steve nunn
Member
- Messages
- 58
Aye, lifes full of conundrums.
Pushing gives you better gas coverage (cos the weld is 'walking' into the gas field instead of away, although probably not a huge difference to be honest, but thats the theory anyway) . It also gives you better penetration (not sure why, I think its because the weld puddle is formed longer, ie in one place because you are pushing into the puddle and not pulling away from it, which means more of the base metal will melt and form part of the weld puddle, ie a better/ stronger weld)
You can get great looking welds from pulling, but if you dont know what you are actually doing inside the weld puddle, the weld will be just laid on top of the metal and not penetrating into the base metal.
I always think about what I am trying to do inside the puddle when I am welding. Think about the different thicknesses, which bit will take less heat to melt (and point the torch more onto the other bit), which bit will act as a heat sink more than the other bit (which means it needs more heat to melt). Where is the gas going, where is the wire going.
Then I think about what am I actually trying to do, I am trying to melt both peices of base metal, preferable at the same time lol, get them to mix in together, and fill the shortfall/ make fillet up with the filler wire.
Dunno other people think like this, its almaost a ritual for me before I weld anything lol.
But ultimately you are trying to get the two base metals to melt/fuse in together. Which means you need to get the heat in the right place for the right length of time and angle to do this. Too little heat or in the wrong place and you get a crap weld, too much or in the wrong place and you blow through.
And take your time when you weld, its not a race. You want good penetrating welds. MIG can be fast, but you will probabbly end up with a poor weld, so take your time, move slower than you probably think, and think about the base metals melting inside the weld puddle.
Steve
PS yes it does hurt if you lean on the weld youve just laid down, so dont lean on it lol.
Pushing gives you better gas coverage (cos the weld is 'walking' into the gas field instead of away, although probably not a huge difference to be honest, but thats the theory anyway) . It also gives you better penetration (not sure why, I think its because the weld puddle is formed longer, ie in one place because you are pushing into the puddle and not pulling away from it, which means more of the base metal will melt and form part of the weld puddle, ie a better/ stronger weld)
You can get great looking welds from pulling, but if you dont know what you are actually doing inside the weld puddle, the weld will be just laid on top of the metal and not penetrating into the base metal.
I always think about what I am trying to do inside the puddle when I am welding. Think about the different thicknesses, which bit will take less heat to melt (and point the torch more onto the other bit), which bit will act as a heat sink more than the other bit (which means it needs more heat to melt). Where is the gas going, where is the wire going.
Then I think about what am I actually trying to do, I am trying to melt both peices of base metal, preferable at the same time lol, get them to mix in together, and fill the shortfall/ make fillet up with the filler wire.
Dunno other people think like this, its almaost a ritual for me before I weld anything lol.
But ultimately you are trying to get the two base metals to melt/fuse in together. Which means you need to get the heat in the right place for the right length of time and angle to do this. Too little heat or in the wrong place and you get a crap weld, too much or in the wrong place and you blow through.
And take your time when you weld, its not a race. You want good penetrating welds. MIG can be fast, but you will probabbly end up with a poor weld, so take your time, move slower than you probably think, and think about the base metals melting inside the weld puddle.
Steve
PS yes it does hurt if you lean on the weld youve just laid down, so dont lean on it lol.