Hobbies And Interests
Things You'll Need
Instructions
Gather your materials in a shop or shed, and make sure that all doors are closed. Even small wind disturbances can disrupt the arc during welding.
Verify that both the welding wire and metal to be welded match the composition which the welder is set to. These function settings may include Aluminum, Copper, Steel, Iron, or other metals.
Follow the welding wire, and make sure that each of the wheels and pulleys which extrude it are in good operating condition and turn easily under slight pressure.
Pull on the welding safety equipment, adjusting straps as necessary for optimum comfort.
Hook the ground clamp to a clean, unrusted corner of the metal to be welded. Attaching the clamp to a dirty or rusted portion will result in a weak electricity flow and will likely result in sub-par weld quality.
Plug the shielding gas canister nozzle into the hose leading into the welder. Turn the head of the canister roughly halfway open.
Turn on the welder.
Flip the visor of your mask down over your face, and ensure that all others nearby also have vision protection.
Position the tip of the welding gun where you want to begin welding, roughly 1/4 to 1/2 inch away from the surface of the metal.
Squeeze the trigger on the handle of the gun. This begins the process of extruding the metal stick onto the surface of the metal to be welded, and also engages the arc.
Slowly guide your hand down along the desired length of the weld. Keep your hand steady, and move slowly but at an even pace.
Loosen the trigger to disengage the arc. When finished, turn off the welder and close the nozzle of the shielding gas tank.