1. Get rid of the unnecessary sound with good Ground Clamps:

You are familiar with the earth-shattering sound from the MIG guns.

Do you know you can decrease it massively with a small tweak?

Here is how:

Just use a good ground clamp.

A bad ground is the primary cause of terrible sound which we get from the MIG gun. Just change the ground, and noise will decrease a lot.

Special Tip: Try to go for the copper ones as they are good conductors.

2. Use long stickouts for welding thin sheet metal:

People often wonder what stickout to use. This is often overlooked.

The wrong one might make a mess.

Here is the deal:

A proper stick out makes your welding smooth. Use long stick outs for thin metal.  When you are using a high amp, go for the long ones.

Special Tip: When you are going for short range, try to go for the ones which are less than half an inch in size. Shorter ones work better in thick metals.

3. Keep the angle of your torch 5 to 25 degree for an excellent weld:

The angle of your torch plays a vital role.

Now:

Keep the angle of your torch correctly for a good weld. If you are joining two similarly thick items, place the angle at center.

Special Tip: If the thickness is different, point the torch in the thicker one’s side.

4. Weld uphill for thick sheet metal for smooth penetration:

It often causes a dilemma when attacking a thick sheet metal.

But the solution is very simple, and you can use this technique right now.

If any sheet is thicker than one-fourth of an inch, always use uphill welding technique. It helps to penetrate smoothly.

How?

Just start from the bottom and go up.

5. Use auto darkening helmet to get precision and weld like a pro:

The regular helmet is not enough.

You will have to open and close it to have a look if the tips and pointers are in the right place.

Auto-darkening helmet allows doing the welding with precision. Without it, you won’t be able to view where it is pointing to without removing the front.

So, use it for good welding experience. A small error might destroy the panel. It will save lots of time.

6. Use solid wires on thin materials for clean weld:

Solid wires are a must when working on thin metals.

Solid wires comprise of Argon and Carbon-di-oxide or straightforward carbon-di-oxide. This works like a charm on thin materials.

Special Tip: Make sure the area is dirt free, and you will get a clean weld. This is necessary for auto body works.

7. Use magnet or Spark test to find the metal you are working on and avoid unnecessary complication:

Sometimes, we face a bit of difficulty to understand the material we are working on.

The best part?

One or two simple test can narrow it down.

First, use a magnet. If it is magnetic, it will come down to steel iron, nickel, cast iron, etc.

If this fails, you can guess with the sparks it generates. Carbon steel will make a ton of sparks, and you will be able to guess how much carbon in there by the pattern. But this requires experience. If it is a 300 series stainless, it will sparkless and will be red. Titanium will go banana. It will be whitish and will go several feet.

8. Find out which rod is suitable for welding and use it effectively:

Finding the correct rod for welding is necessary. The wrong rod might cause a disaster.

This varies from person to person and the material. But here are some basic ideas:

Carbon steel : e70s2, 3, 4 or 6, er70s2

Stainless Steel: use er308L

Aluminum: use 4043 or 4943 which

Steel to copper: Silicon bronze

Cast iron: Nickel rod

Carbon steel: ER 309

Special Tip: Try to find out the material to use it properly. Check Tip 6 if you are not sure what you are dealing with.

9. Use the on-off technique to weld clear anodized aluminum

Welding anodized aluminum can be a nightmare. This often leaves a mark.

You can use an on-off switch or get it on and off manually when welding. This helps to break the coat and leaves little to no marks.

10. Move freely for broader welding and try to be in a flat position:

Movement is significant during movement. If you can move freely, your welding will be smoother.

When you are going for a side by side in the broader area, make sure to move smoothly along with the welder.  Make sure the heat is good.

If you do not move freely, excessive heat will generate and will cause damage. Controlling the travel speed is the key for good weld fusion.

You must make sure you give it enough time to penetrate.

Special Tip: When you are starting to learn to weld, always try to weld in a flat position. It will help you to keep the momentum going. You will see the good molten metal flow, good bead and you will get good coverage.

11. Use proper angle and distance of the torch:

Why is this important?

The length of the torch plays a vital role.

A proper distance will give you better control. When you are working on thinner material, your reach can be higher. It will generate less heat and less penetration. But if you are working on thick materials, you should hold it closer. This will give more heat to work with.

But make sure you are not too close or too far. Always keep a constant distance to keep the flow smooth.

Special Tip: Use filler metal and base metal together for a good weld.