MIG Welding Tips & Tricks
Because knowing is half the purchase
Tips for choosing supplies
- For thin metals, use a smaller diameter wire. For thicker metals, use larger wire and a larger machine.
- Your wire and base metal should generally be the same. Use stainless steel wire when welding stainless steel, aluminum wire when welding aluminum, etc.
- Use ER70S-6 wire to help deoxidize your base metal when welding dirty or rusty steel.
- Match your contact tube, gun liner and drive rolls to the wire diameter you’re using.
Tricks for a better technique
- Keep a ¼ - ⅜ in. electrode extending from the contact tube (commonly known as stickout). See Diagram➊for a visual example.
- For best control of your weld bead, keep the wire directed at the leading edge of the weld pool.
- When welding out of position (vertical, horizontal or overhead), keep the weld pool small and use the smallest diameter wire you can.
- Keep the drive rolls, gun liner and nozzle clean and spatter-free.
- Replace the contact tip if it’s blocked or feeding poorly.
- Keep the gun as straight as possible when welding to avoid poor wire feeding.
- Use both hands to steady the gun whenever possible.
- Keep wire feeder hub tension and drive roll pressure tight enough to feed wire, but don’t overtighten.
- Keep wire in a clean, dry place to avoid contaminants that lead to poor welds.
- Use a drag or pull gun technique for more penetration and a narrower bead. Use a push gun technique for less penetration and a wider bead. See Diagram➌for a visual example.
➊
Electrode Extensions (Stickout)
![](http://www.nbrren.com/medias/diagram-img-1.gif?context=bWFzdGVyfHJvb3R8NzYzOXxpbWFnZS9naWZ8aDE4L2gyYi8xMTU0NTQwMjkzMzI3OC5naWZ8MGJiNTkwOWY2OGVkZDU2Y2IxNWFjNDRmNGQ1Yjc0NjdhMmYzYWZjNTFkYTY3YjhhNDIyODcyMDE0Mzc4ODMyYg)
➋
Penetration Patterns for Steel
![](http://www.nbrren.com/medias/diagram-img-2.gif?context=bWFzdGVyfHJvb3R8NzgxOHxpbWFnZS9naWZ8aDQ2L2g3Yi8xMTU0NTQwMzIyODE5MC5naWZ8YjU5ZTZjZjY5NWQwMmQ4YzY4NTI0NjY4YTkyZDA5ZTE4MTI5NTE4ZDhiNzZlNzkwZGIzNTk5MzMyNDVlZjIzNw)
➌
Effect of Electrode Position and
Welding Technique
![](http://www.nbrren.com/medias/diagram-img-3.gif?context=bWFzdGVyfHJvb3R8MTI5MDd8aW1hZ2UvZ2lmfGhjMC9oNTEvMTE1NDU0MDM2NTQxNzQuZ2lmfGFmYmRkZGM2ZjgyYTJhZDU3ZWE2ZWRkYzcwZGQ4YTA1YmRkOTlkNDE0ZGRiZTU1N2NlY2IxYjNhY2Y4N2E3ZDA)
MIG (GMAW) Voltage - Bead Changes
![](http://www.nbrren.com /medias/diagram-img-4.gif?context=bWFzdGVyfHJvb3R8MjEwOTh8aW1hZ2UvZ2lmfGhjZi9oNzkvMTE1NDU0MDQ1NzE2NzguZ2lmfDhiNDkxM2FjMmI0Mzc4YzgxYjViNzUwNjI5Yzg3YTZmMzVhNTQwMzI4YjZjMTY4NjRhOTY1OTVlZmQ0NGNhNzQ)
MIG (GMAW) Gun and Weld Area
![](http://www.nbrren.com/medias/diagrma-img-5.gif?context=bWFzdGVyfHJvb3R8MjM4MjR8aW1hZ2UvZ2lmfGgxMy9oNmUvMTE1NDU0MDUwNjMxOTguZ2lmfDU3NTkyZmE3NmE2YmRhNGNkZDMzMjg0ODM0OTFhNGRmZGNiZWIwMzhhZjdkYWU5MDEwY2JkMjI4Y2IzMjE0MzU)