Welding GlossaryWelding GlossaryWelding GlossaryWelding GlossaryWelding Glossary

Welding 101 Welding Glossary These welding tips are meant to be helpful hints. See your equipment Owner's Manual for all safety and operational information. MIG Welding - [PDF] Printable Version (Approx. 0.9 MB) Aluminum MIG Welding - [PDF] Printable Version (Approx. 0.05 MB) Self-Shielded Flux Cored Welding - [PDF] Printable Version (Approx. 0.05 MB) TIG Welding - [PDF] Printable Version (Approx. 0.07 MB) Stick Welding - [PDF] Printable Version (Approx. 0.46 MB) Plasma Cutting - [PDF] Printable Version (Approx. 0.04 MB) Resistance Spot Welding - [PDF] Printable Version (Approx. 0.05 MB) MIG Welding [PDF] Printable Version (Approx. 0.9 MB) 1. Keep a 1/4 to 3/8 in stickout (electrode extending from the tip of the contact tube.) (Refer to Diagram 1. Electrode Extensions) 2. For thin metals, use a smaller diameter wire. For thicker metal use a larger wire and a larger machine. See machine recommendations for welding capacity. (Refer to Diagram 4. Welding Wire Thickness Chart) 3. Use the correct wire type for the base metal being welded. Use stainless steel wires for stainless steel, aluminum wires for aluminum, and steel wires for steel. 4. Use the proper shielding gas. CO2 is good for penetrating welds on steel, but may be too hot for thin metal. Use 75% Argon/25% CO2 for thinner steels. Use only Argon for aluminum. You can use a triple-mix for stainless steels (Helium + Argon + CO2). (Refer to Diagram 2. Penetration Patterns for Steel)