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GUIDE TO MIG/MAG WELDING
Before starting any welding activity ensure that you have suitable eye protection and
protective clothing. Also take the necessary steps to protect any persons within the welding
area.
Wire inch switch
The wire inch button when pressed and held allows the operating to activate the feed motor which in turn
feeds the welding wire through the MIG torch cable, torch head and tip.
Burn back control dial:
In the event that the welder was to stop welding and all functions of the machine stopped simultaneously
then the consumable filler wire would in all likelihood freeze in the weld pool. In order to avoid this
happening the burn back feature is present on this machine.
The burnback control is used to adjust and set the amount of ‘stick out’ MIG wire that protrudes from the
MIG torch tip after the torch trigger has been released and welding has stopped.
To decrease burnback time (or lengthen the amount of wire sticking out from the MIG torch tip at the end
of welding), turn the burnback control knob anti clockwise.
To increase burnback time (or shorten the amount of wire sticking out from the tip at the end of weld),
turn the Burnback Control knob clockwise.
The burn back control dial is located on the inside panel next to the wire feed motor.
Inductance control (MIG 352C only)
Variable inductance control (see page 13 for reference) allows you to tune the welding arc to suit your
welding application, this is used to minimise spatter and to control the arc from crisp through to soft.
Lowering the inductance is ideal when welding with smaller diameter wires for a crisp stable arc with
maximum deposition & minimum heat into the work piece.
Increasing inductance softens the arc giving more penetration, reduces spatter & increases heating of
the work piece
Some quick reference handy tips for the MIG/MAG welding process are:
When welding, try to use an electrode stick out (the distance between the weld and the contact tip)
of around 6-8mm.
When welding thin materials try and use smaller MIG wire diameters and for thicker materials use
thicker wires.
Make sure you select the correct MIG wire type for the material to be welded.
Ensure the MIG welding gun has the correct sized contact tip and type of liner.
Always ensure you have the correct size drive rolls and torch liner for the wire size selected.
Select the correct gas to achieve the correct weld characteristics and finish.
For optimum control of the weld keep the wire at the leading edge of the weld pool.
Before commencing welding, ensure a comfortable and stable position.
Try to keep the welding torch as straight as possible when welding to ensure the best feed.
Carry out daily housekeeping on the condition of the welding torch and drive rolls.
Keep any consumables clean and dry to avoid contamination such as oxidation and damp.
