How Mig Weld Sheet Metal

Forget the larger 1 8 inch tungsten electrode and use a smaller one.

How mig weld sheet metal.

It doesn t have a huge amperage range but it provides everything you need to mig weld sheet metal. However if you are dealing with materials that are 18 gauge or thicker one should be able to use 030 inch welding wire. This drops the voltage and heat of the weld arc and causes the welds to sit proud no penetration on top of the metal. Learn how to mig weld automotive sheet metal in about 5 minutes or less.

Butt welded panels withstand stress better than any other type of weld joint. The heat produced by the short circuit along with a non reactive hence inert gas locally melts the metal and allows them to mix together. The best way to weld sheet metal panels together is by butt welding which is joining them side by side see picture below. Keep in mind during the welding process it is important to direct the arc right at the center of the weld puddle and don t do movements like whipping or weaving as it may cause warping and burn through quickly.

Holding the tip too far from the surface will cause the wire to have to come out too far to touch the metal. When mig welding sheet metal it is important to set the proper parameters to prevent warping and burn through or else it will create excess heat and easily blowholes on the metal. I keep it short and to the point in this welding instructional video and show how ve. When starting to learn auto body sheet metal welding with a mig welder you should opt for a shielding gas that has a higher proportion of argon gas.

It is recommended that a welder should use 023 or 024 inch wire for light gauge sheet metal work. Tig welding sheet metal. It is better to use instead of a high percentage of co2. As a rule when mig welding sheet metal never use a body filler metal that is thicker than the base metal.

Don t attempt to weld thin materials like sheet metal with flux cored wires which put more heat into the base metal. Making a patch panel take some time to make your patch a perfect fit. This means the extra wire causes the voltage to drop by the time it actually gets to the surface and strikes an arc. Otherwise you may find a lot more splatter than you have imagined.

To weld sheet metal with solid wires use electrode positive ep or reverse polarity. This is a simple machine with very few settings but it runs an impressive bead and can get down to a low amperage range to ensure you can run smooth welds without blowing through your joint.