A Very Visual Explanation of MIG Welding Arc Types
By Chuck CageIf you’ve ever wondered whether metal really does “spray” when you’re using a high-speed feed and voltage — or whether it really “globs” when using medium feed/voltage settings, this video should clear it all up for you. Each spray type has its place in the welding world, but watching this slow-motion video is the first chance I’ve had to actually see them all in practice.
(Thanks, James, for the tip!)
July 29th, 2007 at 10:33 am
Can someone explain exactly what we’re seeing here and why one of the combinations of settings would be any better than the others? Having never done any welding, I have no idea what those two knobs on the left mean, although I did notice that neither one of them goes to 11.
July 29th, 2007 at 4:55 pm
Going on this video for the cleanest weld you need to crank it up as far as you go, but then this wont get the correct penetration on thicker metals correct?
I guess I really need to experiment with power and feed rates, at the moment I just stick the dials in the middle and overdo all my welds.
July 30th, 2007 at 9:44 am
I originally saw this on weldingweb.com. If you go to that site and search for, “mig video”, there is a brief - but good- explanation about what is happening in these videos. And Chris, they don’ t let the guys from Spinal Tap design the wire feed rate and voltage knobs on MIG welders, so they only go to 10.
August 1st, 2007 at 1:16 am
I believe we’re seeing short circuiting, globular transfer and spray arc here. The first two are what you would be able to achieve with a Home Depot MIG machine. Spray arc requires 200+ amps and a few other factors to achieve; it produces a smooth bead rather than the usual “stacked dimes” look.
August 23rd, 2007 at 10:40 am
[...] But that “bit’ is significant: Hobart claims the 210 delivers enough juice to weld via the “spray transfer” method, which they say make a big difference in working aluminum. (If you wonder what that means, check out this cool video which shows the various types of metal transfer in MIG welding.) Be aware, however, that you’ll need to add their optional DP-3035 spool gun – a $500 accessory — to work aluminum. Notice that the guy in the press photo is using it to lay a bead on what looks like a perfectly good diamond-plate aluminum bumper. [...]