How to Avoid Welding Too Hot or Cold

Welding requires the metal pieces to be melted along with the filler that joins the pieces. This must be done at the correct temperature and it is frequently the most difficult part of making a strong weld. The following steps will show how to avoid welding too hot or cold.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Examine a weld that is too hot. The most obvious sign is a weld that burns a hole all the way through the metal. Other clues include spattering and excessive puddling that results in a rough-looking weld.

2. Observe a weld that is too cold. A weld that has not been melted sufficiently will sit on top of the metal and not penetrate it deeply enough to form a strong weld.

3. Practice with a piece of scrap metal of the same type and thickness you will actually be welding with the recommended settings on your welder. Make a weld and check for more subtle signs that you have welded at the correct temperature.

4. Adjust the distance from the tip of the gun to the surface of the metal (stick-out). The stick-out should be increased if the puddling of the filler material is excessive, indicating the weld is too hot. Adequate stick-out is especially critical with thin metal.

5. Weld at the correct speed. Faster welding will reduce the temperature of the weld and make it shorter and flatter. A thin weld indicates that a slower speed should be used to make it wider.

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Resources

• Learn more about welding at the correct temperature from Bodyman.

[Nexus]

on 6/26/2008 This article is fundamentally good, however I think it should indicate it's MIG process specificity and that the recommended settings are a place to start and will vary according to other variables.