Question for experienced welders
Question for experienced welders When usiing a MIG welder how the hell do you get a good weld when you have to point the gun at an angle where the wire is going somewhat upward? It just drips back down on the gun for the most part when I tried this welding some subframes on. I'm putting in a Wolfe anti-sway bar now and decided i'll just pull the rearend out to do it right. I don't really have any problems when I can point the gun downward.
I'm not real experienced, but I just took a welding class at the local Vo Tech and I asked that question. The instructor told me you just don't weld upside down with a Mig.
I am not really an "experienced" welder but I have been welding quite a bit over the past year, when I am welding upside down I use more heat and less wire speed and I dont have any dripping problems, thats how I welded my wolfe swaybar
TECH Junkie
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Whatever instructor told you that you don't weld upside down with a mig, needs to be fired.
As with any angle of welding, there IS an art to getting it right. What's probably happening in your case, is that you are staying in your puddle too long. Build a puddle, move, build a puddle, move. You'll get the hang of it after awhile. But you don't want to have your gun directly underneath your weld. Try at a 30-40 degree angle. Also, make sure the metal is clean. No paint, rust, etc.
As with any angle of welding, there IS an art to getting it right. What's probably happening in your case, is that you are staying in your puddle too long. Build a puddle, move, build a puddle, move. You'll get the hang of it after awhile. But you don't want to have your gun directly underneath your weld. Try at a 30-40 degree angle. Also, make sure the metal is clean. No paint, rust, etc.
Here's a question -- when I'm welding, I tend to build a puddle and "push" it along while watching the surrounding area. If its a butt weld, I watch for the puddle to "wick" between the pieces. If its a fillet weld, I watch for the edges of each piece to "droop" and be filled in by the puddle. Is this a bad technique? Good technique? The welds seem pretty strong (haven't broken anything yet) and are cosmetically appealing for the most part 
Just wondering if I should be doing it differently before this habit gets too ingrained in my head 
Just wondering if I should be doing it differently before this habit gets too ingrained in my head i was actually gonna post this exact question about welding "up" as i'm in the middle of a 'cage install and am struggling with the downbars. The best result I have gotten so far was to turn the feed UP tilt the gun at 45 deg., and stitch weld.
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TECH Junkie
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You don't want to 'push' your puddle. Actually you will be welding 'towards' you, so to speak. A good weld should look like a stack of nickles. ((((((((((((((((
Vert welds can be tricky. Some people weld them 'up' and some weld 'down'. For me, it depends on what I am welding and what type of machine I am using. Mig, I usually do 'down'. SMAW, I do 'up'. With a mig, turn your wire speed up till it starts to push against your work, then back it down a bit. That gives you max penetration and holding strength.
Vert welds can be tricky. Some people weld them 'up' and some weld 'down'. For me, it depends on what I am welding and what type of machine I am using. Mig, I usually do 'down'. SMAW, I do 'up'. With a mig, turn your wire speed up till it starts to push against your work, then back it down a bit. That gives you max penetration and holding strength.
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Verdad Gallardo I thought a drag angle wasn't "desired" for gas-shielded mig? Does it really make much difference? Also, what gas rate? I run mine around 20-25cfm and it seems to shield pretty well.
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From: From the Bowels of Hell!!! You want some of me bitch?!?!?!
20-25 cfm is OK. Too little and you start spattering. Wire size and material can make a difference on the amount but not a whole hellava lot.