Accumulating parts to make some adjustable lower control arms for the TR8. Problem is that I can't find all the parts I need at one on line store. I need DOM tube, a weld in tube end bung, a urethane bushed fixed end(2"wide), and a urethane bushed adjustable rod end(also 2"wide) on the other. The design I'm after is exactly like many of the aftermarket mustang units, with the spring perch on top and a steel plate under for mounting the sway bar. Once I get everything here, cut, cleaned, and ready to weld, can I just mig weld the tube ends to the steel DOM tubing, or am I better off shelling out $100 and have a pro tig weld them? For what its worth, I have built a couple dozen roll cages with my migs and a bunch of other stuff. Never had a failure. I'm a decent welder, just don't have a tig or ever even tried to tig. Is a mig just a strong as a tig? These are going in a car with an LS3 and a Ford Explorer 8.8, so they are going to see some serious forces acting on them.
We're talking about all steel parts here, right? If so, I see no reason a properly done MIG weld wouldn't be strong enough. TIG might be prettier, but either should be able to achieve the needed strength.
tr8todd said:
Is a mig just a strong as a tig?
Welding is welding and one will not be stronger than the other. Most people don't realize that, and think there's some magical reason that tig is stronger or better. It comes down to material and technique.
I would worry less about type of weld and more about confidence in my welding ability when asking if a pro shop should weld anything on my behalf
44Dwarf
UltraDork
10/26/17 9:03 a.m.
Either should be fine, some say MIG is colder weld but if two welds are done for same penetrations same quality of weld the heat will be near the same.
As for the parts you need look at A&A in fact they have a sale on right now.
A&A MFG
Awesome thread!
All four welding processes end with the same result- two pieces of metal, bonded together.
Which one you use will depend on what you are trying to accomplish. I use TIG nearly exclusively due to the nature of the work I do; cleanliness and appearance are a high priority, and I’ve yet to see anything better than TIG for Stainless steel. If I was welding trailers? Mig. Fast and easy. For pipefitting, stick is used, due to the sheer amount of fill and heat needed. For brazing and other similar operations, we use oxy-acetylene. They’ve all got high and low points, but my favorite, by far, is still TIG.
The first question you should ask when trying to decide on a weld process is "what's the material?". I'm assuming steel but what alloy? If it's 1018, 1020 or 1026 then either MIG or TIG is viable. If it's 4130 then you really need to TIG it. For alloys that I can MIG I generally do. It's faster and easier.
