The MIG gun should be pointing upward between 35 to 45 degrees and tilting about 15 to 35 degrees toward the direction of the weld. You need to watch out for overlap and the weld rolling over. Always keep it to a tight stringer beads on any joint.

Similarly, Do you MIG weld uphill or downhill?

This is done to prevent overheating and warping of the components. But for anything more than thin gauge material, downhill welding is usually considered taboo. Welding uphill is the method of choice for most welds.

Additionally, What angle should a MIG gun be at? Flat position

When welding a butt joint (a 180-degree joint), the welding operator should hold the MIG welding gun at a 90-degree work angle (in relation to the work piece). Depending on the thickness of the base material, push the gun at a torch angle between 5 and 15 degrees.

How do you mig weld perfectly?


Putting to practice any of these tips is likely to improve the quality and durability of your weld.

  1. Clean, Clean, Clean. …
  2. Get a Great Ground. …
  3. Keep Your Stickout Short. …
  4. Use Both Hands. …
  5. Listen To Your Welder. …
  6. Keep The Arc Up Front. …
  7. Match Drive Rolls, Gun Cable Liner, Contact Tip to the Wire Size. …
  8. Push or Pull.

Is it easier to MIG weld uphill or downhill?

MIG welding uphill is a hot topic in many welding forums because it’s generally easier to MIG weld downhill, and you’ll read plenty of experienced welders who claim they’ve never done anything other than welding downhill.

Can you MIG weld down hill?

MIG also is excellent for welding downhill. Downhill welding is when you start at the top of a vertical weld joint and weld downward to the bottom. Although not a good process for structural welding, it is great for projects. … For downhill MIG, point the gun up into the weld puddle.

Is downhill weld as strong as uphill?

In downhill welding, you weld from the top down. Uphill is considered stronger, but as it takes longer, the potential for burn through is greater. It is better for thicker steels, where downhill is adequate for thinner steels. Both techniques require practice, but can produce a good looking, sound weldment.

What is normal arc length in welding?

In general, the arc length is 0.10 inch and this measurement is taken as a base. One half of the weld penetration is combined with the base measurement and this results in the arc length for a certain amperage.

What should I set my MIG welding regulator to?

Press the trigger on the MIG gun to activate the gas valve. Read the PSI on the left regulator gauge; it should read between 25 and 30 cubic foot-hours.

Why are my MIG welds not flat?

It’s caused primarily by improper welding gun angle or incorrect travel speed. Avoid this problem by maintaining a 0- to 15-degree gun angle during welding and keeping the arc on the leading edge of the weld pool. It’s sometimes necessary to increase travel speed to maintain correct arc position.

Why is uphill welding better?

When welding uphill, you are “fighting” gravity, so your speed is slow. When welding downhill, gravity pulls the weld pool down, so it results in great speed. Vertical down welding is quite difficult at the best of times, and many welding consumables and welding parameters will not allow downhill welding.

What are the advantages of making vertical down welds?

The vertical down technique helps when welding thin metals because the arc penetrates less due to the faster travel speed. Because vertical down welding helps avoid excessive melt-through, welders sometime place very thin materials in the vertical position even if they can weld them in the flat position.

Why do Pipeline welders weld downhill?

On thinner-wall pipe, downhill welding enables operators to run “hot and fast,” increasing productivity compared to welding uphill, which is required on thicker wall pipe to increase heat input to ensure complete penetration.

What advantages are there in downhill welding and how should it be used?

Pipe welding downhill has the advantage of speed, and as a result, it tends to be less fatiguing and easier than welding uphill. However, welding downhill isn’t suitable for all applications because it does affect the formation of the weld.

What is the ideal arc length?

As a good starting point, arc length should not exceed the diameter of the metal portion (core) of the electrode. For example, an 1/8-inch 6010 electrode is held about 1/8 inch off the base material. … Too long of an arc length will create excess spatter in the weld joint. There is also a high potential for undercut.

What is the length of the arc generally?

Explanation: The distance from the center of the arc to the tip of the electrode, right till the bottom of the crater is defined to be the arc length. The arc length is considered to be one of the most essential variable in welding process. 3.

What is the correct arc length for SMAW?

Arc length for 1/16 and 3/32 in. diameter electrodes should be about 1/16 in. (1.6 mm); arc length for 1/8 and 5/32 in. elec- trodes should be about 1/8 in.

What is the correct gas pressure for MIG welding?

MIG shielding gas flow is set and measured as cubic feet of gas per hour (CFH) NOT pressure in psi. Unlike oxyfuel welding and cutting, MIG gas flow rates are very low. The gas pressure in the hose going into a wire feeder/welder, while welding, typically varies from 3 to 8 psi.

What should MIG gas be set at?

MIG welding requires DC electrode positive, or reverse polarity. The polarity connections are usually found on the inside of the machine. Set gas flow. Turn on the shielding gas and set the flow rate to 20 to 25 cubic feet per hour.

What should gas flow be for MIG welding?

So what is the correct gas flow rate for welding? The correct gas flow rate in MIG welding ranges between 15 to 25 CFH.

Why does my MIG wire ball up?

Too fast of a wire feed speed, too high of a voltage setting, and too long of a welding wire extension, or stick-out, can cause spatter. Lowering the given settings and using a shorter stick-out can help. Like porosity, insufficient shielding gas and/or dirty base materials can cause spatter.

What causes MIG Burnback?

Burn back is also very common. It results when a weld forms in the contact tip. It usually occurs when the wire is fed too slowly or the MIG gun is held too close to the base metal. To correct burn back, increase the wire feed speed and lengthen the distance of the MIG gun from the workpiece.

What is an uphill weld?

As you may know, we use either downhill or uphill welding in the vertical position. Downhill welding is carried out with a downward progression, conversely, uphill moves in an upward progression. Downhill welding is often used for fillet welding of steel sheets due to the following advantages over uphill welding.