Metal Inert Gas (MIG) welding is one of the most widely used welding techniques in the automotive industry. It is primarily used for welding light gauge aluminum sheet metal and other non-ferrous metals (metals with little to no traces of iron). MIG welding is a type of arc welding, which means that it uses high-powered electricity to create enough heat to weld metal. It is fed by a tank of metal inert gas through a cable, passing through the welder and creating a protective gas shield on the outside of the welding torch nozzle. This gas shield protects your welding area from becoming contaminated with foreign bodies.
The main advantage of MIG welding is that it is a much faster way to weld metal than stick welding. Also, MIG welding produces long, continuous welds much faster and with more precision than traditional welding methods, and since the gas shield on the end protects the welding arc, MIG welding produces a clean weld with very little, if any, splatter. Its ability to produce solid, clean welds is why MIG welding is such a manufacturing staple tool in the automotive world.
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