Jasic MIG SERIES - Guide to MIG;MAG Welding; Notes for the Welding Beginner; MIG;MAG Process Features and Benefits; Welding Position

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GUIDE TO MIG/MAG WELDING
Before starng any welding acvity ensure that you have suitable eye protecon and
protecve clothing. Also take the necessary steps to protect any persons within the welding
area.
Notes for the welding beginner
This secon is designed to give the beginner who has not yet done any welding some informaon to get
them going. The simplest way to start is to pracce by running weld beads on a piece of scrap plate. Start
by using mild steel (paint free) plate of 6.0mm thick and using 0.8mm wire. Clean any grease, oil and loose
scale from the plate and x rmly to your work bench so that welding can be carried out.
Make sure that the work return clamp is secure and making good electrical contact with the mild steel
plate, either directly or through the work table. For best results always clamp the work lead directly to
the material being welding, otherwise a poor electrical circuit may create itself.
MIG/MAG process features and benets
Terms used: MIG - Metal Inert Gas Welding,
MAG - Metal Acve Gas Welding,
GMAW - Gas Metal Arc Welding
MIG welding was developed to help meet producon demands of the war and post war economy which
is an arc welding process in which a connuous solid wire electrode is fed through a MIG welding
gun and into the weld pool, joining the two base materials together. A shielding gas is also sent through
the MIG welding gun and protects the weld pool from contaminaon which also enhances the arc.
The MIG/MAG process can be used to weld a wide variety of materials and is normally used in the
horizontal posion but can be used in vercal or overhead with the correct selecon of machine, wires
and current. In addion, it can be used to weld at long distances from the power source subject to the
correct cable sizing.
It is the dominant process used in maintenance and repair industries and is used extensively in structural
and fabricaon work.
Weld quality is also highly dependent on the skill of the operator and many welding problems can exist
due to incorrect installaon applicaon and use.
Welding posion
When welding, ensure you place yourself in a comfortable posion for welding and your welding
applicaon before you begin to weld. This maybe sing at a suitable height which oen is the best way
to weld ensuring you’re relaxed and not tense. A relaxed posture will ensure the welding task becomes
much easier.
Please ensure you always wear suitable PPE and use suitable fume extracon when welding.
Place the work so that the direcon of welding is across, rather than to or from your body. The electrode
holder lead should always be clear of any obstrucon so that you can move your arm freely along as the
electrode burns down. Some elders prefer to have the welding lead over their shoulder, this allows
greater freedom of movement and can reduce the weight from your hand.
Always inspect your welding equipment, welding cables and electrode holder before each use to ensure
it’s not faulty or worn as you may be at risk of an electric shock.