{"id":640,"date":"2024-11-11T09:16:34","date_gmt":"2024-11-11T06:16:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hitsauskurssi.fi\/?p=640"},"modified":"2026-01-21T22:08:18","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T19:08:18","slug":"miksi-migmag-hitsaus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hitsauskurssi.fi\/en\/miksi-migmag-hitsaus\/","title":{"rendered":"Why is MIG\/MAG welding best technique for beginners?"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"MIG-hitsauskoneen<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Why is MIG\/MAG welding the ideal method for getting started with welding? And actually, for most small workshops as well?<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Jos hitsaamisen maailma on sinulle t\u00e4ysin uusi ja olet vasta tutustumassa aiheeseen, ensimm\u00e4isi\u00e4 asioita joita joudut miettim\u00e4\u00e4n on: mill\u00e4 menetelm\u00e4ll\u00e4 hitsata? Puikko, MIG\/MAG, TIG vai jotain muuta? Tehd\u00e4\u00e4n vertailua menetelmien v\u00e4lill\u00e4 ja katsotaan tuletko samaan loppup\u00e4\u00e4telm\u00e4\u00e4n kuin min\u00e4.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A quick browse online might leave you overwhelmed\u2014there are so many options, and you might not know where to begin. You\u2019ll come across stick welding, TIG welding, MIG\/MAG welding, and even old-school gas welding. To make things even more confusing, you might stumble upon articles about friction welding and laser welding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s simplify things. Friction and laser welding are strictly for industrial applications, so you don\u2019t need to worry about them. Gas welding was a big deal in the past, but nowadays, it\u2019s mainly used by specialists for specific repair tasks.

That leaves us with the three most common methods.
Listed here from the most affordable to the most expensive:
- Stick welding
- MIG\/MAG welding
- TIG welding<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Stick welding<\/mark><\/span><\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

At first, stick welding appears to be an appealing choice. The equipment is affordable, compact, and simple. There's no need for a separate gas cylinder, making the machine easy to acquire and highly portable. It works best on medium to thick materials, which is suitable for most users.

When stick welding, the biggest challenge is in the execution. To start the weld, you have to strike the electrode against the workpiece, much like lighting a match. Once the arc is established, you must continuously move the electrode closer as it melts away. For beginners, this often leads to frustration\u2014stuck electrodes, messy starts, and generally rough-looking welds. After welding, a slag layer forms on top of the weld, which must be removed by chipping and wire brushing. Stick welding is not well-suited for thin materials, as it can easily burn through them. In skilled hands, however, it produces strong quality welds across a variety of conditions.

I've occasionally heard the claim that \"if you need a strong weld, you have to use stick welding.\" However, I have yet to hear any real <\/em>justification for this widely repeated myth, so I take it for what it is\u2014a myth.

+ Affordable
+ Simple equipment
+ Compact and easily portable
- Challenging travel technique
- Slag must be removed after welding
- Generally overall rough
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MIG\/MAG welding<\/mark><\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Moving up from stick welding in price range, we arrive at MIG\/MAG welding machines. The smallest and most common size today is a portable, suitcase-style unit. Despite their compact size, modern machines are highly capable and sufficient for nearly all practical workshop needs\u2014I\u2019d even say for every need. Personally, I\u2019ve never encountered a situation where my Kemppi MinarcMig Evo200 lacked the power to get the job done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the machine itself is slightly larger and heavier than a stick welder, it remains easily portable. However, it requires a separate shielding gas cylinder, which comes in various sizes\u2014from very small to very large. With the right shielding gas cylinder(e.g., Linde Unicyl 10L<\/a>) a MIG\/MAG welding setup remains highly mobile, whether in the workshop or on the go in a van.

MIG\/MAG welding is versatile in material thickness, handling thin to thick materials (0.7\u20134.0mm), covering the needs of most users. Even thicker materials can be welded with proper preparation.

The technique is easier than stick welding. The welding torch feeds wire continuously, meaning the operator only needs to maintain steady travel and distance. Additionally, the weld is immediately finished\u2014unlike stick welding, there\u2019s no slag to remove.

+ Fast
+ Versatile \u2014 suitable for various situations and thicknesses
+ Easy technique
- More expensive equipment than stick welding
- Honestly, I can\u2019t think of any other major downsides<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"MIG\/MAG-hitsauskone
A modern, portable MIG\/MAG welding machine, Kemppi MinarcMig Evo 170, and Linde 10L Unicyl shielding gas cylinder.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"MIG-hitsauksen
A MIG weld performed by a welding course student.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

TIG welding<\/mark><\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Among manual welding methods, this is the most sexy\u2014often called the \"gentleman\u2019s weld\" and, in skilled hands, a true artist\u2019s tool. If you\u2019ve ever scrolled through Instagram and admired rows of perfectly stacked dimes, those welds were likely done with TIG. In practice, TIG welding is similar to old-school gas welding, but instead of a gas torch, it uses a modern torch with an electrode that generates the arc. The other hand feeds filler rod manually into the weld puddle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Compared to stick and MIG welding, TIG is incredibly clean, quiet, and smooth. No noise, no sparks\u2014just a steady hum and a flawless bead.

But compared to the other two techniques, it\u2019s also very much slower. This is further emphasized by the fact that workpieces must be fitted together with more precision than in MIG welding. TIG equipment is also significantly more expensive, and the technique is the most challenging since you must control two hands instead of one. TIG is the most finicky when it comes to cleanliness, requiring extra attention to material preparation.

TIG is the right choice when precision and aesthetics are key. It\u2019s also an incredibly enjoyable process\u2014almost therapeutic\u2014once you get the hang of it. It's best suited for thinner materials, and it even allows fusion welding without filler metal, which is great for creating ultra-clean outside corners.

The most budget-friendly way to try TIG is with a cheap stick\/TIG inverter, though it will be limited to steel and require \"scratch start\" ignition instead of a button. As you move up to dedicated TIG welders, features increase, and so does the price. If you want to weld aluminum (where TIG is often the top choice, though not the only one), you\u2019ll need an AC\/DC TIG machine\u2014adding another price jump.

+ Precise, beautiful welds
+ Quiet and clean to use
+ Can weld a wide range of materials effortlessly (with an AC\/DC TIG)
- Expensive
- Slow
- Requires precise fit-up and clean materials<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"TIG-hitsaus\"
TIG welding is similar in technique to traditional gas welding. However, instead of a gas flame, the weld is created using an electric arc generated by the electrode.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"TIG-hitsauksen
TIG welding produces delicate and precise welds, and in skilled hands, the results are visually beautiful.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Summary<\/mark><\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When comparing these welding methods in terms of price, versatility, and ease of use, MIG\/MAG welding checks the most boxes.
- In terms of price, it falls in the middle of these three. The price-to-performance ratio is excellent.
- In versatility, it is the clear winner. It handles everything from thin sheets to thick materials, from repair welding to new product fabrication.
- It is the simplest and easiest technique to learn.

If I had to choose only <\/em>one welding method, I would go with MIG. And that\u2019s exactly what I\u2019ve done. If you browse my company\u2019s Instagram<\/a>, all the welding work showcased is done with MIG\/MAG welding\u2014except for a few cases that could have been handled with MIG as well. Of course, others may have different opinions, and that\u2019s perfectly fine. My perspective is based purely on my own experience. As a second machine, I would choose TIG for more precise and cleaner work. As for stick welding machines, I would leave them on the store shelf\u2014simply because I have never actually needed<\/em> one. Not once.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

If you ended up here by accident and haven\u2019t taken the course yet\u2014but welding still interests you\u2014go check out our articles on welding basics. You\u2019ll find plenty of useful tips there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Articles:
Adjusting the welding machine<\/a>
Push or pull?<\/a>
Contact tip to workpiece distance<\/a>
Welding torch work angle<\/a>
How quickly can you learn welding?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

Article written by Anssi Juvonen<\/strong>
Entrepreneur and owner of Ape\u2019s metalshop Oy<\/em>
Instructor and creator of Hitsauskurssi.fi\u00ae<\/strong><\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/a>Koko profiili ja yhteystiedot t\u00e4st\u00e4<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/i><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"Anssi<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"Hitsauskurssi.fi<\/a><\/figure>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Mink\u00e4 takia juuri MIG\/MAG-hitsaus on hyv\u00e4 menetelm\u00e4 hitsaamisen aloittamiseen? Ja itse asiassa suurimpaan osaan pieni\u00e4 pajoja. Jos hitsaamisen maailma on sinulle t\u00e4ysin uusi ja olet vasta tutustumassa aiheeseen, ensimm\u00e4isi\u00e4 asioita joita joudut miettim\u00e4\u00e4n on: mill\u00e4 menetelm\u00e4ll\u00e4 hitsata? Puikko, MIG\/MAG, TIG vai jotain muuta? Tehd\u00e4\u00e4n vertailua menetelmien v\u00e4lill\u00e4 ja katsotaan tuletko samaan loppup\u00e4\u00e4telm\u00e4\u00e4n kuin min\u00e4. Hetken […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[9,23],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-640","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-mig-mag-hitsauksen-perusteet","category-miksi-mig-mag-hitsaus-on-paras-aloittelijalle"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hitsauskurssi.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/640","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hitsauskurssi.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hitsauskurssi.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hitsauskurssi.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hitsauskurssi.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=640"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/www.hitsauskurssi.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/640\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1372,"href":"https:\/\/www.hitsauskurssi.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/640\/revisions\/1372"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hitsauskurssi.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=640"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hitsauskurssi.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=640"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hitsauskurssi.fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=640"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}