MIG Welding for Beginners - from Setting up Machine to Stacking beads

Watch these Videos on 
"MIG welding for Beginners"
and get a Jump Start Learning to MIG

• read and follow manufacturers instructions for setting up your machine
• make sure to fully engage mig gun into power block
• set wire tension
• set up mig nozzle and contact tip so that tip is not recessed
• Set polarity to Electrode Positive. Mig machines are all designed a bit differently. there are 2 videos on this page showing two different machines with different methods for changing polarity.
• C25 gas is the most common, most readily available, and most versatile shielding gas for short circuit mig welding carbon steel.  Pure Co2 also works well but requires a CGA regulator adapter and different settings.... and is a bit hot for really thin metal.
• Make sure ground connection is secure on clean bright metal
• gas flow rate depends mostly on diameter of mig nozzle. 20-25 cfh is a good place to start.

MIG Welding for beginners...Great Practice for Cheap

Stacking on bead halfway over a previous bead also called "padding beads" is the best practice that uses the least metal.

The key to getting the most out of this skill drill is to "practice with intention".

What do I mean by "practice with intention"?

• Inspect each beach with a critical eye.
• As you are welding, think about maintaining the same travel speed, same stickout, same bead width, same gun angle.
• Inspect and analyze each bead for irregularities and try to correct on the next bead.
• Watch and re watch clips from the videos on this page every few beads stay on track.

Simply going thru the motions wont help. Welding beads without intention is akin to swinging a golf club randomly at weeds. It might feel good but It is not going to help you get better.

I think of my Mig180 mostly as a Great Little MIG Welder with a great arc and nice small mig gun that feels great in my hand... but it also Stick welds, and even comes with a spool gun for aluminum.  

just look at all that comes with it... That is a lot of bang for the buck!