless work, and 25 ga. stainless takes some severely low amps. I am running 30-39volts regularly. I prefer a foot pedal over thumb control. My advise with welding is 'comfort is your friend'. You will have the ability to weld in a lot of really comfortable positions on small work; brace yourself against a few objects (the table, a block, etc) than make test passes. The key to a smooth weld is control,control, and control. I think of music when I weld. Patterning is really a helpful welding technique. Make patterns with music, speech, thought, anything that can neutralize abberant movements in your weld.

But again, one of the most important welding lessons has already been posted;
Weld, weld, weld, weld and when you think you are done, weld some more!

 

[EmEleven]

After I bought a TIG I hardly use the MIG. The TIG just makes such a precise pretty weld.

 

[roninrider]

Welding sticks

So I am new to welding and would like to know more about TIG welding sticks. I am so new I bought a TIG welder to learn how to weld so I can make a Mini Uzi from a repair channel. WHAT TYPE OF STICKS DO I NEED AND WHAT SIZE? I am using a dc tig welder (the ebay special). Suggestions???

 

[StormWerkz]

GTAW welding on steel you want to use 2% thoriated or rare earth electrodes

 

[nobamabinbiden]

I have use a MIG welder for several guns and never had a problem with it weld good grind good then reweld and regrind

 

[edgepulse]

TIG is what I used on the two I built.

Use the nice Miller HF auto starter.

Also, use pure Argon shield gas.

Practice on some old scrap receiver demillings.

 

[Kramer]

I have use a MIG welder for several guns and never had a problem with it weld good grind good then reweld and regrind

Sure MIG will work but if you had a TIG it would have been done the first weld, deleting the remaining grind, weld, grind, weld, grind.

 

[waltham41]

I use liquid dish soap to keep the splatter from sticking.. works pretty good, is cheap and easy to clean up