3 Rules That Will Make You A More Effective Welder
If you like to try your hand at welding at home, there are a few simple welding rules that you need to follow in order to get the best results possible when you weld at home.
Know When to Push & Pull
You need to know when to push or pull with your welding tool. If you are using either a flux-core wire welder or a stick welder, you should drag the rod or wire when you are welding. If you are welding using a metal inert gas method, more commonly known as MIG, you should be pushing the wire. Push for MIG welding, and drag the wire for stick and flux-core welding.
Keep the Right Angle
Next, you need to keep your welding tools at the right angle when you are working. If you are using a wire welding, you only need to keep your welding gun at a very slight angle -- less than ten or fifteen degrees -- in the same direction you are making the weld. You don't need much of an angle to get the job done.
If you are using a stick welding tool, you will need a little bit more of a lead angle. However, the angle is still not very pronounced. You are still looking at keeping the welding tool at an acute angle of less than thirty degrees. The widest angle, a forty-five-degree angle, should be used with a fillet or tee weld. Learning the right type of angle can greatly help you increase the success of your welds.
Clean Your Equipment
Finally, you need to make sure that you keep your equipment really clean. The presence of hydrogen in your welds can cause the weld to crack, often soon after the weld is made. Hydrogen can be found in all sorts of places, from grease to paint to water to dirt to rust. The best way to fight back against hydrogen impurities is by keeping your welding gun clean. Clean it after each weld and store it somewhere where it can stay safe, dry, and clean when you are not welding. You can find cleaning supplies at a welding store like Sam's Welding Incorporated.
Also, make sure that you clean the material you are welding. For example, if you are fixing damaged metal on a piece of construction equipment, make sure that you clean all the dirt and grime off the equipment before trying to weld the equipment. This will increase the chance that your weld will hold.
When welding at home, learn the angle you should hold your tool at and when to push or pull, and most importantly, keep your equipment clean.