Experienced MIG welders will be insulted by the simplicity of these welding tips, but they may help folks who weld infrequently.
Many of us learned to weld with an old “buzz box” arc welder. We were taught to tilt the welding rod at an angle, and to “pull” the bead along the seam to be welded. The same is true with modern, high-tech arc welders.
However, if you’ve upgraded to a MIG welder, here are two tips to dramatically improve your welds:
- Remember that when MIG welding, the argon gas is the “flux” that protects the pool of liquid metal from contamination. If you’re welding outside, any cross-breeze can blow away the gas. The result is a bubbly, scabby-looking weld. Either weld indoors, or set up a windbreak to prevent disruption of that cone of gas around the welding point.
- Don’t hold the welding nozzle at an angle to the welding point. If you hold the nozzle at an angle like you would hold a welding rod, the protective gas cone is disrupted. It’s harder to see the size and shape of the pool of melted metal if you hold the nozzle square to the surface, but you’ll get better welds. Also—keep the nozzle close to the surface to maintain the protective shield of gas.
I still find myself returning to my roots as an arc welder, and tipping the nozzle of a MIG welding gun. Old habits are hard to break.
Read more from Dan:
Dan Anderson: The Great Chain Lubrication Debate
Embarrassed But Proud: Tales of Less-than-Ideal Repairs
Dan Anderson: When To Buy A Special Tool
