Types of MIG Welders

You might be wondering which is the best MIG welder for you. There are various types of MIG welders and it can be quite difficult to know which one is great for your project.

The problem gets worse if you’re a beginner. However, even experienced welders often encounter a bit of difficulty when choosing between the different types of MIG welders.

Whether you are an experienced welder or just a beginner, we feel your pain. Here is a look at the different types of MIG welders.

All You Need to Know About the Different Types of MIG Welders

Before diving into the different types of MIG welders, it’s important to know how they work. A MIG welder uses electricity to weld metals. The MIG welder has a wire that is fed into the electrode. (Here you will get Hobart 140 review)

When powered by electricity, the electrode forms an arc at the point of contact with the metal. The arc is extremely hot and reaches a temperature of between 3,000-20,000 0 C. This immediately melts the metal and the wire. Once melted, the wire merges with the metal. The process is quite easy and fast.

MIG welding is great for DIY projects because it is easy and the equipment isn’t that expensive. The two main types of MIG welders are:

• The gas-less MIG welder
• The bare wire welder

The Gas-Less Types of MIG Welders

The gas-less MIG welder does not have a gas shielding the wire and the metal during the welding process. Gas-less MIG welders are mainly used outdoors and they are more preferred because of the following reasons:

• No need for gas or flow meter
• Does not require a gas supply
• Much safer because there is no risk that the shielding gas could create a hazard
• Faster and more efficient
• Easy to learn

The gas-less MIG usually comes with flux-cored wire. The flux-core wire thus shields the arc from being contaminated during the welding process.

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The Bare Wire MIG Welder

The bare wire MIG welder comes with shielding gas to prevent the welding process from getting contaminated. The main gases that are used in

shielding are:

• Carbon dioxide
• Helium
• Argon

The commonly used gas for shielding is argon. However, the three gases used together depending on the type of metals being welded. If you are not sure which welding gas to use, learn the properties of the welding wire and metal to see if they are compatible.

Here’s the Bottom Line

Both gas-less and bare wire MIG welders will give you great welds. Moreover, both are perfect for working on thin and thick metals. For instance, both the gas-less and bare wire MIG welders can weld metals as thin as 26-gauge.

MIG welding is very easy and relatively cheaper when compared to other types of welding. Before deciding which MIG welder you want to use, first take the following steps:

• Determine that nature of your project
• Know the properties of the metals you’ll weld
• Visit a couple of welding supply stores
• Settle on the best MIG welder
• And begin your welding project
• Use a bare wire MIG welder is if you’re working indoors
• Use a gas-less MIG welder if you’re working outdoors.