Filter
Top Products
7
LEARNING TO WELD
7
ARC RAYS can burn eyes and skin.
When using an open arc process, it
Is necessary to use correct eye,
head and body protection.
Protect yourself and others, read
“ARC RAYS can burn” at the front
of the Instruction Manual supplied
with welder.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
2. The Correct Way To Strike An Arc
1. Be sure the work clamp makes good electrical
contact to the work.
2. Position gun over joint. End of wire may be
lightly touching the work.
3. Position face shield to protect face and eyes,
close gun trigger, and begin welding. Hold the
gun so that the contact tip to work distance is
about 3/8 to 1/2 inch (10 – 12 mm).
4. To stop welding, release the gun trigger and
the pull the gun away from the work after the
arc goes out.
5. A ball may form at the tip end of the wire after
welding. For easier restrikes (with Innershield
wire) the ball may be removed by feeding out a
few inches of wire and simply bending the wire
back and forth until it breaks off.
6. When no more welding is to be done, turn off
the machine.
3. The Correct Contact Tip to Work Distance
(CTWD)
The Contact Tip to Work Distance (CTWD) is the
distance from the end of the contact tip to the work.
See Figure 13.
Once the arc has been established, maintaining
the correct CTWD becomes extremely important.
The CTWD should be approximately 3/8 to 1/2 inch
(10 to 12 mm) long.
FIGURE 13
The easiest way to tell whether the CTWD is the
correct length is by listening to its sound. The cor-
rect CTWD has a distinctive “crackling” sound, very
much like eggs frying in a pan. A long CTWD has a
hollow, blowing or hissing sound. If the CTWD is
too short, you may stick the contact tip or nozzle to
the weld puddle and/or fuse the wire to the contact
tip.
4. The Correct Welding Speed (Travel Speed)
The important thing to watch while welding is the
puddle of molten metal right behind the arc. See
Figure 14. Do not watch the arc itself. It is the
appearance of the puddle and the ridge where the
molten puddle solidifies that indicates correct weld-
ing speed. The ridge should be approximately 3/8”
(10 mm) behind the wire electrode.
Most beginners tend to weld too fast, resulting in a
thin uneven, “wormy” looking bead. If this occurs
slow down your travel speed.
FIGURE 14
WARNING
Contact Tip
Wire Electrode
3/8 - 1/2" (10 - 12 mm)
(CTWD)
Solidifying ridge
Molten puddle
Direction of Travel