Welding Tips and Tricks

I am just getting started, learning at home using WT&T video and some Lincoln Electric books. I am right handed.

Please clarify:

While Mig welding on horizontal flat plate pulling from left to right, is the "leading edge of the puddle" on the (1) left side of the electrode or (2) on the right hand side of the electrode. This will answer my questions. Thank you for your help with this most basic question.

Right side of electrode if the torch angle is near 90*. The puddle will be ever so slightly ahead of the wire going in, unless you lay the gun aimed backwards, behind where you just welded.

Similar to what cj737 said, so long as the travel speed is correct, then I agree. Reason being, the puddle is dynamic and evolves with time, as it is not a static event. If you happen to move too fast, regardless of gun angle it is possible to have the wire and arc completely out of the puddle, and that same situation would then have the leading edge of the puddle to the left side of the electrode. So, assuming a proper travel speed and no extreme mig gun angle, I agree it will be ever so slightly to the right of the electrode when going left→right.

Perhaps I think of it more simply. IMO, the leading edge of the puddle is always in the direction of travel. So if you're moving left to right, the leading edge of the puddle is always on the right. If you're moving right to left, the leading edge of the puddle is always on the left. It's basically just the furthest advanced portion of the weld/puddle.

If you're unable to fall within those bounds, then it just means that you're screwing up the puddle, and at that point, the matter of a "leading edge" is moot.

RayTex wrote:I am just getting started, learning at home using WT&T video and some Lincoln Electric books. I am right handed.

Please clarify:

While Mig welding on horizontal flat plate pulling from left to right, is the "leading edge of the puddle" on the (1) left side of the electrode or (2) on the right hand side of the electrode. This will answer my questions. Thank you for your help with this most basic question.

First off, welcome!

Second, why pull? MIG welding works beautifully as a push operation. You eventually need to be able to push, pull, go vertical, etc, but in the beginning pushing will be a lot easier.

Spartan wrote:Perhaps I think of it more simply. IMO, the leading edge of the puddle is always in the direction of travel. So if you're moving left to right, the leading edge of the puddle is always on the right. If you're moving right to left, the leading edge of the puddle is always on the left. It's basically just the furthest advanced portion of the weld/puddle.

If you're unable to fall within those bounds, then it just means that you're screwing up the puddle, and at that point, the matter of a "leading edge" is moot.

Wouldn't this change depending upon the hand used, or am I missing something?

G-ManBart wrote:

Spartan wrote:Perhaps I think of it more simply. IMO, the leading edge of the puddle is always in the direction of travel. So if you're moving left to right, the leading edge of the puddle is always on the right. If you're moving right to left, the leading edge of the puddle is always on the left. It's basically just the furthest advanced portion of the weld/puddle.

If you're unable to fall within those bounds, then it just means that you're screwing up the puddle, and at that point, the matter of a "leading edge" is moot.

Wouldn't this change depending upon the hand used, or am I missing something?

nope.

spartan is on the money. easy way to remember it. doesn't matter what hand, push or drag, leading edge is always in the direction of travel.

RayTex wrote:I am just getting started, learning at home using WT&T video and some Lincoln Electric books. I am right handed.

Please clarify:

While Mig welding on horizontal flat plate pulling from left to right, is the "leading edge of the puddle" on the (1) left side of the electrode or (2) on the right hand side of the electrode. This will answer my questions. Thank you for your help with this most basic question.

i assume your pulling because its flux core ?
are you using a fluxcore welder?

imho for learning to weld, go get a stick welder.
slightly harder to learn with, darn sight easier to setup, but more importantly it will teach you the basics which a lot of people tend to skip over when learning with mig. this will make you a better welder faster.

Thank all of you for your replies. I get it now: the leading edge of the puddle is toward the direction of travel, pull or push.

This WT&T video helps, starting at about 17 seconds: :https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ods6Jp7hEh0&t=118s

Regards,
Ray