MIG Welding Thick Material, or Structural MIG Welding

Click on the link below to view my latest video on MIG Welding Thick Material: • MIG Welding Thick Mate...
In this video I am going to be explaining and demonstrating how to MIG Weld thick material. This video is as a direct result of a viewer request, so make sure you put in your request if there is something you'd like to see!
I will be focusing primarily on flat MIG welding in a structural application, but the basics that I point out will help in any application, and just about any position.
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

[@rubenfelix6862]

thanks for clearing things for me i thought my welder could only weld 1qr in only really thanks

[@WeldFever]

+Ruben Felix Glad to have helped!

[@fastbusiness]

Very nice explanation.

[@WeldFever]

Thanks again!

[@mapusracing671]

could u do weld test to see how thick the lincoln 140 can do and penitration

[@bkpickell]

Thanks alot man. Another great episode as usual.

[@WeldFever]

Since it was your request, I am especially glad you liked it. Thanks again, and if you have any more suggestions for upcoming topics, please don't hesitate to ask.

[@RickRabjohn]

really helpful. I've been learning to weld with a 115V Core Flux Welder from Northern Industries. I am in the Northeast in my garage where the steel has been really cold - like 20 to 30 degrees. I think I'm getting good penetration, but I'm going to preheat the 3/16 steel I'm using to see if it makes a difference...Thanks again.

[@WeldFever]

Rick Rabjohn I would think that a little pre-heat on that cold steel could only help. Good luck and thanks for the comment.

[@CreationsbyKris]

WeldFever m

[@user-vu5oe3he3n]

I love this vifeo as welder in korea!it was good lesson to me in korea.! WelderFEVER IS exceelent!but it is too far away to order welderfever cap!!haha!...from charlie in south korea,changwon!

[@WeldFever]

최용석 Great, glad to hear I have new friends in Korea! Please keep watching and thank you for the nice comment.

[@randygoble1126]

thanks for sharing your welding knowledge and experience with us.Now I got to go order some hats.

[@WeldFever]

I thank you very much as well, sir! True to your word, I received your order and shipped them out today. You should receive the hats in 2-3 day (or so that's what USPS claims). Thank you so much for supporting the channel. I really appreciate it. By the way, you have placed the very first order on WeldFever!

[@MotorCycleTheray]

This is an interest for me, just to open up the topic a little more.. It's better to have beveled edges right? When it comes to I / H Beams, are they stronger as a manufactured single piece from the manufacturer, or are they stronger if you have 3 pieces welded together to make the beam? I'm guessing 1 piece would be stronger, as they would not have a heat effected zone.

[@jdmDC2ftw]

I broke one of my automotive tools and I was wondering if it can be fixed. it's basically a hand press to press out the notorious honda bushings. it's called a honda/acura rear trailing arm bushing xtraxtor tool if you want to look it up. the part that connects the the control arm snapped and I was wondering if it can be repaired and have the same strength if I took it a professional welder?

[@joemoe1897]

any suggestions on mig welding 5/8 to 3/16 making a pintle plate for a truck I have the same miller welder as you thanks in advance

[@WeldFever]

Joe moe Spend the majority of the time on the thicker material then sweep over to the thinner material just long enough for good fusion to occur then sweep back to the thicker.

[@lazzyrj1]

I can't seem to find any suggestions for the best (affordable ) multi Welder for Thick steel 1/4 to 1" inch plate hot & cold rolled steal .

[@ircimager]

what's you shielding gas flow rate? i've done exactly what you're doing here, but my beads don't come out nearly as shiny, even after wirewheeling

[@WeldFever]

I have it set at 20cfh. You might want to make sure the ports (and any other delivery points) to your gas nozzle are free and clear of spatter, dirt, or anything else that might plug the line. Thanks for the comment and please keep watching!

[@ircimager]

I see. thanks. i've been running here at 25 cfh.

[@GrazianoBonelli1982]

First of all : congratulation for explanation Have you used steel or silicon bronze? the color of first pass looks yellow...

[@WeldFever]

I used ER70S-6, which is plain old steel. Thanks for the compliment and please keep watching!

[@Alnleo86]

Do you know what type of gas mix is used when welding inconel 625 with mig? And is short circuit best?

[@WeldFever]

Alnleo86 I would guess 100% argon, but you will need special wire to weld inconel successfully, and the literature that comes with that wire will tell you for certain.

[@noahbrown2486]

I would like to see more videos about pulse. I've been eyeing an everlast welder with pulse for a while now.

[@imconfusedtwo9268]

I have a marquette 130 and started making a winch plate and stopped due to lack of first pass penetration on 1/4 mild steel. Is multi pass with a 130 as strong as a single pass 300? Would I be better off arc with 7018?

[@WeldFever]

Onesick Chicken without knowing all the details, most important being your ability to weld, the academic answer is that multi passes with 130 amps will probably not be as strong as a single pass at higher amperage on thicker material. The only exception might be if you were to pre-heat the material, but that would require testing to be certain. It all boils down to your ability to lay down a bead with proper fusion and penetration, as well as the type of joint being welded, and the type of weld being applied. Unfortunately, it's not a simple answer, but I hope this helps.

[@imconfusedtwo9268]

Thanks..I ended up heating it up very hot as you talked about and put 3 passes down. Could tell it made a huge difference on penetration from the start and have total comfidence,so thanks for the tip

[@micstica]

how hot is preheat if you are not using the first weld for preheat? like if I hit it with a propane torch first. I take it preheating is needed due to metal thickness? BTW what were the settings on your 140 machine? I have just purchased a Lincoln 180 mig as a retirement, keep me busy, no idea what I am doing yet, gift.

[@WeldFever]

On this thick piece, preheat could be as much as 250 degrees Fahrenheit, or more, but it depends on the thickness of the material you are welding.

[@djboudreaux1]

I have the Multimatic 200. I welded 1/4 plate as a vertical support to 3/4 plate. I heated metal to about 200-240 and made 3 passes. I haven't tested yet, but would that be enough passes?? Is there a rule of thumb for thicknesses to passes??

[@WeldFever]

+D Boud You should consult a structural code book like the AWS D1.1 to find that answer, however, the rule of thumb for the overall size of a weld is no larger than the thickness of the material. When joining thicker to thinner, the thinner is the usually the size to go by. The reason for this is that you do not want to overheat the piece by making such a large weld that you make a huge heat affected zone. The Heat Affected Zone (HAZ) is the weakest part of the weld, especially at the toe. Adding too much weld can have the opposite effect and make your piece weaker. I urge you to look this up for yourself in a code book like the one I mentioned and good luck!

[@johnstiller2852]

I have a Hobart 140no gas

[@kurtmckin7488]

how do u weld a thick plate to a dodge dynasty to replace spring

[@johnstiller2852]

what if one thicker then sumthing else like for a BBQ pit casing is thicker and legs is thinner metal

[@jimbolecat]

Why did you draw the gun away on your root and cap runs instead of the pushing motion. Am I missing something? Wouldn't it just take longer and leave a slightly more rough weld? I used to work for JCB many years ago and we would never angle the gun like that unless it was a difficult access angle

[@OsomaBinWeldin]

I beleive his reason is to get a better camer angle for us the viewers

[@danielainsworth4092]

after you put in the root pass, do you go from top to bottom, or bottom to top? does it matter?

[@WeldFever]

daniel ainsworth I'm assuming you mean from left to right, since this is in the flat position? If so, it doesn't really matter, so long as you overlap consistently. If that's not what you mean, write back and I'll try to answer your question a little better. Thanks!

[@danielainsworth4092]

you answered my question fully. thats why i like posting on your videos. you answer back and are very clear in your posts and videos. im in school and watch your videos frequently when im having trouble.

[@micstica]

Regarding gas. Pure CO2 is hotter than C25. Would not the hotter gas be a better all around choice?

[@WeldFever]

Not necesarily since c02 does not provide as smooth an arc as C25, which makes it wasier to handle. I guess it really depends on your skill set and how thick the material is.

[@polyanne5]

Hi this my first vid of yours I've watched and I like it. thought that if you can you should push your weld and not pull in mig?Thank you for the VID!!!

[@WeldFever]

Great, I'm glad you picked something up and I thank you for the compliment. Please keep watching and commenting!

[@edwardkenway4148]

lets do some sheet metal 16ga welding videos (make a box ) please

[@WeldFever]

Great suggestion, I'll put it on my list of upcoming video ideas!

[@edwardkenway4148]

thank you sir

[@gabsmit]

Good video. Thanks for that. What I don't understand is that everybody calls the welding proces " MIG" welding. Its only MIG welding when you use 100% pure argon on welding aluminum. (Metal Inert Gas)When you use mix gas (85%argon 15%Co2) Is MAG welding ( Metal Active gas) So when you weld steel or stainles ( 98/2 mix) you MAG weld :)

[@WeldFever]

+gabsmit Well, I believe it is a geography thing. In the Unites States, we do not use the term "MAG" welding and "MIG" welding is an old term that is still used because of its popularity more so than its accuracy. The correct term is GMAW, which stands for Gas Metal Arc Welding. Thanks for the comment.

[@gabsmit]

+WeldFever Thank you for the reply, all very clear. Here in Holland we most always call the proces MIG welding also, it's just because it's a popular term and well embedded.. Was reading in my old welding class books about diferent proceses and that was the reason why I was wondering about the diferent names for the diferent processes. They use the term GMAW there too "Gas metaal booglassen" ( In Dutch) Keep up the good work, and thank you very much for all your great vids.

[@gabsmit]

So basically it's still MAG welding not MIG. It's welding with active gas...

[@steventhomas4543]

it's technically called (GMAW) for gas metal arc welding

[@Anil.thakur22]

what is the maximum thickness of material for MIG welding.…..?