How to configure the torch?

[Wombat]

Can someone tell me how the torch of a MIG welder should be set up?

I have seen the contact tip protruding out past the end of the gas shield and some with the tip recessed back inside the shield.

What should the correct set up be - particularly for welding thin car panels?

 

[shenion]

Usually just even with the shroud or slightly inside. For corner welds, you can have it protruding but you risk the chance of shorting it against the work.

 

[pedrobedro]

I used to use a cut down and slightly squashed shroud for tight corners building my chassis, the tip was about 1/4" proud. Whatever works for you is the way to go.

 

[Tino]

This is the answer I posted to much the same question a while back.

“In theory, for dip the tip should be 3 to 10mm beyond the end of the nozzle, with the wire 3 to 6mm beyond the tip. And for spray 6 to 10mm within the nozzle with the wire 20 to 30mm beyond the tip (end of tip to weld pool). In practice it is usually not easy to adjust.”

For thin stuff you will be using dip so the tip can stick out a little. The advantage is better visibility and as pedrobdro says getting into tight corners, the disadvantage is its easier to lose your gas cover and as shenion says the possibility of shorting the tip on the work. Personally I never bother adjusting the nozzle on my little home MIG, tip more or less even with the end of the nozzle works fine for me. At work its a different game big sets big power so the tip is well inside the nozzle as we are using spray almost all the time. If I do use dip I do have to alter the set up to suit.

 

[Wombat]

Thanks everyone - most helpful