[Unclepennybags]

I'm tooling up for my quarter panel swap. Thought I'd practice some welds yesterday before I try to weld on the panel. I'm using a Lincoln 170T, and I bought 3 sheets of 22gauge at Home Depot. I'm cutting the sheets into little 3"X3" squares.

Anyway, my lap and plug welds are passable, but when I try to butt weld I blow holes more often than I'm comfortable with. If I touch the edges together, it's not so bad. If I have a .025" gap, then I can count on having holes. The trouble comes when I try to run small lengths (~1/2") of weld. If I just join the plates using a series of tack welds, I don't have any trouble.

What is the ideal gap for 22 gauge using .030" wire? Any other advice that you can give me?

Thanks!

Mike

 

[Nefarious]

The trouble comes when I try to run small lengths (~1/2") of weld. If I just join the plates using a series of tack welds, I don't have any trouble.

What is the ideal gap for 22 gauge using .030" wire? Any other advice that you can give me?

Thanks!

Mike

Right. I only tack weld, even if it is an entire quarter panel.


IMO, 22 is too small, and .030 wire is way too big. Too much heat being generated.
I like to use 20 gauge, and I always use .027 I believe.

And no gap between panels. Hence the term "butt" weld. The must be butted against each other.

 

[lrisner]

You are trying to weld metal that is .029 thick with mig wire .030 thick, which will melt first?

That is a common mistake new welders make. Get some .023 or .025 wire.

 

[3 Chiefs]

I use .030 on my 19 gage sheets and that is all I use. I use .030 wire set pretty hot so it keeps the weld fairly flat and yields great penetration. Check out this link. Read all of it and pay close attention to Randy Ferguson's posts. This man butt welds with zero gap and does not use any body filler. I have seen him do it and it is amazing. He normally tig welds everything but for this post he uses mig. It's a good read.
Paul
www.metalmeet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=798&highlight=mig+welding+thin+sheet+metal
You might have to sign up because they have been trying to cut down on the lurkers but the site is worth checking out.

 

[figbash]

As the others have said, you need thicker metal and thinner wire. Also, a 1/2" bead will severely distort a quarter panel. Use tack welds ONLY for the entire weld, grinding them flush as you go. The idea is to use as little heat as possible to get the job done. A 1/32" x 3" cutoff wheel on a die grinder works great for grinding down the tack welds.

Tom

 

[Bob West]

l dont weld your butt :noway:

 

[Cameano]

I use .030 on my 19 gage sheets and that is all I use. I use .030 wire set pretty hot so it keeps the weld fairly flat and yields great penetration. Check out this link. Read all of it and pay close attention to Randy Ferguson's posts. This man butt welds with zero gap and does not use any body filler. I have seen him do it and it is amazing. He normally tig welds everything but for this post he uses mig. It's a good read.
Paul
www.metalmeet.com/forum/showthread.php?t=798&highlight=mig+welding+thin+sheet+metal
You might have to sign up because they have been trying to cut down on the lurkers but the site is worth checking out.

Thanks for that link. That guy is awesome! I learned something today. Can't wait to try it out. :yes:

 

[Unclepennybags]

Thinner wire it is then!

Thanks guys.

Mike