Welding Tips and Tricks

I've looked at about every table I can find on the web for MIG settings and they all go from 22ga down to 14ga and then jump to 1/8". I need to do plug welds on 12ga using solid wire (.030) with 75/25 gas. Does anybody know a good starting point? If someone could prove them for 12 gauge at .024, .030, and .035 it would be appreciated.

11 gauge is almost exactly 1/8, so I'd use that as a starting point. Put a caliper on your 12 ga., and you'll see you're pretty close.

You'll be close enough to dial it in using the 1/8" recommendation, and that's the point of the recommendations, anyway. Rarely do they exactly match your requirements.

Steve S

Here's some good charts, including a gauge to fraction/ decimal one

http://www.airgas.com/content/details.a ... 0000000143

Thanks.

Rick66pony.

Filler metal manufacturers often publish welding variable tables recommendations.

Even without the tables, after MIG welding a few inches or mock-ups, you should find that your amps (wire speed)/volts are very close to the those recommendations. After finding your amps, intentionally set your voltage too high until it is erratic and spitting. Then slowly reduce the voltage until you have optimized the arc. This should reduce the risk of lack of fusion.

Alexa