Expert Advice: The difference between MIG, TIG and laser welding  

If you are struggling to understand the difference between MIG, TIG and laser welding, then don’t worry. Our team of finishing experts have put together this blog to help you understand what they both mean and which type of welder would be suitable for your process.

What is welding? 

Welding is a fabrication process that involves the fusion of two or more materials, typically metals, to form a permanent bond. Different welding techniques are used depending on the specific application, materials, and desired outcome. Three commonly used welding techniques are MIG welding, TIG welding, and laser welding. Each of these techniques has its own unique characteristics, advantages, and limitations.

What is MIG Welding?

MIG welding involves feeding a spool of wire into a welding gun and melting the wire to join two pieces of metal together. This welding technique is well-known for its speed, efficiency, and versatility, and it commonly finds use in manufacturing, automotive repair, and construction. Additionally, MIG welding is relatively easy to learn and can weld thin and medium-thickness materials, producing a strong, clean weld with minimal splatter or distortion. It can also accommodate a wide range of materials, including stainless steel, aluminium, and mild steel. However, achieving the desired result requires a steady hand and a consistent feed rate.

MIG Welding Materials

Typically, MIG welding is used for welding thicker materials, such as steel, stainless steel, and aluminium, in most circumstances.

MIG Welding Speed

Generally MIG welding is faster than TIG welding since it uses a consumable wire electrode that feeds through a spool, making it easy to maintain a consistent welding speed.

MIG Welding Environment

MIG welding can be performed in various environments, including outdoors, and in windy or drafty conditions, unlike TIG welding, which is more sensitive to environmental factors.

What is TIG welding?

TIG Welding: TIG (tungsten inert gas) welding is a process that uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode to produce the weld. The weld pool is created by melting the base metal with the heat generated by the electric arc. TIG welding is known for its precision and clean welds. It is commonly used in aerospace, automotive, and medical device manufacturing. TIG welding is particularly suitable for welding materials that are thin or have a high melting point, such as aluminum, titanium, and stainless steel. The technique produces a strong, precise weld with a minimal heat-affected zone, which reduces the risk of warping or distortion. However, TIG welding is a relatively slow process and requires a high level of skill and experience to master.

TIG Welding Materials

Typically, TIG welding is better suited for thinner materials, such as sheet metal or thin-walled tubing, as well as for materials that are harder to weld, such as titanium.

TIG Welding Speed

TIG welding is a slower process, as it requires the welder to manually feed a non-consumable tungsten electrode.

Welding Appearance

TIG welding is often preferred for aesthetic reasons, as it produces a cleaner and more attractive weld than MIG welding. TIG welding produces a more uniform, smooth, and shiny weld bead that requires less finishing work.

Skill Level

Most people consider TIG welding a more challenging welding process than MIG welding because it demands a higher level of skill and precision. The welder needs to manually feed the tungsten electrode and control the welding torch with one hand while feeding the filler material with the other hand.

Laser welding

Laser welding is a process that uses a high-energy laser beam to melt and fuse two or more materials together. The technique is known for its precision and speed, making it ideal for high-volume production environments.

Laser welding is commonly used in the automotive, aerospace, and electronics industries.

It is suitable for welding a wide range of materials, including metals, plastics, and ceramics.

Laser welding produces a very narrow, highly concentrated heat-affected zone, which minimizes the risk of warping or distortion.

Additionally, laser welding can be used to weld dissimilar materials, such as metal to plastic or metal to glass.

Laser welding is fantastic for precision and ideal for many industries, including jewellery. 

To sum up…

In summary, MIG welding is a fast and efficient technique suitable for welding a wide range of materials, TIG welding is a precise and clean process ideal for thin or high-melting-point materials, and laser welding is a highly precise and fast process suitable for high-volume production. Each technique has its own unique advantages and limitations, and the choice of welding technique depends on the specific application and desired outcome.

More Information 

For more information on welding give us a call – we have experts here who can answer your questions!

And take a look at our You Tube page for videos of us hard at work finishing!