MIG Welding: How to Make Better Welds

Learn welding in my $39 online courses: courses.timwelds.com
HTP Welding Machines are some of the best I've used. They aren't the cheapest, but they may be the best value considering the quality, performance and customer service you get:
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MIG Welding Gear I Use:
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-Welding Jacket: amzn.to/3HePyj2
-MIG Pliers: amzn.to/3tIB8Vk
-MIG Wire : amzn.to/3tMboaL
Where I buy my weld coupons (Discount Code 'timwelds' saves 10%): weldmetalsonline.com/?ref=048...
Chapters:
0:00 Welcome
0:29 Settings
4:10 Stickout
6:02 Angles
8:30 Movement
9:31 What to do
High speed welding video filmed using the Helios weld visualization system from Kron Technologies.
Welding and fabrication can be dangerous; always read the owners manuals, consult professionals licensed in your area and work safely. While I try to set a good example of safety, this video is not intended to provide sufficient instruction to safely complete metalworking projects. This description contains affiliate links that provide a commission to the channel at no additional cost to you.

[@gillihansmobilewelding]

"Breaking down the fundamentals" is why we all watch your channel. You have taught us all a lot. Thank you!

[@TimWelds]

Thank you so much!

[@Hey_Its_That_Guy]

Clear, concise, relevant...what more could anyone ask for?

[@TimWelds]

Thank you!

[@thebiglebowski5135]

I started watching you 3 years ago when I was starting high school and was taking welding. After going to college I’m getting ready for my first welding job. Thank you

[@TimWelds]

Awesome! Congratulations!

[@michaelschafer2144]

I can’t thank you enough for your content. I’ve always wanted to weld. I’m an engineer and machinist but I can’t be a fabricator without the skill of welding. I’ve since bought two welders and trying to get good. Bead after bead.

[@GaryLiseo]

Learning welding now as part of finishing up my graduate degree (STEM Education). Your method of teaching the fundamentals and “why” things are done certain ways definitely helps improve understanding, at least for me

[@melgross]

Yeah, these are very common problems. Even after 50+ years of welding I still occasionally get distracted and miss on speed and angle. It’s amazing how much concentrations is required for anyone, but particularly for beginners.

[@TimWelds]

Thanks Mel! I'm familiar with them because I can be the worst offender, though in some situations, you just have to do what you have to do.

[@T3glider]

I’ve seen a demonstration of wire resistance where it is taken to an extreme. Feed out a couple of feet of mig wire and then try welding. The power in the wire is reduced so much that the wire just glows like a filament in a light bulb.

[@TimWelds]

I'll have to give that a try!

[@stevelauer138]

as a beginner, it is so nice to hear good solid advice and also I can actually see the weld happening while you're welding. Great!!!

[@rbeclb]

Tim is a great teacher! He saved my welding efforts with his wise counsel. I hightly recommend his courses.

[@Rvckyricardo]

Bro. You have taught me more than my welding instructor ❤🦾

[@TimWelds]

Thank you so much!

[@nathanielsmith441]

This is really helpful, please do more videos like this! Thanks

[@cab8188]

How about some cut and etch ? Thank you for the great video's !

[@TimWelds]

Thanks! I have four new etchants that I just ordered that I'm looking forward to using in some videos on a variety of materials.

[@calsbarn5996]

Would you consider a video on setting up a mig welder for thin sheet metal something in the 18-22 gage range?

[@gregoryswelding]

Make a tutorial on 7024 welding rods. I started welding with them a few days ago in welding class

[@TimWelds]

Thanks for the suggestion! They’re a great way to lay down a lot of super slick weld in a hurry.

[@donaldhalls2189]

Excellent information, and instructions, thank you for sharing, all the best to you and your loved ones

[@TimWelds]

Thank you very much!

[@jamesyates5191]

Your online course is great. Thanks

[@TimWelds]

Thank you so much!

[@j.c.smithprojects]

really enjoyed this tim. you explained excatly what i have ben trying to do. get better at one part, now focus on the next and so on. look forward to the next one.

[@TimWelds]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate it!

[@Colorado4x4]

Haven’t watched your videos in a while. Looking good man! Looks like you’ve dropped some lbs! Good for you bro!

[@sd04dave1]

Great video! I'll keep an eye out for a similar video on stick welding

[@TimWelds]

Thanks! That's a great suggestion, I'm considering making one like this for each of the common processes.

[@PaydayGabeBCNV]

Morning and Happy New Year 🎉 Tim and family. I have a Yeswelder 205ds and started w/.030 flux core initially. I've recently been working with .035 fc wire and noticed a significant difference between the two. The .035 on the same voltage setting runs smoother and a bit hotter causing a burn through o Once. I adjusted the voltage down a little and it works pretty good. Have you ever noticed this phenomenon as well? Remember, Its FC Wire. 🤷‍♂️ Thanks for your consideration and any reply. Cheers 🍻, G. In beautiful Boulder City Nv. USA 🇺🇲

[@TimWelds]

Thank you and Happy New Year to you as well! Yes, wire diameter does make a difference. Keep in mind that the wire feed speed indirectly controls the amperage, so to reduce the heat, it's best to turn down the wire speed in addition to the voltage. A larger diameter wire results in more amps for the same wire speed.

[@andyb7754]

Good information, thank you.

[@TimWelds]

Thank you!

[@bruced1429]

Tim, I was wondering if you could do this with spray arc and see what differences there are.

[@Splarkszter]

Only 10k views? Your channel is really good! Hope you get more recognition.

[@TimWelds]

Thank you so much!

[@JohneeB]

Tim I like your channel and I think your advice is really spot on and straightforward. I have a question on the speed demonstration shown at 9:18. The weld in the middle is the "right" speed, but isn't the weld too wide given the thickness of the material?

[@TimWelds]

Thanks! It's about a 3/16" fillet, which is on the big side for 1/8" and if you were doing a lot of length it might be worth trimming it down to save time, material and distortion. Weld sizing is complicated, and it depends on whether you're asking Tim the garage guy or Tim the engineer, but I'll crack open the can of worms a bit. The structural steel code has 2 requirements for weld size. There's a general table of minimums which is based on fabrication capability and requires fillets on 1/4" and thinner plates to be 1/8" for static and 3/16" for cyclic loading. Design for strength is also a requirement, but any way you slice those calcs, you're already covered with a weld that size, so that's really a moot point in this case. Probably somewhere between the smallest and middle would be more correct.

[@ethd8561]

Thank you for your help Sir. Please show us how to use /how to measure and read / measuring tools for CWI exam part B. Or anyone knows the link for this please let me know. I got exam coming and I never been in this industry before.

[@6Sally5]

Thanks Tim…I really enjoy your channel and learn a lot. My welder is HF Platinum 120 and so far, I only use flux core wire…can’t afford any gas yet. Two questions…I often get worm holes in my welds. I understand they come up if using shielding gas and you are too far away to get its protection, but if it’s flux core, I’d think the flux should be doing that job. Second…what is your suggestion when welding 16 ga steel to a much thicker steel…say, 1/4 or 3/8”?

[@autoweldandpaintingfabrication]

Sir MiG welding can use to connect for heater for mig

[@davegallucci9327]

Thank you!

[@TimWelds]

You are welcome!

[@JacobShepherdEngineer]

I love the technique discussion. Any recommendations for finding cheap metal to practice on?

[@TimWelds]

Thanks! You can call around to different scrap/recycling yards. A lot of them get clean metal in and they'll sell it cheap. Also, most steel suppliers have remnants bays where they'll sell their drops at a significant discount. You can try calling fab shops to see if they'll let go of some of their drops, but that just depends on the shop. If you want precut coupons, I buy mine from weldmetalsonline or the James Lincoln foundation (Lincoln Electric) website; not the cheapest, but it is convenient.

[@cwduch]

You been exercising? You’re looking more fit!

[@TimWelds]

Thanks! I have been, I'm down about 40 lbs from my peak and still working at it.

[@wilhelmbell7040]

Can you do a video but with flux core

[@matttaylor1092]

How do you keep your table looking so clean.

[@TimWelds]

It looks better on camera than in reality, but the hard coating on the Siegmund table is very effective at rejecting spatter. I also have a few plates that I weld on when I don’t need fixturing, which helps.

[@nilomyki]

@TimWelds - Quick question about your welding gloves: Does it have an inner cotton liner?

[@TimWelds]

Yeah, they do have a liner. These are the most comfortable ones I've tried. I've been sent an unbelievable amount of gloves from companies, but these Black Stallions that I bought are still my favorite for MIG.

[@nilomyki]

@@TimWelds Thanks a-mill for the reply. Keep up the good works.

[@jackdawg4579]

Cheers Tim, have you done anything similar for the little gasless mig's ? Thats all I use in the world of MIG welding. They just have a dial for "thickness" which doesn't seem to be related to reality...

[@TimWelds]

I have made a few videos about them in the past, but none that are equivalent to this. I'm considering making one like this for each of the common processes. I would suggest running a simple experiment like I did with the voltage here to get a good feel for how the setting affects the bead.

[@jackdawg4579]

cheers Tim! @@TimWelds

[@JCWren]

Did you get a chance to run a chrome vanadium socket through your laser engraver?

[@TimWelds]

Yeah, it worked great! I uploaded a short video when I did it with the results: kzbin.infoqOChLcHpH8A

[@JCWren]

@@TimWeldsAwesome, thanks! I missed that because I never check the shorts (don't care for the shorts, reels, or any of the other short attention span formats).

[@exarith]

when you just chill at 10k jewls all day. gotta pump them numbers up

[@ZILAwelds]

Great video ! No tik tok gun manipulation …. I agree 100%

[@TimWelds]

Thanks! I do a little wiggle to help my pacing, but I never leave the puddle. As good as MIG like TIG can look on some things, it's as slow as just TIG welding and there's the risk of lack of fusion, so I'd rather just TIG weld when appearance is that important.

[@ianjaeger4178]

MY HITBOX 200 DOES NOT HAVE NUMBER VALUE ONLY DIAL WITH LINES AROUND THE DIAL ANY IDEA?

[@stevenmurata4392]

It should have a chart with wire size & steel being welded thickness to get you in the ballpark.

[@TimWelds]

You can experiment in the same way that I did in this video with the lines around the dial. If you're trying to hit a wire speed number from another chart, just measure the amount of wire that comes out in 6 seconds, multiply that by 10 and you'll have an approximate wire speed. (28" of wire come out in 6 seconds, your wire speed is 280 in/min at that setting)

[@ianjaeger4178]

@@TimWelds I got it now wow cool . Burnin dimes almost hahaha

[@hughconnelly6278]

Tim, I struggle with being able to see the puddle. Are there lights to shine on the welding area to better illuminate it, mask settings? What are some ways to improve the welding view.

[@TimWelds]

From a gear perspective, make sure your lens covers are new and clean because dirt and scratches really don't help. A good quality helmet helps too, though that doesn't always mean the most expensive. Also, you can play with the shade on your helmet or try reading glasses or a cheater (magnifier) lens inside to see if that helps you focus. Head position is something else to play with. Honestly, though, for a lot of people, it's just something to learn and it's easiest to learn while padding beads on a flat plate. Once you see it, you'll see it every time, but believe me, I get the frustration.

[@hughconnelly6278]

thank you@@TimWelds

[@ianjaeger4178]

WIRE SPEED?

[@TimWelds]

I have a couple videos on the channel focused on MIG settings that go further in depth on wire speed. Wire speed will not only control the rate of material added, it also controls the amperage so thicker material will need more wire speed. Generally, for .030, you can take your material thickness in thousandths and go a little more than double that. (1/8" thick material=.125, so double 125 to get 250 and start a bit higher with.030" wire) For .035" wire go a little less than double. Miller and some other sites have online weld calculators that'll give a starting point as well. You can run a similar experiment to what I did with voltage changing it a bit at a time to dial it in on your welder also.

[@pamcam372]

why does every video on the internet call MAG welding MIG? METAL ACTIVE GAS is for welding steel.

[@TimWelds]

Because in the US, most people call all of it MIG, so MAG videos wouldn't be found as much. Gas Metal Arc Welding is a better term in my opinion because it's universal, but again most people search for MIG. I think it's a trivial distinction because they use the same equipment and have so much overlap in technique. MAG includes spray, Pulse and short arc on a variety of materials.