Learn How To Mig
Weld

Learning how to mig weld is
not as difficult as it may seem. Mig welding is the easyest
method of welding and is a valuable skill to learn both for
your personal use and projects and as a spring board to
employment. When you Learn how to mig weld your home workshop
will never be the same, you will be able to tackle all kinds of
projects such as furniture, work benches , brackets, racks,
chassis and frames, gates, repair broken parts
and even larger projects such as house beams and steel deck
framework.
If you seek employment, learn to mig weld and many new doors
will open up for you. There is a constant demand for semi
skilled and skilled welders in feilds such as production work,
light and heavy engineering. Then there is the big money
welding jobs in the oil and mineral industries. Once you learn
to mig weld you also have the opportunity to start your own
business. You could start out working from home making small
items of furniture to sell at your local markets, over time
your name will get around and you will find you will
get as much work that you want.
How to use and operate a MIG
Welder. by Jason Miller
First thing you need to purchase a MIG welder and the proper
gear. My first suggestion is to practice with your new MIG
welder on some scraps of metal lying around. While MIG welding
is probably one of the easiest types of welding to learn, you
still need to practice before you use it on your favorite
project. Also, always purchase the right safety gear. A welding
helmet should be the first item on your list. I would recommend
an auto darkening welding helmet that is battery operated. This
will free up an extra hand and just make life easier on you.
But get a proper welding helmet! You will need the proper
clothing and gloves as well. You basically want to cover up
your entire body. MIG welders do throw off sparks and can burn
you. Welding is not an activity to be done in shorts and a pair
of flip flops. Next pick a suitable location to begin welding.
A large concrete slab like your driveway is a good choice.
Remember there is a fire hazard with these welders. They throw
of sparks and generate heat. Stay away from paint cans, dry
grass, old wood etc.. You can easily burn down the house or
garage if you are not careful. You should keep a bucket of
water or a fire extinguisher near by at all times.
Now you are ready to start operating your MIG welder. There
are basically three things to worry about it. They are tip
voltage, feed rate for the wire and how fast you move the tip.
How you manipulate these three settings will determine how good
your welding is. The voltage is used to control the
penetration, feed rate of the wire will adjust the arc length
and your movement of the tip controls the transfer of metal to
your work area. If you adjust the voltage lower, the weld will
sit on top and cranking it up too much will just make a hole.
This is why you need to practice and get a feel for it. Now you
have to figure a good speed to move the tip. If the welding tip
is moving too fast you will hear a series of popping noises and
the wire loses the arc. Too slow and the tips will melt and
fuse to your work. This can be real hassle. Again, practice is
critical. It is really not that hard after a few attempts.
Now that you have the voltage set, the feed rate set and
feel comfortable using the MIG welder it is time to weld a
little. I would recommend using a zigzag weave pattern instead
of just making a straight line. A weave is just a better
option. Remember the key here is to keep the tip moving. If you
stop or go too slow you can burn a hole right through the
metal. Don't worry too much about small holes that are created
by the MIG welder. You can fill them in by circling the tip
around it a few times to fill it in. Practice definitely will
help to get better at it. At first it will seem a little tricky
but after a short while you be welding all kinds of stuff. Once
you have mastered mig welding you can learn how to tig weld.
About the Author
Jason is the webmaster for Red Hill Supply - Online Air
Tools
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