Newbie Welding Question

[Nursepeter1973]

Hi all.

When you are welding (Mig) two pieces of steel together of dissimilar thicknesses which thickness do you set the welder to?

For example I am wanting to weld a 2mm (wall thickness) piece of tube perpendicularly to a 5mm piece of plate (ie like a T).

I want to ensure good penetration but obviously if I ramp it up to the 5mm then I will risk burn through on the 2mm.

 

[fatherof4]

Your gonna have to set the welder up for the thicker piece of metal. Focusing more of the heat on the thicker piece to have good penetration on both and still keep from burning through the smaller piece is part of the art of welding.

 

[fatherof4]

Practice, practice, practice.

 

[Fyrme]

Like it was mentioned, set it for the 5mm. When you make your weld, spend a little less time on the thinner metal than the thicker. It's hard to explain in words, but I typically weld in a curl pattern when welding two different material thicknesses, pausing slightly on the thicker material and "pushing it onto the thinner material. That way it fuses the thicker material into the thinner. Trying to go the other way will just blow holes in your seam. Clear as mud?

 

[Nursepeter1973]

Thanks fatherof4 & Fyrme for the replies. It all makes sense. I haven't done it yet (possibly tonight) I just wanted to make sure that I had set up the machine correctly before I began.

In my mind i am imagining the overlaping loops that everyone says but just a longer pause as such on the thicker material?

 

[Fyrme]

Thanks fatherof4 & Fyrme for the replies. It all makes sense. I haven't done it yet (possibly tonight) I just wanted to make sure that I had set up the machine correctly before I began.

In my mind i am imagining the overlaping loops that everyone says but just a longer pause as such on the thicker material?

exacty. Well, more of a not as long on the thinner material