MIG welding....push or pull

[Shield Arc]

Personally I don't get to caught up in which way to weld, I do what ever the puddle requires. unless I know I'm heading into arc blow territory, then I'll start in it, and work my way out.

Some good information!


Miller - MIG Welding Tips - Intro

 

[Chain Bender]

Thanks guys for all the input(s). In this machine I use .023, .030 and .035 solid wire. The mix is 75/25. I have a smaller fulx core machine but I know it won't get near hot enough. I will be welding inside a barn closed in on 3 sides so the wind should not be a problem. I usually run around 30 psi. Polarity is set according to chart inside the flip up door.

Guess I need to clean and clamp some scrap together and figure out how hot and how fast a wire feed I should be using. If all else fails I'll use my little stick welder. I know it will do the job. Just didn't want to have to keep changing rods every few seconds.

Will let you know how I do.

thanks again to all for your input.

 

[sizzami]

either way as you improve you will instinctively learn to produce the desired bead either way by changing the infinitely more important factors , travel speed and distance between contact tip and work , even pattern of travel has more bearing on strenght than does direction and all the stating of rules are ridiculous I submit that pushing gets better penetration on material that is dirty since it tends to burn away impurities before the puddle arrives.
my father said ," those who cant do teach, and those who cant do either sell."

 

[crazyal]

You can weld from both sides and you can open the weld up a little with a grinder. As far as pushing or pulling, I usually let the job decide. If it's all flat welding then I do what ever feels comfortable. But often the job kind of makes the choice.

For example if you are welding two pieces of angle at 90 on the inside then starting in the middle and working out to the edges could build up too much heat in when you get to the edge you may melt the steel away. If you've decided to push or pull then you will have made the choice between starting at the edge or starting at the middle.

 

[Chain Bender]

As I have aged I have aquired two definite problems with my welding abilities. First problem is eye sight. I wear 2.00 and 2.25 reading glasses. I wear them when I weld. Even then when I use a #9 setting on my auto-darkening shield I have trouble seeing what the weld is doing or where I'm headed with the weld. If I weld outside in the bright daylight I do better, but then I have to position myself and my stock so the sun doesn't glare into my face or come in behind my shield.

Problem #2 is my right hand shakes more and more. Sometimes I get a twitch in my hand that jumps so bad I loose the arc on a rod.

Sounds like I'm making a lot of excuses, but for a guy of limited skills to start with...........

I've always been a "piddler". I like to bend nails, strip threads, loose intricate pieces of high tech stuff, shoot holes in pieces of steel at 600+ yards............

I hate to buy something I can make and I hate to pay someone to do something I think(?) I can do as well myself. Having said that, I'm not as good once as I was once

Guys, again thanks for all your input and I can assure you if the sun comes up tomorrow I'm gonna fire up the Hobart and get some splatter between my toes.

C' Bender

 

[escavader]

Ihave the same machine,ive tryed all the wires and now use .035 for every thing.push ,pull do whatever but the number one thing is relax and be comfortable.Ialways used a stick,but ill admit the HOBART makes some pretty welds
ALAN

 

[Shield Arc]

As I have aged I have aquired two definite problems with my welding abilities. First problem is eye sight. I wear 2.00 and 2.25 reading glasses. I wear them when I weld. Even then when I use a #9 setting on my auto-darkening shield I have trouble seeing what the weld is doing or where I'm headed with the weld. If I weld outside in the bright daylight I do better, but then I have to position myself and my stock so the sun doesn't glare into my face or come in behind my shield.

Problem #2 is my right hand shakes more and more. Sometimes I get a twitch in my hand that jumps so bad I loose the arc on a rod.

Having said that, I'm not as good once as I was once

Ummm, I thought I was reading my biography.

 

[yomax4]

Simply Push Hard Wire and Metal Core..Pull everything else..

 

[tractorboy5500]

I am not a pro at welding, I have a miller matic 180 solid wire and use mix gas, had it for 3 years now, I just bought a plasma cutter, havent got to use it yet because i work oversea's. But from reading all of this thread it will help me alot, I see some people perfer different ways of doing things, but I will try different things just because others either like it or perfer it better, so I will give them all a try, I know it wont be perfect the first time but I will keep trying until it comes out like it should, its all about learning and wanting to learn. Keep up the good advice everyone, and thanks

 

[jmz1]

Simply Push Hard Wire and Metal Core..Pull everything else..

Not true.

Personally I don't get to caught up in which way to weld, I do what ever the puddle requires. unless I know I'm heading into arc blow territory, then I'll start in it, and work my way out.

True. If you ever watch an automatic welder , what is the position of the wire? ............................. Vertical

I always did whatever it took to get the best weld. I got so burned out at welding for a living I statred as a janitor just to get my foot in the door at the electric co-op