Too bad I don't have a digital, hopefully I can 'xplain myself. Yesterday when I was praticing, I was notching a pice of tubing and welding it to another piece. I'm using .25 wire right now. I had one bead that rocked, looked almost professional. Anyway, during this bead, I found myself instead of just moving the nozzle straight, I was moving it back and forth left to right (actually it was up and down, but for simplicity terms). My bead looked great. Is the movement of the nozzle as described right for something like I was doing? Should I move up to .30 wire? Reason I was doing this is because of the notch itself. I was using the chop saw method, so instead of the "U" part being straight, it was angled and I felt the bead wasn't wide enough.

that's the correct way to get good penetration on a mig weld.

.025 wire is too small, use .030. What you are describing is called a "weave bead" and is correct. I am glad to hear you have enough common sense to do some practicing before tackling the real thing. When practicing, try your damnest to break whatever it is you have welded. You know you
have it right when the material breaks before the weld.

I like .035 wire. Works great, expecially for bigger stuff.

Pete

Originally posted by MdntRdr:
<STRONG>Too bad I don't have a digital, hopefully I can 'xplain myself. Yesterday when I was praticing, I was notching a pice of tubing and welding it to another piece. I'm using .25 wire right now. I had one bead that rocked, looked almost professional. Anyway, during this bead, I found myself instead of just moving the nozzle straight, I was moving it back and forth left to right (actually it was up and down, but for simplicity terms). My bead looked great. Is the movement of the nozzle as described right for something like I was doing? Should I move up to .30 wire? Reason I was doing this is because of the notch itself. I was using the chop saw method, so instead of the "U" part being straight, it was angled and I felt the bead wasn't wide enough.</STRONG>

Damn dude, that is some fat ass wire! 1/4" thick?

<IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/thefinger.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/devil.gif" border="0"> <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

Wow, that must be some welder you got there. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0">

Choke, according to your sig, I seperated myself from the welders the other day when I welded my exhaust. <IMG SRC="smilies/eek.gif" border="0"> My mom always said I was "special". <IMG SRC="smilies/blender.gif" border="0">

Pete

keep layin down those dimes