

Metal Thickness, Amperage Settings & Wire SizeĮvery MIG Welder has a sweet spot for a given material thickness, in a particular alloy, using a specific wire size and a certain shielding gas. It is the best option for welding Stainless Steel. Tri-MIX Helium / Argon / C02: Tri-MIX gas produces a hotter arc that improves speed and overall production rates. The Argon CO2 MIX produces a higher quality weld compared to straight CO2 and also improves productivity.ġ00 Percent Argon: For welding non-ferrous metals such as Aluminum, Magnesium, and Titanium. If cost is a major factor, it is the least expensive shielding gas to use.Īrgon / CO2 MIX: The ratio of Argon to CO2 can range from 75 percent to 95 percent Argon mixed with 5 percent to 25 percent CO2. CO2 is a good choice for welding thick material which requires deep penetration. It is the only shielding gas that can be used without the addition of an inert gas. Choose the best gas for your process:Ĭarbon Dioxide (CO2): This is the most common shielding gas utilized in the MIG welding process. Refer to the manual that comes with your machine to find the appropriate shielding gas settings. The flow rate of the shielding gas will also play a factor. For optimum results you need to use the proper gas for the type of metal being welded. Sheilding gas is used in the MIG Welding process to prevent exposure of the molten puddle to oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen that are present in the atmosphere and will contaminate the weld.

Before you start welding make sure you understand how these setting affect the welding process.

You will need to make adjustments to the MIG welder settings based on a variety of criteria. When welding with Flux Core wire, the parameters can be entirely different. The information in this article pertain to welding with solid wire. The welding itself requires very little skill providing the MIG welder settings are correct for the application. Unlike welding with a stick welder, MIG welding is a semi-automatic process. This article is more a general guideline to help the novice welder understand how the various settings will affect your results. MIG Welder Settings can vary substantially from model to model and certainly from brand to brand.
