MIG & TIG Welding

As the premier metal fabricator in Michigan, we provide an expansive range of machining and manufacturing services to serve our clients’ needs. The welding team at Gable Manufacturing has decades of expertise and training in both MIG & TIG Welding, allowing us to deliver quality welds of steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and more. We use state of the art equipment in tandem with various welding techniques to create strong welds that last a lifetime. Industrial, structural or otherwise, Gable has your welding needs covered.

MIG (Metal Inert Gas) Welding Services

One of the most common forms of welding, Metal Inert Gas (MIG) welding involves feeding a consumable metal electrode through a welding gun. As the gun heats the wire electrode, an electrical arc forms between the electrode and the surface of the metal being worked on. The electrode rapidly melts and forms a weld pool that helps join the two metal components together. Once the weld pool cools, the joint Is complete. As the name implies, and inert gas mixture shields the weld from reacting to outside contamination. Depending on the type of metal being welded, different filler materials and shielding gases may need to be used.

MIG welding can be used for multiple applications across a broad range of industries. Pipelines are often welded using this process. Light and heavy duty construction jobs are achieved with MIG welding very often, whether you’re joining sheet metal together or building massive structures such as bridges. MIG welding is also used in automobile repair, home improvement, and on farming equipment.

While TIG welding is generally more precise than MIG welding, MIG is easier and faster to perform. It is also very versatile in that dissimilar metals can be joined together through this process. For projects that don’t require an extreme level detail, MIG welding is a fast and reliable option. The construction, automotive, and agricultural industries employ MIG welding on a daily basis. We have satisfied many clients in each industry with our professional MIG welding services.

Advantages of MIG Welding

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Easy Application: MIG welding is a simple process and can be easily performed by welders, who sometimes call it “point-and-shoot” due to its straightforward operation.
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Cleanliness: Welds are created with minimal excess material buildup, eliminating the need to brush the workpiece afterwards. Since this is a flux-free process, no slag is trapped in the weld.
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Versatility: MIG welding can be performed on many different metals, such as steel, stainless steel, aluminum, nickel, magnesium, copper, and many metal alloys.
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Speed and Efficiency: The electrode used for MIG welding is fed continuously into the welding gun, allowing the operator to keep working without needing to feed or replace it. As a result, the welds are consistent in quality and can be performed quickly.
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Increased Productivity: Thanks to MIG welding’s inherent high production speed, we can bring finished products to our customers in no time. With easy-to-achieve clean welds, we can also ensure a high quality product each time.
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Alloy Retention: The inert gas used in MIG welding effectively forms a blanket around the material during the weld, minimizing Because MIG welding uses a gas blanket, the loss of essential alloys is heavily mitigated compared to other welding techniques.

TIG Welding Services

Another widely used form of welding we are capable of performing is Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) Welding. This process is generally more precise than MIG welding and often used to join thinner materials together. The electrode used to create the weld is made from tungsten and is fed into the torch manually by the operator. Filler material is sometimes used to improve the weld. Much like MIG welding, inert gas is used to keep the electrode from being contaminated. While TIG welding is slower than MIG welding, it is far more precise. This makes it better suited for specialty projects that require the utmost attention to detail.

TIG welding is often used when weld strength, precision, and aesthetics take top priority. MIG welding is not necessarily an inferior process, but the experts at Gable Manufacturing know when to use the proper application for a given project. TIG welding gives the operator more control over the welding process, an invaluable asset when we produce parts for the aerospace industry. The high-strength joints produced by TIG welding are achieved with the narrower and more focused electrical arcs created by the welding torch. TIG weld beads have very few imperfections in them, ensuring a strong weld. If MIG welding is necessary for a project, we can ensure strong welds by grinding out a groove into the joint area before welding begins.

TIG can make for very aesthetically pleasing welds. After some light polishing to ensure a clean finish and remove discoloration, a good TIG weld often comes out looking similar to a uniform stack of coins. Even when left unpainted, steel and aluminum joints look immaculate after they’ve been TIG welded.

Which Process Should Be Used?

This is a question asked by many clients, and with good reason. Luckily, we always have the answer. Production runs that call for many parts to be produced are easily accomplished with MIG welding due to its speed. MIG welders can also be used for longer periods of time than TIG welders since the wire is continuously fed into the torch. Thicker and dissimilar materials are better suited to MIG welding as well.

TIG welding, on the other hand, is better suited for short production runs. Its high level of precision makes it the best choice for joining thin pieces together that a MIG welder may otherwise warp or burn completely through. In addition, its capability for detail is essential when working on a piece that requires delicate handling. Non-ferrous metals also benefit more from TIG welding.

No matter what your welding needs may be, Gable Manufacturing can offer a variety of solutions, manual and automated. Our welders have countless hours behind the welding torch, both MIG and TIG. We also build and utilize Robotic MIG Welding Workcells. If you’re still not sure which welding process is best suited for your specific project, contact us today and let us provide both the answer and the finished products.