MIG Welding Push vs Pull

Click on the link below to view my latest video on MIG Welding Push vs Pull: • MIG Welding Push vs Pull
In this video I am going to be discussing MIG Welding and trying to dispel some myths about pushing vs. pulling and about its uses for structural welding. I'll also be producing some welds and demonstrating proper technique and fusion. Finally, I will do some destructive testing on the welds to determine success or failure.
I hope you will enjoy the video, and if so, please hit the "Like" button after watching. Also, don't forget to subscribe to my KZbin Channel so you can be updated whenever I post a new video.
Take Care,
Dan

[@hcamardelle]

Glad you're back Dan. You've been missed.

[@WeldFever]

+Howard Camardelle Well thank you and I certainly hope to be around more in 2016. At least that's my plan!

[@akbychoice]

Push and pull is more a debate in out of position welding. So many variables can play a part, metal prep, wire brand or type, air movement in the area, having a good ground, proper drive wheels for your wire, etc etc.

[@sjem618]

I fully agree with you on the difference between MIG and stick on structural welding. That's why I bought a 200 amp multifunctional machine that does both MIG and stick. This way I can use stick if I have a heavy structural job to do.

[@WeldFever]

You and I are in the minority, I'm afraid, but thanks for the comment!

[@balisticsquirel]

Informative, speak it like it is, with destructive tests. Great vid. Thanks for making it for us.

[@WeldFever]

+balisticsquirel Thank you so much. I really appreciate your comment!

[@Bigtwin88]

I just got into welding ......Still learning amps and wire speed knobs...Bacon sound will be my new tip....Thanks Great video...Don M

[@WeldFever]

+Donald Marland Great, glad to have passed that along. Good luck and please keep watching.

[@theElderberryFarmer]

Thanks, Dan - very well explained and demonstrated.

[@WeldFever]

+Dwight Rahl Thank you Dwight, and good to hear from you.

[@2limbo]

Well done. I know now when to use the pull-method. Thanks.

[@WeldFever]

+Roma Maastricht Great, I'm glad it has helped you and thanks for the comment.

[@evanarnold3663]

lol I work in a boiler shop, where we mainly flux core, and every single welder in the shop wants to advise me to NEVER push flux core bc it'll fail X-ray everytime. Lmao I've had 3/3 push welds shoot. If you get the right settings for pushing, you'll end with up with better pen, slicker passes, and smooth tie ins that require a lot less grinding ( which I'm sure every welder can't complain about that, lol) I love push welding flux core when I can, but obviously this is the real world and everyone should know how to make X-ray quality mig welds pushing and pulling. It's just a squirt gun you guys, don't get scared of it (;

[@g.fortin3228]

Nice vid ... I agree stick-out is key, combined with tie it in good.

[@rmschrader36]

+WeldFever excellent explanation of heat settings between processes. Keep up the informative videos!

[@WeldFever]

Thank you, I will.

[@illestk24civic]

Think about tig welding is basically "pushing" I mig weld pushing and doing a slight whip to the torch makes up for killer dime stacks

[@Gears.and.Gadgets]

Great job. I never knew you could break the second metal so quickly... lol. I tend to pull more than push. Recently I had some of my co workers ask me how I get far better welds than they do. so I asked them to show me what they are doing. I found out they were not grounding the piece correctly. Their ground clamp was similar to a jumper cable. While mine has a coper braid and lug. I told them to change your ground clamp. Their welds improved about 60 percent.

[@WeldFever]

Great tip for all who read this. Thank you for sharing!

[@niceperson709]

Nice vid personally I tend to like pull welding because I can see what I'm doing a little bit better as i tend to work with light gauge stiff a lot more I also do quite a few welds that are made by using the trigger on and off quite rapidly

[@WeldFever]

+Iain Hall Ah yes, in my neck of the woods we refer to that on, off as "squirt" welding. I use that technique also on thin, light gauge material, and it is very effective. It also creates a very nice looking weld! Thanks of the comment.

[@nikolaytube]

what would be the easiest way to weld a tube to flat surface? Thank you!

[@WilsonTech-go]

We usually run our welds at 28 volts and around 4-500 wire speed. With 90 /10 and it's a good settings for structural. I believe it's spray transfer though. My question is are there small machines like the millermatic that can run at 28 volts for long durations?

[@WeldFever]

+Thomas Wilson That's tough because these machines aren't really heavy duty. At that range, you will find that the supplied work(ground) clamps will start melting!

[@shaunbookout764]

its true my coworker who told me to allways push in the shop its stronger i was like nope well he kept getting upset so i grabbed my book and i was right when you forehand (push) it spreads the metal out more (why it becomes flat) = less weld in base metal when you back hand its constantly shoving metal into base metal

[@LuisFernando-Salazar]

man I'm enjoying your videos, besides the welding, I love the sax intro. Cheers!

[@blindsquirrel4882]

When are we going to see the WeldFever welding cap for sale?

[@WeldFever]

+Scott King Soon, I think. I am working on new t-shirts, stickers, hats, and possibly caps. Keep on the look out and I will announce new products on the show as they become available. Thanks for the comment and your support!

[@tomherd4179]

Another fun fact not mentioned …… using a spool gun I suggest only pulling.

[@tomherd4179]

Sometime if you get a chance I would like to get your results on voltage and wire speed for the Miller. I have the same Miller as you. I accept what your said about being a rough estimate. I had also contacted Miller some time ago about wire speed after seeing a video on how to measure wire length output vs time to get the IPM. Miller told me that that test in not accurate because the wire speed can change some when welding and it is not truly fixed by the dial setting. I don't know if that was due to line voltage changes or some auto correct built into the machine. Thanks for the video.

[@frosk1n]

Great video, thank you :)

[@WeldFever]

+Håvard Brækken You're welcome and thanks for the comment.

[@glenns001]

so if you are trying to do a bit of a structural welding with a low amp mig, like for a trailer do you recommend a multi pass weld like in your earlier video?

[@WeldFever]

+Glenn Rowley Every MIG machine has its operating limits, which is usually expressed as a maximum weld bead size, or the maximum metal thickness that can be welded in a single pass. These parameters are based on the type and size of filler wire, the amperage output of your machine, and the shielding gas. What the manufacturer can not take into consideration is the skill of the welder, and this is a HUGE factor in the equation. If you are skilled enough, and abide by the correct parameters of your machine that that manufacturer recommends, then multiple, multi-passed welds are probably possible. For the record though, I do not personally make any recommendations, one way or the other. I merely discuss welding related information that is regarded as common practice/industry standards according to known, reliable, and published facts. Whatever a person decides to do with that information is entirely up to them. Good luck and thanks for the excellent question!

[@tomherd4179]

Personally I would buy a cheaper stick welder for the trailer. Or if possible a multifunction TIG/STICK lower end welder and use that for the trailer. I have a Miller 211 like the one in the picture and would not use it on a trailer, but I also have a TIG/STICK where I would use the stick there. Maybe my mig for a garden trailer or the like where a failed weld would not cause damage to myself or others (especially on the road).

[@glenns001]

love your work

[@WeldFever]

+Glenn Rowley Thank you, much appreciated.

[@ryanjones9305]

Your test results are exactly what would've been expected. Of course you got adequate penetration, it's 16ga metal. But to actually show the difference in penetration, do the same test using thicker material, say 1/8" or so, cut a cross section, Polish and etch it. That will reveal the penetration difference visually.

[@tomherd4179]

A little bit of Navel Jelly on the polished part will bring out the penetration.

[@Slagithor9000]

I wonder why NAVSEA (The Navy) makes us push our spray and spray pulse MIG. It is against procedure to pull MIG.

[@WeldFever]

Good question?

[@tomherd4179]

My guess is Spray is hotter than short circuit transfer, which is what was in the video.

[@chrisjones6165]

shielding gas,penetration,cleaning, and better appearance. more of a push,pause,push or whip back to puddle

[@davidjackson7605]

I have tried everything I have heard about to SEE MY PUDDLE. cheaters, angle of gun, gold lense, various darkness of helmet, I do have to use reading glasses. How do you see if nozzle is 3/8" from metal. Any advise is appreciated.

[@WeldFever]

I would recommend you push your welds towards you and have your helmet as close to the arc as is safe to do so until you develop the muscle memory to feel what the required distance is.

[@stevecook2200]

Your right mate its well known

[@WeldFever]

+Steve Cook Thanks for the comment.

[@imburg1]

How good is the auto-set feature?

[@caiomaia3217]

muito bom !!

[@WeldFever]

+Caio Maia Thank you. I guess?

[@royalaxe]

try that with stick..

[@georgesalangsang4308]

hello sir i just want to ask what alluminum welder categorize it was MIG or TIG welder? have a wonderful day thank you.