Welding Basics

Examine the repair

Make sure your work space is free of any flammable material such as chemicals, paints, solvents, oils or fuels. You should always weld in a dry area such as a garage or workshop which provides circulation of clean air. Wear proper clothing and accessories to protect yourself from sparks and spatter.

Select your weld material

Before you begin, determine what type of metal you will be welding. If you cannot tell by looking at it, you can test the metal by placing a magnet on it. If the magnet sticks to the metal it is most likely steel. If the metal appears to be galvanized or plated, have it identified by a welding professional before welding - the heat could react with the coating and produce harmful fumes. Most metallic items are made of a low-carbon steel and are quite easy to weld.

Prepare the Surface

Same as painting, the weld surfaces must be clean of oil, paint, rust or other contaminants. Use sandpaper or a wire brush to remove any traces of of contaminents. If you weld to rust, it won't take, or will hold, but the result is a repair only as strong as the rusted metal - not your goal.

Attach the Work Clamp

Set your voltage and wire speed according to the chart on the inside of the unit's wire feed section door. Next, adjust for the steel thickness which can be measured using the gauge chart also located in the unit.

After adjusting the settings, attach the work clamp as close to the joint as possible to complete the electrical circuit. Be sure it makes solid electrical contact. Now join the steel together by creating a weld joint, at both ends, otherwise the heat may cause the pieces to warp and/or move apart.

Start Welding

To achieve the correct welding position, hold the gun in your right hand and the face shield with your left hand. Weld from left to right. (Left-handed welders simply do the opposite.) Tilt the gun toward the direction of travel holding the gun tip at an angle. To strike a correct arc, position the gun over the joint to be welded with the contact tip 3/8- to 1/2 inch away. The end of the wire may be lightly touching the work piece. Once the arc has been established, maintain the correct length of the wire. It should be 1/2-inch long for nearly all applications.

Begin welding by turning on the machine and squeezing the gun trigger. To stop welding, release the gun trigger. When finished, turn off the machine and allow the work piece to cool. Then chip away any spatter with a hammer or wire brush.

Paint the Welded Surface

After the weld has completely cooled and the surface has been cleaned, just add the finishing touch by painting the freshly welded area. be sure to completely cover the worked on area - prime bare metal, them paint as needed.