MIG Technique Advice? Wire initially pushes parts apart

[keith204]

I weld occasionally. Often when I first start welding, the wire pushes the parts apart before the metal is fully heated if the parts aren't clamped down well.

Is this typically something related to under-voltage? Too fast wire speed?

I see guys on YouTube holding a small part w/ one hand, and welding w/ the other without this issue. And I'd like to be as awesome as them.

 

[Copymutt]

Place ground as close as reasonable to the weld.

Wire brush both your ground tie point and the ground clamp contacts.

Paint or other contaminants at the weld point could also do it.

For tiny work, magnets help secure position.

 

[dr_clyde]

You probably need a better ground connection. Make sure your ground clamp is connected to the machine well, none of the connections are loose. I would also make sure the metal is clean, bright metal where you are clamping as well as welding. Sometimes you need to upgrade the ground clamp to a more stiff spring or more copper to eliminate the issue.

If that wire can't short instantly, it will push the metal until it gets a good connection.

 

[BukitCase]

Def. need the best ground you can get; I borrowed an idea from Jody
https://www.weldingtipsandtricks.com/mig-welding-ground.html

But used one of these instead, folded over
https://www.oreillyauto.com/shop/b/...y-ground-strap---universal-18125/118fe2e84812

Rough guess, about 2/3 of the weird BS problems went away... Steve

 

[Kaizen]

If the torch or parts is pushing then you have too fast of a wire speed. Slow that down see if it works. It’s a dance between that and voltage. You can also turn up voltage if it’s thicker metal. On sheet metal you can burn through so you have to keep voltage low and turn down wire speed to match


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[larry_g]

Also start with a clean end on the wire. Many weldors snip the end of the wire with wire cutters each start.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[APEowner]

Bad ground, voltage to low, dirty part or too high of a wire speed. Could be any of these.

 

[Old Man Roger]

Also start with a clean end on the wire. Many weldors snip the end of the wire with wire cutters each start.

lg
no neat sig line

Beat me to it. Sometimes there's a blob of slag on the end of the wire from the previous weld.

 

[danielbuck]

Also start with a clean end on the wire. Many weldors snip the end of the wire with wire cutters each start.

lg
no neat sig line

Yep!