AC/DC TIG vs MIG for these projects

[regal]

These are the projects I am looking at over the next few years:
1. turbo manifold/tubing
2. SS 1.5" T-Top frame for a boat
3. Build an Aluminum boat (3/16")

Do I want to get a spoolgun MIG setup or a AC/DC tig? I prefer the TIG but for some reason boat builders all use the MIG, I don't like the complication of a spool and all the setup inconvenience when changing metals. Not sure if I could use TIG to build a small aluminum boat?

[axehind]

I think with the variety of materials your going to be welding that TIG would be best for you.

axehind

[regal]

do you think the TIG could be used to build a boat hull without causing distortion?

[BSOK]

You will have greater control of the heat affected area on the work piece with Tig. If you use and foot petal or hand amp control you have excellent control of how much heat you are adding to the weld area. As with a spool gun set- up, when you pull the trigger you are committed to the settings that the machine was set to. I have used both Tig and Mig on Al and prefer Tig. I produce better welds with the Tig process and it is much easier to start, stop and restart the weld. The draw back may be the amount of time it takes to run the same weld bead, the Mig process is several times faster.

A Tig machine will give you greater flexibility to weld mild steel, stainless and AL. It is just a matter of changing the tungsten and using the correct filler rod. As for Mig you will need 3 types of gas for the three metals.

Good Luck with your projects.

[HWooldridge]

TIG will take longer but yield higher quality welds and have greater flexibility.

[Brainfarth]

I couldn't imagine welding an entire boat via TIG. I ran .052 aluminum mig at a job and pulled off 650 feet(all position) in 8 hours while cleaning all of my welds. I've never tried to TIG any large projects from start to finish. But I bet if you do, your last weld will look like a million bucks.

[Sberry]

My Bud bought a boat Hull recently, its like an 18 or 20 ftr, big wide thing, very sturdy, some kind of working type of boat and it was all tig welded,, o at least it sure looked tigged. Not one zit of splatter anywhere. These guys do it all the time,,, probably get fairly fast.

[regal]

thanks all for the help, I am going to look for a tig