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e.
Connect the Ground Clamp to a scrap piece of the same type of material which you will be
welding. It should be equal to or greater than the thickness of the actual work piece, and
free of oil, paint, rust, etc.
f.
Select a heat setting.
g.
Hold the torch in one hand. Hold the wire just off the work piece. (See the previous section,
HOLDING THE TORCH, if you are uncertain of the angle at which you will be welding.)
h.
Set the wire feed speed based on the thickness of material and the set-up chart on the
back side of the wire feeder door.
i.
Lower your welding helmet and pull the trigger on the torch and let the wire feed into the
work piece to start an arc, and then begin to drag the torch toward you.
j.
LISTEN! If the arc is sputtering, increase the wire speed slightly and try again. Continue
increasing the wire speed adjustment until you achieve a smooth buzzing sound. If the
wire seems to "pound" into the work piece, decrease wire speed slightly and try again.
Use the wire speed control to slightly increase or decrease the heat and penetration for
a given voltage setting by increasing or decreasing the wire speed slightly. Repeat this
tune-in procedure if you select a new voltage setting, a different wire diameter, or a
different roll of wire.
4.
WELDING TECHNIQUES
EXPOSURE TO A WELDING ARC IS EXTREMELY HARMFUL TO THE EYES AND SKIN!
Prolonged exposure to the welding arc can cause blindness and burns. Never strike an arc
or begin welding until you are adequately protected. Wear flame-proof welding gloves, a
heavy long sleeved shirt, trousers without cuffs, high topped shoes, and an ANSI approved
welding helmet.
ELECTRIC SHOCK CAN CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH! To prevent ELECTRIC SHOCK, do not
perform any welding while standing, kneeling, or lying directly on the grounded workpiece.
a. Moving the Torch -
Torch travel refers to the movement of the torch along the weld joint
and is broken into two elements: direction and speed. A solid weld bead requires that the
welding torch be moved steadily and at the right speed along the weld joint. Moving the
torch too fast, too slow, or erratically will prevent proper fusion or create a lumpy, uneven
bead.
Travel direction
is the direction the torch is moved along the weld joint in relation to the
weld puddle. The torch is either PUSHED into the weld puddle or PULLED away from
