[Infographic] MIG Welding tips for Beginners

Posted on: July 24, 2015

This article and infographic were created by Monica Gomez, a freelance career and job skills writer on behalf of Tulsa Welding School, the largest welding school in the United States. ILMO is proud to support all welding and trade vocations, in Illinois, Missouri, and beyond.

For Beginners & Students: Tips for Strong MIG Welds

MIG welding, also referred to as metal inert gas welding, has been around for many years. In fact, it dates back to the 1940s and is still based on the same primary principles. Fast, cost-efficient, and applicable to almost any metal, MIG welding can be used more universally than other welds; however, it tends to be most effective for spot welding and tack welds. An essential skill for any welder, MIG welding is often one of the first techniques welding students learn. One school that has been teaching MIG almost as long as the process has been around, Tulsa Welding School, has developed a MIG welding infographic with tips to ensure quality welds.

Unlike TIG and stick welding, it’s vital that you set up your equipment correctly when you MIG weld. The process might be easy, but when you don’t use the proper settings and set up the machine improperly, you won’t get the best results. And not every machine is the same when it comes to MIG welding.

Joint setup is important. An unclean joint can ruin the work of even the most skilled welder. Basically, when you put junk into a joint, that’s exactly what you get out of it.

There are different weld techniques for MIG welding. For instance, it’s easiest to flat weld. It typically requires you to push the MIG gun, point it anywhere from straight down to 35 degrees from that. High voltage that’s hot and fast is best for this. Generally, you want a steady motion, but even if you use a pattern, it’s fine as long as the weld is penetrating.

These are just a few basic suggestions for MIG wielding. Take a look at the infographic (left) for tips on how to produce better, stronger joints with MIG welding.

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