MIG (metal inert gas) welding, also known as wire feed welding, MAG (metal active gas) welding, or GMAW (gas metal arc welding), creates clean welds and can be used on thick or thin plate metals. It is ideal for high-production environments and is commonly used in manufacturing, automotive, railroad, metalworking, and farm applications. During the process, a MIG welding machine (also known as a MIG welder) provides electric current to a MIG welding gun. A wire feeder feeds welding wire to the gun to create an electrical arc that melts and fuses material from the workpiece and the wire to create a weld. Nozzles, retaining heads, tips, and other consumable parts and accessories are used with MIG welding equipment to feed the electrode wire to the gun, create a conductive path for the welding arc, help shape the weld, direct shielding gas to the weld pool to keep out contaminants, and more.