MIG welding....push or pull

[Chain Bender]

Have a Hobart Handler 140. Never have been as good with it as I am with a stick, but then again, twice nothing is still nothing!

I am bound and deterimined to use this machine. I'm adding on to a set of ramps for my tractor hauler. Tractor is short wheel based, ramp angle is a little steeper than I like. Yesterday I was trying to off-load the B3200 with a 5' bush hog on it and it put it such a bind when the wheel on the bush hog hit the ground that it actually lifted the back wheels of the tractor up just enough than they both slid off the ramps to the right. Was no way to get the rear wheels back up on the trailer, so I used some 2X12's to walk the front wheels off the trailer.

That should not have happened. I studied the linkage on the top link and it seemed to have been put on backwards. I turned it around to give 180 degrees of rotation and tested the flex in the bush hog when put in a bind such as loading/unloading and it looked a lot better.

HOWEVER, I still want to add about 18" of length to the ramps. Going to get some angle iron this morning.

2X3X3/16" for main frame and 2X2X.125 for treads and supports.

Need some pointers on my welder. Have .030 and .035 wire. Plenty of argon and plenty of time. (I alos have plenty of rods as well) Will I get better results with a push or pull method?

Any advice will be appreciated.

 

[Arbo]

I suggest that you do some practicing before welding on your ramps. With that said, a simple reminder is..."When you have slag, drag.

You don't say whether you are running solid wire with gas or flux core wire. If it is solid wire with gas, you either want 75/25 AR/CO2 mix or pure CO2. If flux core, you will not be using any gas. Remember that the polarity needs to be changed for the type of wire you are using. Any more questions, post up.

 

[slowzuki]

You are going to need the welder maxed out nearly for 2 pieces of 3/16 if that is the welder I think it is, clean up the joint before you weld, it isn't forgiving to dirt like stick. Set the proper gap as well, us home welders with stick tend to crank up the amps and make it work but MIG just won't penetrate if you don't set up the weld right.

I prefer pulling, as I'm used to stick and can see the puddle better doing bodywork. Push delivers slightly better penetration but I find it can cause to much wire burnback on higher amp settings.

 

[sizzami]

you will find that , pushing and pulling have thier places typically I try to push because it does make a better weld but the heat gained by pushing is often offset by the change in distance between contact tip and work next to amperage setting , this is the only way to adjust the heat you are applying , no offense to anyone , but less skilled welders tend to pull because it allows them to ride the nozzle , if you are holding your gun at the correct angle the heat difference is nominal because the angle is very slight .

 

[IslandTractor]

I am not a skilled welder but I find pull much easier than push. The main reason is that I can see the puddle much more easily. I appreciate the slight potential advantage of push but for someone who doesn't weld much pull is the way to go.

 

[FastPauly]

Something else to keep in mind if you are going to be welding outdoors using bare wire/shielding gas. Make sure there is no wind blowing.....a small breeze can have a major impact on the weld due to the shielding gas being blown away. I experienced this problem on one of my projects....it was one of those gusty, wind swirling days.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Either is ok...but it will depend upon the desired results. If you want deeper penetration, pull. If you want shallower, wider penetration, push.

 

[Arbo]

Either is ok...but it will depend upon the desired results. If you want deeper penetration, pull. If you want shallower, wider penetration, push.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO GIVE ADVISE, AT LEAST MAKE IT GOOD ADVISE.

 

[Mark @ Everlast]

Arbo,
It is good advice. There are no hard fast rules about pulling or pushing. Some schools teach one method, while others teach another...In reality both styles will produce different results. Pulling results in deeper penetration, with a narrower bead profile. Pushing results in shallower penetration, with a wider bead profile. The employment of either and knowing when to use it will come with experience.

I would suggest if you are going to make a comment, make it a good comment.:thumbsup:

 

[ZLineFabrication]

"Pulling results in deeper penetration, with a narrower bead profile. Pushing results in shallower penetration, with a wider bead profile. The employment of either and knowing when to use it will come with experience."

This



run the .035 solid w gas, no wind. run a 10% mix and set the reg at about 30-32.

pull trigger and GO.

tip: watch the puddle, NOT the arc

Oh Yeah....Dont be afraid of getting burned, you WILL get burned at some point.