If you want to weld art or make small sculptures a MIG welder that has gas hook up will give you the ability to weld the most diverse range of projects and what I ultimately recommend to most artists. I've use a small MIG to weld everything from silverware art to a 10 foot tall dragon with it. 

​

HOWEVER...

If you are drawn to TIG welding or MIG welding a practiced welder can take either process and create masterful works of large or small welded or sculpted art.

​

With this being said I prefer, TIG for smaller projects that require precision and MIG for larger projects needing more weld and bounce back and fourth between processes on different sculptures depending on design. I love the precision of TIG and the experience of welding it feels peaceful like poetry. I love the ability to throw sparks and lay down lots of molten steel fast with MIG. I believe my ability to use both processes have helped me be a better artist.

With todays technology we don't necessarily have to choose between processes. There multi-process machines that have MIG, TIG, and stick welding capabilities all in one. They are compact, lightweight, and an inexpensive investment in your fun or business and for around the same price as a machine that only does one process you have the ability to learn the others if you choose.

If you will be TIG welding for long periods of time you will need a liquid cooled TIG. Without that you will be sitting around waiting for your torch to cool off. The same goes for a MIG welder. If you will be putting a lot of weld down you will need a larger MIG welder that will run without over heating. 

I personally own a Miller Syncrowave 300 TIG and a Miller 255 MIG, both high end machienes for the professional. Both machines have never needed a cooling off period while I worked, and I work! They are the second and third biggest investment in my shop after my CNC plasma table however completely worth it. 

​