Distance of Welding Torch from Steel

[gholian]

Hi,

Have been practicing with my Oxford 200-1 for a few days now. At the moment am trying to weld 1mm mild steel into boot area of 1980's Fiat. Steel on this car is less than 1mm Seems to be going okay so far. I have a question on using the welding torch. On the manual it says hold welding torch over material so outer nozzle is around 5mm from material to be welded at angle of 60 to 70 degrees. The question I have is do I have the welding wire touching the steel and then pull the trigger on the torch to weld or is it better to have it a mil or two away and then pull trigger to weld. I find having torch 5mm from steel is too close.

Thanks.

 

[Welderpaul]

I don't think it really matters if the wire is touching the steel or not. It's not going to be long once you pull the trigger for the wire to be touching the steel.

I have the end of my shroud 20mm or so away from whatever i am welding. 5mm sounds like you will end up with a shroud full of spatter very quickly.

 

[BrokenBiker]

5mm seems quite close. 10mm is better imo

 

[kelvinjouhar]

I don't think it really matters if the wire is touching the steel or not. It's not going to be long once you pull the trigger for the wire to be touching the steel.
.

Can you just explain that - I had always imagined that the arc was produced because there was a gap between the metal and the wire ? Thanks !

 

[gholian]

Yes, 10 to 15mm seems to work best today. Am trying to spot weld vertically today. Doesn't seem as easy as doing with the metal on the flat.

Thanks.