Tig, or tungsten inert gas welding used to be known as Heliarc welding when it was first developed in 1941, because helium was then used as the inert gas. As the process has developed and progressed the name was changed to Tungsten Inert Gas welding. Argon or a combination including argon is now more widely used as the inert gas for this process.
3500 We were taught that most welding processes create a temperature of 4000 F to 6000 F. The melting temperature of steel is approx. 2800 F. Considering that some heat escapes the weld area thru the air and some is absorbed by the surrounding metal plus the fact you are always moving to a cooler area as you weld the extra heat is necessary to maintain a weld puddle. If someone knows more about this than I do please improve my answer. I will not be offended.
The two processes are very different. With MIG (Metal Inert Gas,) wire is spooled out of your welding "torch" or "gun," and an arc passes across this wire and your material thus melting the two together. In TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) welding, your torch is only a source for the arc required to melt your material. An arc passes through piece of tungsten in your torch while welding. Tungsten has a much higher melting point, so it can be used to conduct enough electricity to melt steel and aluminum. You then manually add filler rod to join materials. Also, typically TIG welders have a peddle to adjust the amount of amperage being used (similar to a cars gas peddle.) MIG is preferred for thicker materials (3/8" and up,) and TIG is used for thinner metals, or if welding spatter can damage your part or the area where your part is located. The "Inert Gas" in TIG & MIG refers to the shielding gas (usually argon or CO2+Argon used to protect the weld puddle during welding.)
Manual Metal Arc Welding(MMAW) Also GTAW (TIG) and GMAW (MIG) The MIG wire carries electric current so it is considered the electrode. TIG the Tungsten is considered an electrode.
TIG welding electrodes do not melt under most applications. Electrode means it carries electrical current. In MIG welding the wire becomes the electrode. In TIG and Gas Welding the filler material is called a rod. Stick welding uses rods called electrodes.
The term flux means to clean. Not all welding processes use a flux. Stick welding electrodes contain fluxing agents. MIG hard wire doesn't but flux-cored MIG wire does. TIG does not as the rods are bare. Most brazing applications require flux. Gas welding usually doesn't except for certain metals.
Welding gas can refer to two things. In torch welding, it is either a fuel gas such as acetylene or MAPP or oxygen, and in arc welding (MIG, TIG, etc...) it refers to any of the inert gases such as carbon dioxide or argon that is pumped over the weld pool to protect it from atmospheric contaminants.
Tungsten Inert Gas (orTIG) welding is also referred to as GTAW (Gas Tungsten Arc Welding) and by the term Heliarc® which was the Linde Company's trade name for the TIG process when it was originally introduced.The welding arc is started with a sharply pointed tungsten electrode shielded by inert gas. A separate filler rod is fed manually into the weld puddle in much the same way as is done when gas welding.The process is well suited for aluminum.
TIG Tungstun Inert Gas & MIG Metal Inert Gas.
Gas, arc, mig and tig.
Oxygen and acetylene for flame welding. Argon for Tig welding CO2 for MIG welding steels Argon for MIG welding aluminum TRI-mix for robotic mig of steels. And helium is added for some overhead welding.
It depends on what you are welding. If you are doing welding on mild steel go with MIG welding; if it is aluminum or stainless steel then use TIG welding. TIG welding gives a nice looking finish. If you just want to get a decent look, then MIG is preferable and easy.
oxygen and acetylene gas Argon gas is used in MIG and TIG welding
Manual Metal Arc Welding(MMAW) Also GTAW (TIG) and GMAW (MIG) The MIG wire carries electric current so it is considered the electrode. TIG the Tungsten is considered an electrode.
It depends on what you're welding and what kind of weld you need. For an extremely strong weld where you don't want to transfer as much heat to the surrounding areas, tig is the way to go. Tig has the option of melting only the source material (together), so if it is better than no material is added, then tig is the better process. If you want a small, uniform weld, then tig is also superior. Mig is wire-feed and so adds material to the pieces being welded. So it is better for filling areas or adding superior strength. If the material surrounding the weld can take the heat or doesn't matter if it is deformed or discolored, then mig welding is the way to go. A good discussion of Tig and Mig welding is here http://www.ridgecrest.ca.us/~biesiade/weld.htm.
Oxy-acetylene (notice the spelling) came first.
There are a number of different welding techniques you will learn at welding school. Some of the techniques you will learn include Mig, Tig, Stick & Pipe.
It is called aluminum welding. Aluminum can be TIG welded, the most common method, or oxy-fuel welded, or stick welded, or MIG welded.
TIG welding electrodes do not melt under most applications. Electrode means it carries electrical current. In MIG welding the wire becomes the electrode. In TIG and Gas Welding the filler material is called a rod. Stick welding uses rods called electrodes.
It is called aluminum welding. Aluminum can be TIG welded, the most common method, or oxy-fuel welded, or stick welded, or MIG welded.