The History of MIG Welding

HomeBlogThe History of MIG Welding

Metal inert gas (MIG) welding uses an electric arc to fuse workpiece metals together. This arc heats the metals, causing them to melt and join. It is also commonly referred to as gas metal arc welding (GMAW). To shield the process from contaminants which can jeopardize the integrity of the resultant piece of fused metal, a shielding gas is fed through the welding gun, blocking these contaminants and keeping the job clean.

The History of MIG Welding

While this technique was originally used for welding non-ferrous metals like aluminum when it was developed in the 1940s, it quickly spread to steel fabrication due to its faster welding time compared with the other methods that existed at the time. The process relied on relatively expensive inert gases at first, or gases that don’t readily undergo chemical reactions, but as developments in the technology allowed for semi-inert gases like carbon dioxide to be used, the technique gained wider use worldwide.

Another factor that encouraged this widespread adoption is that MIG welding is relatively low in difficulty. Within only a few weeks, most individuals are able to attain some degree of mastery over the skill involved in wielding one of these welding guns, making it a great option for projects that are great and small alike. Two common issues regarding the quality of a given weld, however, are dross and porosity. Dross refers to solid impurities that can form on the surface of the welded material, and porosity refers to the occurrence of gas bubbles that become trapped in the melting metal as it cools and hardens.

MIG welding has almost limitless applications when it comes to metal fabrication. Seldom is there a metalworking project which doesn’t involve some form of welding, and MIG welding is often the go-to technique for professional metal fabricators. Contact our team today at AccuSpec Fabrication to see how we can help you with all your welding and fabrication needs.