My 1st. 3 Beads

[Shield Arc]

I only worry about the stick out distance while actually welding, I do cut the wire off every time I stop, or before I start again.:laughing:

Here's a good site for tips on welding.

Mig Welding Tips

 

[Jim in ICT]

Jake, what did you decide on for a coverage gas, CO2, or C25?

 

[mjncad]

ShieldArc is right about your first beads being too cold. Another thing is MIG likes clean metal...give it a good power wire brushing.

I have the same issues of going "offroad" too on occasion. Also I find thin stuff more of a pain to weld than 3/16" and above. I have better luck pulling towards me than pushing away from my body.

Last; but not least...avoid welding on that galvanized stuff if at all possible. If you have to, wire brush as much of the plating off as possible. A friend of mine drinks a glass of milk before welding on galvanized. He says there is something in the calcium in your system that helps to counteract "Zinc fume poisoning." I don't drink milk, so I don't know if that trick works, and I minimize welding plated metals as much as possible. Those funky yellowish-white wisps of smoke look neat; but I doubt they are good for you.

Yesterday I was helping a buddy put back together a small garden wagon. Although we cleaned the powder coating off of where we needed to weld, some of it was close enough to burn. It had an interesting odor that wasn't totally unpleasant; but I sure as heck don't want to breathe it in.

 

[jake98]

I only worry about the stick out distance while actually welding, I do cut the wire off every time I stop, or before I start again.:laughing:

Here's a good site for tips on welding.

I watched a bunch of his videos while I was waiting for the welder delivery, he does a good job, I'm gonna review now that I've done a little.. Thanks!

Mig Welding Tips

Jake, what did you decide on for a coverage gas, CO2, or C25?

I went with C25, 'bought' the biggest tank Airgas would sell, 80CF.

One of the first 'real projects' I have to accomplish is replacing the hinge and mounting channel on my dumping trailer, so I need to get some serious practice in first. There's probably other channels underneath it that are almost as bad, so I guess I'll start on the non-critical end and work my way back..
That project is how I justified the purchase to myself, figured it would have cost almost as much to get somebody else to fix it.

And good morning folks, we made it thru the first half of Irene. I had a dream that the wind took my chimney scaffold down and it took the soffits and fascia that it's bolted to with it. It's been up since I got busy in the spring, so I wouldn't really have a valid gripe if it did happen..