How to MIG Weld

        Want to permanently fuse two pieces of steel together using large amounts of amperage and a lava hot wire? It’s actually quite easy and can be done almost anywhere! Find a MIG welder, grab some steel, and follow these steps to weld your way to success. 

• Welder
• Helmet
• Gloves
• Jacket
• 220v power
• Steel

First of all, ensure that the workplace is clean and ready for welding. Tables must be flame resistant, preferably made of steel or stainless steel. Be sure that there are no flammable objects near the welding area. Place the welder in a place that is out of the way and will not be damaged. Use proper safety gear including gloves, helmet, and jacket. 

Once the area is clean, set up the welder. MIG welders require a shielding gas, and the gas must be on in order to make a good weld. The welder needs power as well, usually 220 volts. Plug in the welder and ensure that it is turned on. The amperage must be set according to the thickness of the steel. The thicker the steel is, the higher the amperage will need to be. It will take testing to find the right amperage for any welding application. Once this is done, place the welder’s ground clamp on the object you will be welding. The ground clamp must be attached to a clean piece of steel to ensure a good ground for the welder. The wire speed can also be adjusted for more or less wire output. 

Next, pull the trigger on the welding gun and be sure the gun is working properly. Wire and shielding should be seen/heard coming out of the gun. If the gun is operating correctly, welding can begin. Place the desired metal pieces in their proper orientation and hold the gun a quarter inch away from the joint(s). Pull the trigger and let a pool of molten metal accumulate. Then, using small and consistent strokes, move the gun along the seam using a recommended pattern. Recommended patterns include making a continuous string of cursive E’s, making repetitive half moons, back and forth motions, or a wave like motion. These are trial and error methods, some may work better than others for certain applications. There are other ways to lay beads of weld as well, but these are the most common. 

        Finally, once the weld is run along the seam, make a small pool of metal at the end of the weld and let go of the trigger. Hold the gun still until the gas turns off. The weld is now complete and the bead should look like the picture. THIS WILL TAKE PRACTICE. The ground clamp may be removed. Turn the welder off and ensure the shielding gas is off as well. The welder may be unplugged and placed back into the place of origin. The welding process is now complete!