byawor
Hot Rolled
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2012
- Location
- Regina. Sk. Canada
Having custom diesel tank built from 10 guage aluminum, one guy wants to TIG it another guy says no problem using Mig spoolgun. Which is the better choice?
Bob
Bob
Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
Largest Manufacturing Technology Community on the Web
Stay Connected:
TIG vs Spool Gun
- Thread starter byawor
- Start date
- Replies 15
- Views 16,489
Depends, how do you want it to look, are you talking a professional welder with both processes?
As if its custom, I'm assuming its going to be looked at, thus its all in the eye of the beholder. Both processes will get the job done, TIG, In my humble opinion, gives a nicer "look". However, a lot of this look is the welder.
Short answer, it doesn't matter too much, but personally I think a TIG process looks better on the outside.
As if its custom, I'm assuming its going to be looked at, thus its all in the eye of the beholder. Both processes will get the job done, TIG, In my humble opinion, gives a nicer "look". However, a lot of this look is the welder.
Short answer, it doesn't matter too much, but personally I think a TIG process looks better on the outside.
LKeithR
Stainless
- Joined
- Sep 1, 2011
- Location
- Langley, B.C.
My feelings as well. Either will work but given a choice, especially if looks are a factor, I'd go for the tig welded unit. Put it this way: A "decent" weldor using a tig will produce a better result than a "superb" weldor using a gun. If the guy using the gun is "really" good he can come close to the same result you'll achieve with a tig; if he's only a "decent" weldor the results will likely be inferior to what you'd get with a tig. This applies to both the appearance and integrity of the tank...
Shade Tree Welder
Aluminum
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2005
- Location
- Herscher, IL
Hey buddy!!! Boy could I have fun with those comments...
On a serious note.
Having it Tig welded should cost a fair bit more, I can Mig aluminum
4-8 times faster than I can Tig it, depends on part complexity. A good
welder can make a quality product either method. I have Migged things
people thought were Tigged.
dkmc
Diamond
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2002
No "better" choice.....best choice is having it done by someone that knows what they
are doing......eh?
Mig will be at least 2X as fast. 4x?? 8x ????
Is it a show piece? Will you polish and pinstripe the tank ???
A welder that can use a spool gun should have no problem.....
You can inspect and approve the work before you pay for it and accept it.....I hope??
dk
are doing......eh?
Mig will be at least 2X as fast. 4x?? 8x ????
Is it a show piece? Will you polish and pinstripe the tank ???
A welder that can use a spool gun should have no problem.....
You can inspect and approve the work before you pay for it and accept it.....I hope??
dk
gustafson
Diamond
- Joined
- Sep 4, 2002
- Location
- People's Republic
The guy who did my fuel tank actually used both, tig for most of it, mig for,IIRC, attaching the inlet tube.
byawor
Hot Rolled
- Joined
- Jun 23, 2012
- Location
- Regina. Sk. Canada
Guy says he will start with mig on inside welds then do outside tig if I prefer. Seems like a good option. This does not have to be real pretty but decenct would be nice.
Bob
Bob
BobRenz
Stainless
- Joined
- Jun 30, 2012
- Location
- Minnesota, USA
Either can do the job - but the person doing the welding will make the difference. Physical appearance will favor TIG, but the lower welding speed from TIG will probably increase the price.
Do any clean up on the welds before doing a leak test - any weld porosity can become a leak, particularly with diesel fuel. When robotic welding was first used to fabricate steel banjo housings for trucks, there were problems with the MIG welds having pinhole porosity that would show up as leaks even with SAE 90W gear oil - the cure the fabricator used was to paint the weld beads with Loctite sealant.
Do any clean up on the welds before doing a leak test - any weld porosity can become a leak, particularly with diesel fuel. When robotic welding was first used to fabricate steel banjo housings for trucks, there were problems with the MIG welds having pinhole porosity that would show up as leaks even with SAE 90W gear oil - the cure the fabricator used was to paint the weld beads with Loctite sealant.
Shade Tree Welder
Aluminum
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2005
- Location
- Herscher, IL
If the tank is a simple rectangular tank all outside welds, yup easy and very fast to weld.
I started welding in the Navy in '85; this machining stuff I am still learnin' welding I
know pretty well, btw, my Mig is a Millermatic 350P and Tig is a Dynasty 300DX. Both
good production machines or I could do either process of the Trailblazer 302D if I had
to do offsite.
Shade Tree Welder
Aluminum
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2005
- Location
- Herscher, IL
??? I am confused...
How much inside welding? Is there going to be baffles in the tank?
What is the shape and size of the of the tank, volume?
metalmaster10
Stainless
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2012
- Location
- Indiana, USA
Look at their work.... It sounds to me like you are comparing welder s, not processes. I would take a pros Mig work over a rookie with a Tig. If both guys are experts, then both can seal a tank and make it look good at the same time. Mig guy should be cheaper. I have a 100 gal. Diamond plate alum truck bed tank that was mig welded. It holds fuel and looked great when new. After 10 years in the back of the truck the last thing noticed is the weld bead... It still holds fuel, but has been used, dinged, weathered, you get my drift.
If you have a guy who can do a good job with his mig for a good price, that would be my choice on a big tank. A small showpiece, I would probably have done with Tig... IF the guy is good. I have seen plenty of people buy a Tig welding machine and confuse ownership of such a devise with actually being able to operate it well.
If you have a guy who can do a good job with his mig for a good price, that would be my choice on a big tank. A small showpiece, I would probably have done with Tig... IF the guy is good. I have seen plenty of people buy a Tig welding machine and confuse ownership of such a devise with actually being able to operate it well.
omrc7771
Hot Rolled
- Joined
- Mar 3, 2013
- Location
- Oshkosh, Wis. [email protected]
I think he's talking about what areas are exposed without crawling under things. Maybe have the guy do a sample coupon of each process so you can see his level of skill...should make for an easy decision.
Winmac
Aluminum
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2011
- Location
- Cape Breton, Canada
Have it tig welded, the time saved with the spool gun will be lost in rework repairing leaks or burn thru.
macona
Diamond
- Joined
- Jun 20, 2006
- Location
- Beaverton, OR
All the big aluminum tanker trailers are mig welded. If the mig machine has a pulse option you will almost never have to worry about burn though, I have it on my XMT304 and it is pretty great. We have a 350MPa at work and they do all sorts of stuff with that and you get very clean welds.
Jimmy_pop
Aluminum
- Joined
- Aug 25, 2012
- Location
- Sedona, AZ USA
Macona, you mentioned 350MP ... Is that the lincoln mig machine? That is the machine I want to use the pulse feature to mig carbon steel with silicon bronze wire. I'd use a push pull gun. Are the pulsed mig welds you make pretty? Thanks for any info you can offer. I'm making high end steel furniture that is only clear coated when finished. I'm wanting to switch to SiBr for looks and have determined this is the machine I want.
Shade Tree Welder
Aluminum
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2005
- Location
- Herscher, IL
It is Miller, MillerMatic 350P, the pulse works like a charm, I have one and
love it, it is an inverter and can run off either single or three phase. I
purchased it for my business it ran production for years, still in my shop
for when I need it. I have 30A spoolgun which works very well with the
pulse spray features.
I had the Lincoln Rep bring their PowerMig 350MP to run against it. It
could not match the production rates I was getting out the MM350P but
it did come close and made a respectable showing. The MM350P controls
are easier to use.
