Street Machine Australia – September 2019

BUTT WAIT,

THERE’S MORE...

EVERY welding machine is set up differently. There isn’t one set of

numbers or a magical button that suits all jobs, and this is probably the

first major hurdle for beginners to overcome. Time spent experimenting

and getting to know your machine is really the only way forward. While

it’s all well and good to jump onto a machine that has already been set

up, most operators will have their own specific setting that suits them.

These are just a few of the methods I have used over the years. The

results will vary from job to job, and when you have limited access to

certain areas, different techniques are required. As with everything, it just

takes practice; the challenge is half the fun. Good luck. s

WORKABILTY

AFTER a quick run though the English

wheel, you can see the MIG weld is harder

than the surrounding material and already

starting to show signs of cracking, while the

TIG weld will last all day.

In TIG welding, the parent metals are simply (in this instance) fused

together, leaving it malleable. The weld is not hardened and can easily

be sanded down to clean up. This also means it is ideal for working into

shape to get the best finish.

These MIG welds will need grinding down, sometimes exposing areas
that didn’t receive enough penetration. This and any impurities will
end up leaving pinholes that require a few more tack welds and more
grinding. At this point things are no longer overly workable. MIG
welding will leave sheet metal hardened, and any hammer work can
lead to the welded area cracking. This is not ideal for metal finishing.

3

THE

CLEAN-UP

MMMMIGGGG TTTIIGGG

One-handed

operation; fast

learning curve; point-

and-shoot

Leaves area

hardened;

spatter; not a TIG

No spatter

means you

can weld inside a

vehicle without having

to cover or strip the

interior; stronger and

malleable/workable

welds; faster welding

time; no ‘grinding’; job

satisfaction

The occasional

requirement

of two hands

PROS

CONS

MIG OR TIG?