learning to mig weld

<h1>learning to mig weld</h1>Author: <a title="Peter Apalais" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/authors/peter-apalais/61466.htm">Peter Apalais</a> Learning to mig weld When you're learning to mig weld you're going to need to cover a few basic steps first, and they are: <ol> <li>Welding safety</li> <li>Preparation</li> <li>Machine set up</li> <li>Installing mig wire</li> <li>Tack welds</li> <li>Torch postion</li> </ol> Like anything, safety is paramount.  You should always wear thick and heavy clothing such as overalls, a good strong pair of leather boots (preferably steel capped boots), welding gloves and a welding helmet. When you mig weld the arc gives off ultraviolent and infrared light. This light is very damaging to your eyes and because of that you need to be protected from it with a welding helmet. Not only is the welding arc bad for your eyes but it is very hot, so it's a good idea to use a quality pair of leather welding gloves. The best ones that I have come across have been the ones that are Kevlar stitched.  And by the way, the day that you don't put on your gloves will be the day that you pick up that hot bit of metal that you just welded and forgot about. Been there before. Once you're all geared up and ready to mig weld you need to prepare the surfaces.  Any traces of oil, paint, grease or heavy rust will have to be grinded off back to shiny metal.  This is very important in making a good weld bead. The welding wire will need to be installed onto the machine and the correct size contact tip will need to be fitted, make sure that your welding nozzle is clean.  Also check that you're using the correct size feed rollers for the wire. Depending on the thickness of metal that you're going to weld you're either going to need more power or less power.  This will be a matter of trial and error. Once you have this sorted you're going to make some tack welds first. A tack weld is a small weld that is used to hold all the larger pieces of metal together.  You tack weld first so that you can check that all the parts are in the right places and everything is aligned and square. Now once it is all tacked up and ready to go you can fully mig weld it up.  Finally when you're learning to mig weld you need to be aware of your torch position.  If you are using a flux cord wire you will need to use the pull technique, which is like when you are stick welding and you drag backwards.  If you use a solid mig wire such as an ER70S-6 class wire with a shielding gas you can either push or pull.  Learning which style suits you best will slowly take time. For more detailed information and photos check out this site here:  <a href="http://www.learn-how-to-weld.com/how-to-mig-weld.html">learning to mig weld</a>About the Author: Great tips on welding, FREE projects you can do at home. Simple, quick and easy lessons on how to MIG TIG and ARC weld.

Learn how to select a quality mig welding wire.
<a href="http://www.learn-how-to-weld.com" target="_blank">www.learn-how-to-weld.com</a>Article Source: <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/">ArticlesBase.com</a> - <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/diy-articles/learning-to-mig-weld-1056332.html" title="learning to mig weld">learning to mig weld</a>

Learning to mig weld

When you're learning to mig weld you're going to need to cover a few basic steps first, and they are:

Welding safety
Preparation
Machine set up
Installing mig wire
Tack welds
Torch postion

Like anything, safety is paramount. You should always wear thick and heavy clothing such as overalls, a good strong pair of leather boots (preferably steel capped boots), welding gloves and a welding helmet.

When you mig weld the arc gives off ultraviolent and infrared light. This light is very damaging to your eyes and because of that you need to be protected from it with a welding helmet.

Not only is the welding arc bad for your eyes but it is very hot, so it's a good idea to use a quality pair of leather welding gloves. The best ones that I have come across have been the ones that are Kevlar stitched. And by the way, the day that you don't put on your gloves will be the day that you pick up that hot bit of metal that you just welded and forgot about. Been there before.

Once you're all geared up and ready to mig weld you need to prepare the surfaces. Any traces of oil, paint, grease or heavy rust will have to be grinded off back to shiny metal. This is very important in making a good weld bead.

The welding wire will need to be installed onto the machine and the correct size contact tip will need to be fitted, make sure that your welding nozzle is clean. Also check that you're using the correct size feed rollers for the wire.

Depending on the thickness of metal that you're going to weld you're either going to need more power or less power. This will be a matter of trial and error. Once you have this sorted you're going to make some tack welds first.

A tack weld is a small weld that is used to hold all the larger pieces of metal together. You tack weld first so that you can check that all the parts are in the right places and everything is aligned and square.

Now once it is all tacked up and ready to go you can fully mig weld it up. Finally when you're learning to mig weld you need to be aware of your torch position. If you are using a flux cord wire you will need to use the pull technique, which is like when you are stick welding and you drag backwards. If you use a solid mig wire such as an ER70S-6 class wire with a shielding gas you can either push or pull. Learning which style suits you best will slowly take time.

For more detailed information and photos check out this site here: learning to mig weld

Great tips on welding, FREE projects you can do at home. Simple, quick and easy lessons on how to MIG TIG and ARC weld. Learn how to select a quality mig welding wire. www.learn-how-to-weld.com

Rate this Article:

0 / 5 stars - 0 vote(s)

Re-Publish

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/diy-articles/learning-to-mig-weld-1056332.html

Article Tags: Learning To Mig Weld, Wire Feed Welding

Related Videos
Related Articles
Ask / Related Q&A

Play

Learn How To Weld

Play

How To Perform a Butt Weld

Play

How to Use Weld-on Stud Nail Gun for Dent Repair

Play

How to Weld an Oil Pan

Play

Welding 101 With Jeff Nickell

Latest DIY Articles
More from Peter Apalais

Long Lasting Wicker Furniture

By: Gen Wright | 01/01/2010
My love of wicker furniture began 20 years ago and along the way I have grown to appreciate just what a versatile, attractive, economical and reliable type of furniture it is. I remember as a young girl, asking my parents for my very own wicker chair, I wanted one with a really big back, like a throne.

Is Remodeling A Basement Rigth For You?

By: DiyGuy | 31/12/2009
Basement remodeling could be an intimidating notion, but it’s an area of interest that comes up frequently when you get a new home. It could be a pricey endeavor that could be very beneficial, if done the right way.

Looking For Basement Bar Ideas?

By: DiyGuy | 31/12/2009
Have you increasingly contemplated setting up a bar in your basement? There are lots of basement bar ideas on the internet, but making your own helps you to custom fit your new bar to your room, your preference and your necessities.

Build a Solar Panel from the Comfort of Home

By: Gallen Ho | 31/12/2009
Have you ever been interested in solar panels, or wanted to know how you could build a solar panel to help power your home? Sell, learn our simplified step-by-step approach by reading this article!

Tips for Poultry House Construction Plans

By: John Bateman | 31/12/2009
Providing some useful information on poultry house construction plans.

A Guide for Building a Great Hen Coop

By: John Bateman | 31/12/2009
Great tips on how to build the best Hen Coop.

Battling black molds in your house

By: Lee Sew Ming | 31/12/2009
It would be a long battle when dealing with the black mold outrun in your house. When you try to clean them up, it will return from time to time without you knowing them coming back. Do take care of the prevention and protection when cleaning up the mold before it actually infects you in the first place.

Magnetic Power Generator

By: Gallen Ho | 31/12/2009
You can produce electricity with magnetic fields, through the use of a magnetic power generator. Now you can learn about this method of producing electricity, and how the environment is affected by the process.

Introducting the Autodarkening Welding Helmet

By: Peter Apalais | 26/09/2009 | Tools & Equipment
If you've never heard of the solar welding helmet, or the autodarkening welding helmet, then you're missing a million dollar invention. Why?

High Power LED Flashlight

By: Peter Apalais | 26/09/2009 | Tools & Equipment
This flashlight gives off so much light that it's as if you had your cars high beams in your hands. In comparison with a mag light torch, the LED flashlight totally blows the mag light away. Which LED torch is that?

Wire Feed Welding Machines

By: Peter Apalais | 28/07/2009 | Tools & Equipment
Wire feed welding machines are also known as mig welding machines or for short, a mig welder. Regardless of what you call the machine they all have the same basic features. Going by the description of the name, you need to feed wire. As this wire is feeding, electricity melts it and the base metal together.

learning to mig weld

By: Peter Apalais | 21/07/2009 | DIY
Learning to mig weld and want to discover how simple it really is to do? Let me show you how easy you can get started in mig welding at home right now.

Cheap welding helmet

By: Peter Apalais | 21/07/2009 | Tools & Equipment
I use a cheap welding helmet all the time. One of the best places to buy a welding helmet is online. I can remember ringing around all the local welding supply shops and....

Mig Welding and Arc Welding What is It?

By: Peter Apalais | 03/12/2008 | DIY
Mig welding and arc welding all use electricity to melt metal together. Mig welding is by far the easiest way to weld. Arc welding on the other hand is usually the first experience that people have with welding. Why? Well most people, friends farmers and handymen have an old buzz box or stick welder in the shed.

Mig Welding Basics: Mig Welding Machines

By: Peter Apalais | 03/12/2008 | DIY
The mig welding basics of mig welding machines can be broken down into four key areas. They are the welding power supply, the welding torch, the mig welding wire, and the earth clamp or ground clamp.