Beginner Tips and Tricks
Experienced welders share practical techniques that help beginners improve weld consistency, preparation, safety, and overall craftsmanship.
A More Gentle Approach
If you’re just learning to stick (SMAW) weld, chipping the slag to reveal the weld should not be a job in itself. A good way to get rid of the slag is not to smash it as if driving a nail into a board, but to take the wider end of a chipping hammer, place it flush against the metal and move it to make the impact on the weld toe.
Breathe Easy
A straight, attractive bead is everyone’s goal. So much so that our first instinct is to hold our breath while watching the weld puddle. Although a short weld bead may not be affected by this, longer and more precise welding will prove to be harder to achieve by holding your breath. Practice welding while breathing as you normally would. Doing this will result a more focused mind and a much steadier hand.
Feeding the Filler Rod
A common mistake often made by new TIG welders is improperly feeding the filler rod into the arc. The arc heat is used to form the molten pool. The filler rod should then be fed intermittently to the leading edge of the pool.
Avoid the Aggravation
Prepping the weld surface and keeping it clean can help prevent aggravation. Even though arc welding can be more forgiving than the other processes, keeping the area to be welded (and the location chosen for the ground) prepped and cleaned can greatly increase the overall quality of the weld and ensure that the first weld is a good weld. Make sure the area is free of oils and grease as work as dirt and rust. When possible remove all paint, rust and debris down to a shiny base metal to help ensure a porosity-free weld with good penetration and no cracks.
Always Tack Before a Final Weld
Always tack weld your pieces together first, then recheck all your angles and square before the final weld. It’s easier to break a tack and reset things than to cut everything back out.