stupid questions Part II

[GarFre]

Once again, I appreciate you guys enduring my dumb questions. Here goes... When you're welding on a bench and you have a choice, what is your prefered position. What I mean is (assuming you're right handed) do you go left to right or right to left? Do you pull the gun toward you or push it away? I don't always get a clear view of the weld puddle so I'm looking for help. Thanks again.

[MicroZone]

If you're doing MIG (GMAW), you can push or pull. A push with MIG will give you a wider bead, pull will tend to give you a narrow bead.

With TIG (GTAW), you want to move toward your filler or pull.

[phila.renewal]

My favorite position is horizontal. Thanks for asking.

For welding, I'm left handed so move left to right when MIG pushing or for TIG, and usually set up so either I can pull toward me or move right to left when MIG pulling. I keep my head either centered or peeking low from the right so I can see what I'm doing.

[Waldarosa]

Welding with MIG you can weld right to left (push) or left to right (pull or drag) that is for a right hander. I'm right handed and use my left hand to steady my right hand under my hand or wrist for MIG. Welding with TIG I go from right to left. Get comfortable move the gun or torch across the area to be welded a couple times and adjust your position if needed hood down and weld. Keep the heat at he leading 1/3 of the weld puddle. Hope that helps.

[tresi]

I use a dual operator machine. I start in the middle with a stinger in each hand and move to the left with the left and to the right with the right hand. No, not really I'd go cross eyed trying to watch what I was doing if I tried that. I'm right handed and move left to right with stick and right to left with MIG.

[littlefuzz]

It just all depends on the situation. Ideally if I have a piece on the table and can mave it any which way I go right to left pushing.

[Sandy]

What I mean is (assuming you're right handed) do you go left to right or right to left?

Yes, most of the time but not always.

Do you pull the gun toward you or push it away?

Definitely.


Just kiddin. Couldn't help it.

Really, getting a decent view of the bead can be a real problem occassionally. If I can modify the move to accomodate the visual I will but I usually try my best to make the bead direction whatever is I think is best for that particular run or series and then do whatever contortions I have to to see decent. Learning to do some of the basics with either hand helps a lot.

[olddad]

Can't always set a piece up the way you want but when I have a choice;

solid wire, push right to left

flux core or innershield, pull left to right

stick, pull left to right

tig, always push right to left, always

Those are just my preferences, many have different methods that work for them and would pass an x-ray test. I've done a lot of 100% NDT welding and I've seen people weld in ways that isn't supposed to work. Some of it works, some of it doesn't. After several thousand tests I had a 99+ passing percentage, stick with the proven methods unless you're welding non-critical stuff. Don't experiment unless you're working on something that can't/won't hurt anyone, it'll make you a better welder.

[Doolittle]

Now see!! everyone has a preferred method dangit. I allways drag on mig and sitting at a comfy position with the piece just where I want it, Id go left to right (me being right handed). I would only push on something thin like 1/8 or thinner when burn through is a concern and penetration isnt. I allways do tig right to left, and stick I can go either way but allways use a drag angle on the rod.

[GarFre]

Thank you!

[zapster]

I just do whatever it takes..
Up..
Down..
Sideways..
Inside out?...
Flat..
Curved..
Angled..




...zap!

[WolfmanJack13]

Always been taught drag the slag(stick) and push the gas(mig), as a genreal rule. But circumstances don't always work out that way.