Mig- Push or pull ??

[GWB]

When welding 1/16 material, should you push or pull the gun?
All of the mig up to this point has been on plate .500 -.250. I use a CCW circle motion, get great looking, sound welds. On the 1/16 material, no such luck.
The welds I do are required to be "stack o dime looking"

What is the Rule for pushing the weld ??

Thanks

MM251 .030 75/25 16.0V 200w/s for 1/16 1018 square tube

[hankj]

GWB,

You'll hear from more experienced guys than me, but I'd push it. Push=less penetration. I don't think you'll be able to "stack dimes" on 16ga. - a stringer bead is what you'll most likely wind up with without blowing holes in it.

Be well.

hankj

[HAWK]

GWB,

I would push the torch using .023" wire and see what happens. I must agree with hank that stacking dimes with a MIG in .063" plate is going to be tougher than it sounds. I believe you will end up with a very smooth stringer unless you can tolerate a good bit of underside drooping. If I were in your shoes and my customer demanded the stacked dimes, then I would TIG it and charge accordingly.

[GWB]

Thank you both very much....

Hawk, the door chart on the MM251 is great...... Almost right on the money most of the time.

[HAWK]

gwb,

The MM251 is a fantastic machine! If you get what you are after on the beads, post a picture or two.

[cnslmva]

Just finished a job welding 16 ga. black iron duct together, like HAWK said the stack of dimes is real hard to get on this thin of material. Was using SP125Plus (employer supplied!) .023 ER70S6 per door chart settings got beautiful stringer beads! I'm like HAWK if required to get stack of dimes, use tig.

Good Luck!