Mig Welding Cut and Etch Tests

See a detailed article along with several other mig welding videos at www.weldingtipsandtricks.com/m...
and visit my online store at weldmongerstore.com/ The Cut and Etch test aka Macro Etch test is often overlooked and underused. Its a destructive test so can be used on live parts but it provides valuable information on your mig welding technique and settings.
Cut with a zip disc, bandsaw, portaband, or whatever and then just smooth with a flap disc and some scotch brite pads and thats all there is to it.

[@travisrider7314]

In my opinion Jody puts out the best instructional videos on KZbin. Thanks for the videos

[@ceannscriteach81]

Travis rider Have to agree with you there, he has an impressive no bullsh1t approach that I like

[@senuolicak7097]

absolutely !!

[@douglasalan7786]

No man. He's the real deal. Not just welding but overall shop guy plus simple 'splainin. Florida style ;-)

[@Edward135i]

Ya, MR.Tig has got nothing on Jody, his film quality is the best as well, he really knows how to film a weld.

[@Parents_of_Twins]

I haven't found anyone better and I've watched several different people.

[@lh98]

Straight newbie here and man this video clearly shows what weld penetration is all about. Videos like this are why I love the KZbin community

[@BuildSomthingCool]

I learn so much about welding when you do test like this. Thanks for doing this video. :-) Dale

[@markstevansen542]

I have learned so much from Jody from even before I bought my first everlast welder. I never welded before and now I own two welders and a plasma cutter. He is a great guy.

[@jeffpugh4447]

Great video I was an aluminum weld instructor and I used the fillet fracture test and macro etch so they could see the affects of wfs. I used easy off with the yellow lid. We also discovered the reason for toes not fusing is oscillations were to big. Get the travel speed up. and really tight oscillations. 80-90% puddle coverage. That toe fusion will get better. Love your videos. Keep it up brother

[@Mr_JoeySan]

I gotta say I really appreciate the way you do your videos. The fab shop I work for has always done 99% TIG work because of the jobs/contracts we get. It's great that I can watch these videos about MIG etc and still keeps that knowledge fresh in my mind. Keep up the great work!

[@6061]

I'm not a very knowledgeable MIG welder (I focus mainly on TIG aluminum), but I was taught to "push" solid wire MIG, and "drag" flux cored (excluding downhill welds). Very good video, thanks for posting.

[@ktmMX125]

this guy has the best instructional welding videos on the internet by far. the only person I look to for welding info on the web.

[@chudman2]

A welding video that gets down into the "Why" and not just addressing the "How-to". Terrific teaching aid!

[@user-vx9ne8nn4h]

This was super helpful. The comparison in speed is golden.

[@chadwells777]

I just love how much I can learn in such small amount of time. It's always the small things that can make or break your quality of work. I really dig all the videos. Thank you sir.

[@douglasthompson2740]

Hello Jody, These testing videos are the 'cat's whiskers'! Huge amount of info for new and veteran welders. Sometimes you can't say it enough but a video brings it home. Clean your steel before any welding process. Thanks again for a great channel. Take care. Doug

[@tycanavan3705]

Just a word of thanks for taking your time to help teach us nubs understand such subtle changes makes huge differences in results, great teaching demeanor as well, thnxs for the dedication!!!!!

[@MRrwmac]

Excellent editing and organization of this video Jody! Exactly what we would be concerned about in the order we would like to see! The results of the different welds made it a very informative test on each piece! Thanks for taking the time to do the video!

[@samw3ld]

Great visuals and sound. I like how you comment all throughout the video about the difference in sound. Very educational. Looking forward to more.

[@stevefranklin8452]

Great video. I didn't understand anything about my welds until I saw this video.

[@Lambear82]

As always, great video Jody. I know a lot of beginners watch this channel, so using a zip-cut with a bare hand... enough about that. Very good information. The cut and etch does tell you what's really going on in root of a joint.

[@SDSBBQs]

Very nice. Thanks for showing the difference that the wire speed can cause

[@Abom79]

Thanks Jody! Greats tests for us all to learn from.

[@gnarlock3927]

Nice timelapse of the first couple weeks of GMAW class! Weld, Cut, Etch, Learn, Repeat. This information is gold though. Thanks for sharing Jody. Making better welders out of us all

[@JayBirdsFab]

198 contents Jody you're getting so stinking popular which is great thank you for such a great video again I'm glad you did it video on this cuz you and Jonathan were talking about it on the podcast looking forward doing the same video but removing the mill scale see if it really makes that big of a difference I learned a lot thanks again Jody

[@georgecolbert3247]

Jody, great test. I think this sort of test is interesting because a lot of us MIG weld as needed and it helps to know what works and what doesn't and what happens if.

[@kochroy]

Thanks so much for all you do Jody! I learn and see things from different perspectives with every video I watch. your pass at 140 ipm was a good example of how heat rises. Even though there was very little amp force to penetrate the bottom piece heat rose up from the puddle enough to cause more fusion to the top plate. Something that I feel is not mentioned enough is some of the physics of heat and gravity that take place. Oh by the way I am now a resident of Georgia now retired from my training job on the railroad and looking to find a shop I can work out of here in Saint Simons Island area.

[@jmh8743]

great.......takes me back to Mechanics of Solids 101........but glad to know that POLISH is not the deal. now preheat to 250. great experiment Jody. at 75 still learning.

[@edwardvines396]

Fantastic. You would qualify as a great teacher in my opinion.

[@PelicanIslandLabs]

Dude, your welds look awesome even when the machine setting is totally FUBR. You are a welding Maestro!

[@shutterbugg5217]

Love the videos. I'm just starting MIG classes soon. Can't wait to learn more. I just picked up a Hobart 175 (haven't even struck an arc with it yet) that only has four voltage settings. I would love to see some similar tests and videos using welders like mine to help me understand it better.

[@CraigThorne]

Another great video. Thanks for taking the time to do these.

[@ChrisB257]

Brilliant demo Jody - lots of valuable info.

[@riaanhavenga7579]

jiss, you are on your own level, even doing it wrong, you make it look good

[@brettcarter5526]

As always so much to learn! Thanks Jody for another great video! I also love my TIG finger!

[@neilhemingway362]

Good testing ..good explanation...cannot beat the old acid testing for quick penetrative results

[@mikecabe6127]

Great video Jody.........Always learning!!!!!

[@urbanlegend2072]

THANKS JODY, I LEARN A LOT FROM YOUR VIDS

[@jimzivny1554]

Good video! From your videos I've used more cut n etch before jobs to check and I keep a log, metal, thickness, wire ect. My machine is older and doesn't have recommended settings like your Lincoln. I can imagine what the cup and tip looked like after all the spatter!

[@richardvalcourt5628]

Another excellent video,thank you Jody.

[@bcbloc02]

These testing videos are awesome. I would suggest doing weld tests like this on lap joints then you could use a scale and chainfall to rip them in half and also test the bond strength with a quantitative value.

[@jaquesdaniels2964]

"In my opinion Jody puts out the best instructional videos on KZbin. Thanks for the videos" Agree 100%, pro or weekend Bravearc Jody is the man.

[@OldbarnHomestead]

Awesome content on this one. Thanks for another great Tuesday video!

[@qklmike]

Good video. I probably won't ever need to know this but the more knowledge the better!

[@MrKidkiller159]

thanx .@weldmonger always something good on your channel.

[@desertvs]

Love the visual with the arc sound compared with wire speed to learn from.

[@grahamstevenson9617]

when we were doing a welder test for work.we were instructed that any type of weld manipulation was frowned upon. in fact, we ran some tests and found out we had better root penetration with a straight push technique than with a pull type or "whip,weave"style.

[@SergioHernandez-eo5lt]

jody thanks so much! going to run some of my own cut and etch testing today after work! thanks ! and love the tips and tricks podcasts im on my 2nd listen on all the episodes lol just put the ear buds in all day at work and go. weld on !

[@nline2blast722]

Great video this has helped my mug by far thanks for this

[@tamarcocontractingltd.4940]

Very effective video. Thanks for the lessons...

[@ismailabraham3041]

Thank you very much , I learn so much . Amazing videos

[@dean97ss]

Thanks for the educational and entertaining video

[@German_MDS]

Thanks for video Jody! Really interesting and instructional.

[@jdpower5552]

Great videos, I just learn a ton on your channel, thank you.

[@eddiekawecki2510]

Jody this is a great reference video. I have a Lincoln 220v sp130t mig that I purchased in the early '90s when it first came out. Having only 4 tap settings for amp/voltage combination and infinite rheostat for wire speed I can see you can learn the best settings using this cut and etch test and the best weld procedure and how to get the best penetration for a machine like mine without a fine amp setting. Looks like I'm going out in my shop and get to better know that little welder some more. Thanks, Ed K. Cleve. Oh.

[@shitbox7413]

Very interesting video, very informative, and makes me want to do some MIG welding! 👍🏻

[@twwtb]

Very nice. Thanks for another great video.

[@jetfixrguy]

Very informative video! I wondered why you didn't perform bend tests on all test pieces?

[@martinrandez7021]

Love your videos! So much knowledge shared :)

[@NIAGARA3024]

Throughly enjoy your video's. Especially when you use the same welder I have, Lincoln Power Mig 210MP. LOL! They are very informative. Thank for posting them.

[@winaa270]

Great video always informative and I enjoy watching them. Do you think you could do a video welding 3/8 plate to 3/16 plate in a lap and a fillet weld? I have a few projects which requires this type of weld, normally 3/8 plate to 2x3/16 box, and I am never quite sure what settings to use.

[@PyroShim]

Thank you for this. I now know what is wrong with my settings on the last project I did.

[@SAM75FANOUS]

Thank you very much , I love your videos .

[@kylethomas7005]

Jody great vids I always learn so much I have gotten to be a much better welder because of you, and thank you for that! I would like to see since a lot of those welds looked good till the etch what do you look for to know when your in the "goldylocks zone" of mig settings? It would also be neat to see a test of bare wire mig vs dual shield vs inner shield flux core 3 welds to hot to cold and just rite with an etch for each process. Thanks so much!!!

[@sukrutsigma]

Very informative. Keep up your good work.

[@raycurren3639]

I love this type of vids. Thanks for spreading you know how. My question is my mig (Eastwood 175) has amp knob in letters Is there anyway to convert so I know voltage??? Thanks again. I weld because you made it possible.

[@themadmailler]

Cool video! Could you do a similar one with TIG and stick welding processes?

[@georgiojansen7758]

good vid. I'm looking forward for more tests, still I trust tig and electrode more, I have a migmag seldom used, after your tests I get more confidence...goedendag

[@bikerplanet]

Great informative video, like always.

[@MorganOliff]

This was great jody thank you. I am working on some way to get live data from my small wire machine just to know where I'm at. It's an old Century 110 machine sold by snap-on in the 70's

[@itoroots7291]

Another great video

[@aldredge_saxxon]

Enjoy the videos, keep em coming. Question can mig wire such as flux core be used for Tig fillers ??

[@ctrlaltdefeat459]

great video, love it, very informative, thanks jodi!

[@jdgower1]

Nice vid, thanks for taking the time to do these! I think it would be interesting to keep the voltage and feed rate the same on a few different welds, but preheat the work to different temps and then see how different the cut and etch looks between them - Such as doing one piece cold from the fridge (~40 degrees F), one at room temp, then some at 150, 250, 350, etc. I would expect the penetration to be a bit deeper the hotter you go, but how much? And, is a 100 degree difference in preheat even enough to make a noticeable difference?

[@yanjiangluo3968]

great test! I would try a little bit side to side weave. Thought a few beads have unequal toes.

[@jordinc666]

And yes Jody has great videos

[@PANTYEATR1]

another great video Mr. Jody . I'm wondering if the manipulation technique had something to do with the toes of the weld being straight. maybe a weave would have worked better? thanks for you continued service to the welding community.

[@SomeTechGuy666]

Outstanding video. Penetration is my #1 worry when MIG welding and I often stick weld critical pieces just because I can't be 100% sure I'm getting proper penetration when MIG welding. I'd love to hear any tips you have for ensuring excellent MIG penetration.

[@mikemcilhenny5329]

Good video Jody. I compared the 280 ipm with the cursive e and the 280 ipm back and forth movement. The cursive e got better penetration at the toes. I think the old timer steered you right.

[@frankoliver7748]

A brilliant illustration of penetration. Thanks.

[@johnseptien3138]

Jody, I think maybe letting the parent metal cool to room temp before running the next pass on the same plate would help the validity of the test. I believe there was some "cumulative" heat affect to the second bead acquired from running the first bead. Maybe separate plates for each change in wire speed "amperage". I still find it interesting the amount of penetration with the "huge" changes in wire speed rate.

[@RG-3PO]

My "take away" from this video was that a good technique can improve your welds in less than ideal situations. My worst welds (as a weekend/hobby welder) are when I either get in a hurry and don't pay attention to my technique, or when the weld location is so poor it takes my skills to the breaking point. Great vids. It makes me to go out the shop and etch some practice runs.

[@J800613]

Stellar and informative as always. Could we see a test of just a stringer with no manipulation? Maybe a push and a pull?

[@markproulx1472]

Sensational video!!!!!

[@stevenhardy2898]

Great video ,especially for me as I have an Mp210. The interface is great for me as I am an occasional welder going back about 50 years. On my mp210 , I immediately set it up with 045 flux core as it always seemed to give me more consistant results,especially using my previous weldpack 155.....even on the lighter guage stuff (1/8). Thanks! (back in the 60's our high school actually had wood shop, metal shop,welding shop and even print shop of which academic types could take without doing votech! ) The girls had home economics . Oh how things have changed...you have to go abroad to find a girl that cooks and likes it.... lol

[@michaellack5139]

Nicely explained

[@sparty837]

Jody, I would like to see you do some reviews of fume extractors for the home shop. Are they worth the cost, alternatives, etc.

[@jdbrewer6638]

Great video! I really learned alot from the wire speed/amperage connection. And I like how the mp210 shows the voltage and amperage as well. Thanks for this test video!

[@Gallardo6669]

u r a great teacher!!! thx.

[@krazziee2000]

great video, thanks

[@lukeseman]

I would love to see these cut and etch testing done on .25 or .375 samples. thanks

[@adamtankersley7441]

Great video! As mentioned by someone else, I'd love to see it done with spray transfer. Even more, to see it in spray transfer with everything except the gas held constant. The Argon content vs nugget shape is amazing. Perhaps I missed it? But was this an S6 wire? I only ask because of the mill scale point you made.

[@KnolltopFarms]

Wow, pretty surprising to me was just how uniform the appearance of the welds was, with the only real exception being your 500ipm test. Thanks for the lesson and we'll see you next week. Aloha...Chuck

[@MastakSvarka]

Спасибо. Отличный эксперимент.

[@ryanmcarthur7407]

I use Nital 5% for steel and it works amazing. The hotter the coupon the better when applying the etchant. I've had to test stainless steel and aluminum using different etchants and what stays the same is the polishing. All really needs to be polished really good to have a clear picture of the weld. Very good video definitely learned some things. What type of welder did you use again?

[@buddha65281]

jodi, been watching your tube for a LONG time. This video is superb! As a wannabe welder on my homestead this really enlightened me, but at the end of the video I felt something was missing. I wanted to see 240ipm @ 19+ Volt and more amperage. I would like to see, when it is too much. I must say, I loved this one, I could hear the difference. The wire speed showed ME what I may be doing wrong here, time to increase my IPM speed. Thanks so much... What etching compound were you using or is it Secret? lol.

[@BellOfTheBall639]

damn those are nice welds. lots of practice.

[@daveesteves3509]

Excellent information! Thank you! :)

[@magnusklahr8190]

Great video!!👍👏😀

[@jordinc666]

I like more of a 90° angle or a slight push rather than a drag the arc seems to get down in the corner very well leaves a nice smooth puddle to. Same machine same settings

[@rsullivant]

Wow! I did learn a lot from that....Wonder if on the 500 ipm, if the there was some manipulation, and arc spent more time on the toes (like with doing cursive e's), if the penetration would have been satisfactory? The root got in there good enough.

[@jesseacker6278]

cool. o like these testing videos. keep them coming

[@4570Govt]

Jody, Just a thought, could you do a follow-up video showing the opposite: RAISING the wire feed speed, and leaving the voltage constant like you did here. Might be a good comparison on such. Also, maybe do one where you lower and raise the voltage, but keep the wire feed speed constant. Could be a good series of videos documenting/troubleshooting for guys like us who are fabricators, or using new materials/machines.

[@lfiskgr]

It would be interesting to see, know the amperage at the 500ipm setting too. Thanks for a very informative video. I heard the recent podcast that probably got you going with this. It was a good listen :)

[@johnt9810]

I would have really liked to have seen you run a joint at around 300-310ipm. On Miller machines I've found that the suggested wire speed is a little low to my liking. If memory serves the Lincoln suggested wire speed at 19v is about the same as the Miller. Great video and again some good info.