For more proffesional looking welds, also prepare the metal joints first by beveling the edges that you intend on joining. Clamp everything, and leave it clamped until things are cool enough to handle.Proper grounding is critical to smooth flow of current aswell, make sure there are no rust or painted surfaces you are trying to cross. If you are welding outside (or with a fan blowing on/near you) try to weld elsewhere, or block the wind, The sheilding gases used easily blow away and affect the welding process, and can contribute to welds that fail later in life. If you are getting splatter and feel you have the right settings you can buy anti-spatter (goop) that you dunk the tip of the mig gun in. If you don't have a gas set-up for your mig, use Flux cored wire, and you will get similar results to using gas.
As an industrial machine builder, I try to stick to the above rules, I have been welding close to 10 years and I still have days where I have to shake my head after welding.
bcromwell and huflungdung have good advice also that should be practiced to get nice welds.....
good luck
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menomana |