Ask any welder in Kent which is better, MIG or TIG, and the honest answer is that it depends on what you are welding, what it is made of, and how much the finish matters. Neither process is superior across the board. This guide explains how each one works, where each earns its keep, and how to tell which one your job actually needs.
MIG (metal inert gas) welding feeds a spool of wire through a torch while shielding gas, usually an argon and CO2 mix, protects the weld pool. The wire is both the electrode and the filler, so the welder controls one thing with one hand. It is fast, forgiving on slightly dirty steel, and lays down a lot of metal quickly. That makes it the workhorse for structural steel, gates, railings, trailers, brackets and most repair work.
TIG (tungsten inert gas) welding uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode to create the arc while the welder feeds a separate filler rod by hand, with pure argon as the shield. It is slower, needs clean metal, and takes more skill, but it gives precise control over heat and produces a neat, low-spatter weld. It is the go-to for stainless steel, aluminium, thin sheet, and anything where the weld will be on show.
For most domestic and light commercial jobs in the Gravesend area, MIG wins on speed and cost. A driveway gate in 40mm box section, a set of stair railings, a repaired trailer chassis or a bracket for a garden structure will almost always be MIG welded. The joints are strong, the process handles 3mm to 12mm mild steel comfortably, and a job that might take a full day with TIG can often be finished in a couple of hours.
MIG also copes better on site. Wind is a problem for any gas-shielded process, but MIG with a slightly higher gas flow, or flux-cored wire, can be used outdoors where TIG really cannot. If a welder is coming to your property to fix a gate post or a farm implement, expect MIG.
TIG comes into its own on stainless steel and aluminium. Stainless balustrades, kitchen worktops, brewery and food-grade pipework, and boat fittings need a clean, corrosion-resistant weld that MIG struggles to match without heavy grinding. Aluminium, whether a boat trailer, a bike frame or a cast part, is far more reliably welded with AC TIG than with MIG, particularly under about 3mm thickness.
TIG is also the answer for thin material. A rusted-through car sill or a 1mm stainless panel will blow through under MIG heat but can be welded cleanly with TIG. The trade-off is cost: expect labour to be roughly 30 to 60 percent higher per joint than MIG because of the slower travel speed and the preparation needed.
Typical workshop rates in north Kent run from around £40 to £70 per hour for MIG fabrication, with TIG work generally quoted higher because it is slower and often involves pricier materials. A simple MIG repair on a gate might be £60 to £150 depending on access and preparation, while a TIG welded stainless handrail is priced per metre and depends heavily on polishing and fitting. These are ballpark figures, not guarantees, and any decent welder will want to see the job or photos before quoting.
The practical point is that you do not need to choose the process yourself. Tell the welder what the item is, what it is made of, where it lives and whether it will be painted. They will pick the process that suits, and if someone insists on TIG for a painted mild steel gate, or MIG for an aluminium boat fitting, it is fair to ask why.
Not inherently. A properly done MIG weld on mild steel is just as strong as a TIG weld on the same joint. TIG gives better control and a cleaner finish, which matters more on stainless, aluminium and thin material than on structural steel.
Yes, with the right wire, gas and settings, and it is common on thicker stainless. For aluminium under about 3mm or any job where appearance matters, TIG usually gives a more reliable and neater result.
Almost always MIG, or sometimes stick welding for heavy rusty steel, because both tolerate outdoor conditions. TIG is sensitive to draughts and normally done in a workshop, so stainless or aluminium items are usually taken away and returned.
Tell Michael about your job. Drop a quick message with what needs welding, where it is and a photo if you have one. He will come back the same day.