How a MIG Welder Can Save Your Time in Brisbane

Posted by Kym Morgan on June 18th, 2016

Metal Inert Gas welding or Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW) is the go-to welding method for most welding pros in Australia. In large cities like Brisbane, workshops and hobbyists prefer it over other processes. MIG welding is usually the first arc torch welding method that most people learn. It is much easier than TIG welding while also providing considerable benefits over other processes like MMA or stick welding.

A MIG welder’s biggest benefit is that it is cheap and fast. Even for a relatively unskilled welder, production speeds have been known to improve by over 30% compared to similar work done with stick welding. For skilled professionals, the increase is even more significant. There are several factors which contribute to this speed. A few of them are briefly mentioned here.

Clean and Smoke-Free Work Space: Unlike other welding methods, MIG does not produce as many spills or fumes. The welder does not have to stop intermittently to clear out the workspace. One still needs to ensure proper ventilation, but the benefits of a clean workspace will have benefits that go beyond safety concerns.

Fewer Interruptions and Downtime: For TIG welding, a welder may have to stop several times when welding to readjust the settings or rest their arms and feet. After all, holding a torch in one hand, feeding the filled wire with the other, and controlling the output with a foot pedal can get physically and mentally exhausting. For simpler processes like MMA, the welder will have to stop frequently to attach new consumable electrodes. With a MIG welder, you set the appropriate values in the machine and gas nozzles while the electrode is fed continuously from a loop. The welder can work for longer lengths of time. The lack of distractions also allows them to concentrate on their work better.

Polarity Reversal with Special Fillers: MIG welders normally work with the electrode set as positive, an aspect called Electrode Positive (EP) or Torch Positive (TP or T+). However, some MIG wires allow you to work without a shielding gas, while others give you the option to choose. Gasless MIG welding its critics, but it also means that you can work outdoors, even if there is a strong wind blowing. Such filler wires usually require an Electrode Negative (EN) setup. What this boils down to is that you can do work that would normally be only possible with an MMA welder. With the advantages of MIG over MMA, the benefits are only too obvious. Gasless MIG also helps offset the cost of renting or buying gas cylinders.

Higher Duty Cycles: MIG welders, in general, have much higher duty cycles than an MMA welder at output ratings for similar metals. This means that a user can weld continuously without the risk of damaging the welder. This also results in a smoother weld than from the stop-go method of MMA welding.

With so many time-saving features and the associated benefits, it is little wonder that MIG welders are gaining immense popularity in Australian cities like Brisbane.

About the author:

Kym Morgan is the marketing director of eWelders.com.au, a leading online specialty welding site in Australia. They sell a massive range of MIG Welders, TIG Welders, ARC Welders, Inverter Welders, Multi-Purpose Welders, High Function TIG Welders, AC/DC TIG Inverters, Spot Welders and Engine Driven Welders in Australia. Their mission at eWelders.com.au is to gather Australia’s best range of welders and put them under one roof.

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Kym Morgan

About the Author

Kym Morgan
Joined: November 27th, 2015
Articles Posted: 19

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