Welding Resources and Tips

How to Find the Best MIG Welding Gloves

MIG welding gloves are an essential welding supply that will help you get done any welding project in your shop. Welding gloves protect your hands from sparks and harmful UV rays that are emitted when you weld. Welding gloves are one of the less expensive welding supplies you can pick up, and therefore it’s worthwhile picking up gloves that will deliver superior protection, last a long time, and provide enough movement that you can weld effectively. Some of the bestselling welding gloves at Baker’s Gas and Welding are made by Tillman. Let’s take a look at some of the bestselling MIG welding gloves that Tillman offers:

General MIG Welding Glove Guidelines

Before we get into specific gloves, there are some general rules to keep in mind while you’re looking for a MIG welding glove. While everyone has different welding glove needs, here are several key qualities to look for:

Kevlar Thread: This is a heat resistant thread that holds welding gloves together without melting. Kevlar also keeps the gloves together better, making them more durable for the long term no matter how rough you are with them.

Top Grain Leather: There are top grain and split grain leathers available for welding gloves, but the thicker, stiffer split grain leather isn’t as high quality and flexible as the top grain leather. Stick welding gloves that use split grain leather work great since you’ll need more protection from the heat and sparks, but you’ll also lose dexterity with the thicker leather.

Lined vs. Unlined Welding Gloves: Depending on your conditions, you’ll either want lined or unlined gloves. If you’re working in a colder climate and you don’t mind losing a little bit of flexibility, you can make a lined glove work just fine for MIG welding. It may take some practice to get used to the extra bulk. However, if you can manage it, an unlined glove will give you the best range of movement for your fingers.

Types of MIG Welding Gloves

Heavy Duty Top Grain Pigskin MIG Welding Gloves

These durable, thick MIG welding gloves are the highest quality leather you can get from pigskin and provide both the protection and the flexibility you need to MIG weld effectively. You’ll find a lot of pigskin stick welding gloves, but provided you go with the top grain leather pigskin, you’ll be in great shape to MIG weld with these gloves.

Tillman 1350 Heavy Duty Top Grain Cowskin MIG Gloves

Top grain cowskin provides all of the comfort and protection you need in a MIG welding glove without giving up too much dexterity. Many MIG welding gloves are made from top grain cowskin because it's affordable and extremely durable.

These gloves offer an especially wide thumb so that you won’t be constricted in any way as you work. You’ll also find the cuffs to be a convenient feature for protecting your wrists from sparks or heat while welding.

Tillman 35 Heavyweight Reverse Golden Deerskin MIG Gloves

When you first put on these deerskin welding gloves, you’ll find that they are quite thick and heavy, and you may need some time to adjust to them. However, deerskin is especially popular because it will mold itself to your hand over time, providing an added level of comfort and flexibility that will make work much easier with a tightly fitted glove. Deerskin welding gloves provide a tremendous amount of protection and will give you the flexibility you need if you give them some time to take the shape of your hand.

The cotton-foamed lining along the back of the glove also provides an excellent layer of protection against the heat given off during MIG welding projects.

Need a reliable pair of MIG welding gloves?

Learn more about buying welding gloves in our buying guide.

How to Choose the Best Welder/Generator

Today’s Guest Post is by Chris Wierschke of Miller Electric.

Most of us can vividly remember the anticipated arrival of hurricanes Katrina, Dennis, Rita, and Wilma in 2005. The year 2012 brought in Superstorm Sandy and hurricane Isaac. While many of us were out of the direct path of these storms, they impacted us in ways we will never forget. While these terrible events are not preventable, we can certainly try to be prepared for them. Now I’m not talking about “Doomsday Prepper” prepared, I’m talking about having a welder/generator on hand to keep your refrigerators and freezers cold, your water supply operating, and your house comfortable while the power is out.

Image Source: Miller Electric

Where to Begin with Generator Sizing?

Most homes today are equipped with 200 amp electrical services. While we have the ability to draw up to 200 amps, in general, most of us use very small portions of that available current throughout the day. For example, the largest electrical load in my house is our electric clothes dryer. It requires 24 amps of current. That is a far cry from the 200 amps I have available. My point here is that even though we have all of that energy available, most of us don’t use that much at once and can get by with lower amounts of electricity in temporary power outage situations.

Miller makes welder/generators sized from 4,500 watts of generator power on up to 12,000 watts. In general, the smaller units provide enough power to get your essentials up and working. For instance, many of us have refrigerators and freezers with fairly large quantities of food in them. When the power goes out, it is important to keep the items inside from thawing.

How about homes with sump pumps? There is a lot of damage that could be done if water happens to flood basements. People with well pumps need to ensure that the pump continues to run even when the power is out. In general, 4,500 watts is enough to power for these essential items in a pinch.

While 4,500 watts is enough to “get us by”, many of us simply do not want to worry about whether the generator will have enough output to sustain the loads that we may demand during power outages. For me, if I lose power during the summer, I want to ensure my central air conditioning unit will operate. The central air unit I have for my house draws 3,300 watts. Keep in mind that my refrigerator and freezer will also be working hard to keep up with the warm ambient temperatures. When I add those loads to the formula, 4,500 watts simply isn’t enough. In those cases, Miller offers 12,000 watt generators that will provide more than enough energy to sustain most household loads during power outages.

What about Sensitive Electronics?

Many of us have refrigerators with onboard ice makers and specialty controls for humidity control. These “fancy” refrigerators have circuit boards that may be susceptible to dirty spiked power. How about microwave ovens? These definitely have circuit boards that may also be at risk to dirty power that some generators provide.

When selecting generators, we need to pay attention to power cleanliness. Miller’s Bobcat and Trailblazer products use a rotor design that is referenced as “ten degree skewed”. What that means is it optimizes generator performance for smoother power – not spiked power found with other brands.

While power cleanliness is very important to temporary power scenarios, running quietly is also important in suburban areas. Excel™ power, an optional feature offered on the Trailblazer, provides 120 Volts, 60 Hz of pure sine wave generator power at idle speed and while welding. When connected to the Excel power receptacle, you get up to 2,400 watts of the cleanest generator power available. Plus, you can run most 120 volt appliances such as refrigerators, freezers and microwave ovens at idle speed, which provides exceptional fuel-efficiency, extended runtimes, quieter operation and longer engine life.

How Long Will the Machines Run on One Tank of Gas?

Runtime is another item to consider when selecting the proper welder/generator for your temporary power needs. Miller offers welder/generators with fuel tank sizes from 5 gallons to 12 gallons. Generally, the more fuel a tank can hold, the longer the runtimes are. Longer runtimes usually equate to fewer trips outside to fill the unit up. One can’t put a value on sleeping through the night without having to refill the fuel tank.

Another item to consider is that often it is hard to buy fuel during power outages. Chances are that your local gas station is also without power and can’t sell fuel to you. Larger fuel tanks become invaluable in those challenging times. Miller also offers machines with Kohler EFI engines that reduce fuel consumption by up to 27%. Who can argue the fact that the slower you burn fuel the less likely you are to have to refill?

Why Should I Consider a Welder/Generator Over a Standalone Generator?

Emergency power demands at home often require industrial-strength generator solutions. Comparing welder/generators to standalone generators with engines of similar quality and horsepower, Miller® welder/generators provide equal or better generator power capabilities at a comparable price. Consider the following when deciding between a welder/generator and a standalone generator.

Advantages of a Miller Welder/Generator:

• Includes a welder to do your own welding repairs

• Features fuel-efficient engines and 12-gallon tanks for longer run time

• Generates up to 12,000 watts of Accu-Rated™ — not inflated —generator power

• Built to the highest standards and has a three-year warranty

You can’t predict power loss due to severe weather, but you can be prepared when an emergency power situation occurs. No matter where you live, severe weather can leave you in the dark — but the power of a Miller welder/generator will keep your household or operation running. Plus, a Miller welder/generator can be used for repairs year-round — in the garage, on the farm or in the shop. So why buy a generator when you can buy a Miller welder/generator and be prepared for what Mother Nature might throw at you.

Learn more about Miller’s Welder/Generators at Baker’s Gas and Welding.

About Today’s Guest Blogger

Chris Wierschke is a product manager for the Power Products Group at Miller Electric Mfg. Co. Chris has been with Miller for the last eight years. During that time Chris has been involved in the small and mid-frame engine drive division (Bobcats, Trailblazers, and Blue Stars). Prior to his latest assignment, Chris worked as a welding equipment service technician and did that for eight years as well.

 

How to Make High Powered Tack Welds: TIG Welding Tip

Tack welds can save you a lot of time and will help you make stronger, cleaner, straighter welds. However, if you get the tack welds wrong, the rest of your welding project will only get worse, wasting both welding project time and welding supplies. You need your tacks to be solid and even, and here are some tack welding tips on how to get it done right the first time:

Image Source: Miller Electric

Tack Weld on a Flat Surface

Let’s say you’re fabricating a 90 degree angle with your welder, and you need to setup the metal with a perfectly flush angle before you clamp it together. That is going to be a tough task right from the start if your table is uneven or has sloped edges.

Before you even start welding, make sure you either weld your own table or buy a welding table. Either way, get a work surface that is flat and flush. In addition, if you’re working in a garage on a hobby welding project, make sure the floor is flat and stable so that your table is secure and even.

Tack Weld with Clamps

Clamps are small welding tools that can make a huge difference for a welding project. When you’re buying clamps, don’t go cheap. Buy a variety of sizes or at least pick up an adjustable magnetic clamp that is strong enough to hold your work piece together.

When you’re setting up a tack weld, use multiple clamps to hold your work piece together, ensuring that there is little to no gap in between the work pieces. The less you have to fill in the weld joint, the better!

Tack Weld with a Lot of Power

The goal is to fuse the metal together with a tack weld before it even has a chance to distort while creating a sturdy tack weld for the metal. Tack welding tends to take a lot more power than the typical welder settings you would use.

Jody at Welding Tips and Tricks has a great welding tip for making better tack welds when you’re fabricating sheet metal with a TIG welder. I’ll summarize some of his post below so you can give his tips a shot in your own welding shop. Some of the tips below could also work for other welding processes.

For starters, Jody suggests working with a #4 TIG cup. A small cup makes it easy to center the electrode right on the middle of the weld joint. Too large a cup, and it may not fit well into the joint, especially if you’re tack welding thin sheet metal with a  TIG welder.

The electrode should just barely stick out of the cup into the weld joint. Too much stick out will inject too much heat into the weld joint, leading to potential burn through and damage to the metal you’re working on. Did I mention that you should test this on scrap metal first?

Set the TIG Welding machine to a higher amperage.

Tack welding is all about using more power, but in the case of using a TIG welder to tack sheet metal, the power setting could be more than double what you would normally use to weld.

For example, on a corner that calls for 65 amps, Jody used 165 amps to tack weld. For the Synchrowave mentioned in his post, he selected “Panel” instead of remote for the amperage setting. The frequency should be set on “Start.” Set the AC setting to balanced. Crater fill was off and it was set to DC electrode negative. For the output, he selected remote for use with a foot pedal.

As a side note, a foot pedal will make tack welding much easier to do. It just takes a slight tap on the pedal so that you get a split second burst of power into the weld joint you’re tack welding. Just tap the foot pedal and then move the torch off the metal, or you’ll end up melting the corners without making a weld. If the electrode is out too far, if the gap you’re welding is too wide, or if you stick around too long with the electrode, you’ll just mess up the corner.

You can also set up TIG welders with a finger control switch to do this. This isn’t just limited to welders with foot pedals. Some welders even come with a “Microtack” feature that is specifically designed for this kind of high speed work.

Welding Your Tack Welds

Fabricating doesn’t need to take a lot of time. Once you get the feel for this tack welding technique, line up your clamps, and work on a flat surface, you’ll be ready to weld your newly fabricated work piece. Successful welding and fabrication begins with making high quality tack welds.

Learn More about TIG Welders at Baker’s Gas and Welding.

MIG Welder for Sale with Welding Tips

When you’re shopping for a new MIG welder on sale, you’ll have to look through a wide variety of settings, options, and add-ons that you may or may not need depending on the size of your shop or the nature of your welding projects. It can be overwhelming to read through MIG welder reviews and to try to decide between the best price and the best machine. You can find a wide variety of MIG welders on sale at some of the lowest prices around (and with FREE SHIPPING) at Baker’s Gas and Welding, but before you click over, here are some tips on what to look for in a MIG welder and how to use it best:

  Image Source: Miller Electric

Do You Need a Wire Spool Gun for a MIG Welder?

When you’re using a MIG welder on aluminum, the wire is going to be a little bit lighter and more prone to bunching up in the wire feeder. Most welders come with a place to attach a spool gun, so before you buy a welder, especially a less expensive model, make sure it offers the features you need in order to weld aluminum.

Thermal Overload Protection for a MIG Welder

Thermal overload protection is generally a standard feature on most welders—especially the top brands found at Baker’s Gas and Welding. The last thing you want is for your welder to overheat while you’re working with it, especially if you’re new to welding and may not be able to catch it in time. This is one feature that you don’t want to skimp on.

Flux Cored MIG Welding Wire

One of the ongoing expenses of a MIG welder will be shielding gas since the MIG welding wire needs the gas to prevent contamination while you’re welding. If you’d rather avoid working around gas canisters or if you want to save money, you can also pick up some flux cored MIG wire that will make it possible to MIG weld without shielding gas. You’ll have to chip away the flux when you’re done welding, but when it comes to weld quality, a flux cored MIG wire will get the job done all the same and has received positive reviews from many welders.

MIG Welder Short-Circuiting

A surge of power in your MIG welder may cause spatter and ruin your weld if you don’t have a short-circuiting control. Having a way to modify the electrical current while you’re working will be ideal for a welder and will save you some major headaches while you work.

Duty Cycle for a MIG Welder

One of the most important features on a MIG welder, or any welder really, is the length of the duty cycle. This is the amount of time you can weld within a 10 minute cycle before the welder has to stop to cool down. In other words, a less expensive welder may last 2-3 minutes before you need to cool down, while a more expensive welder will last 6-8 minutes. Having too short a duty cycle for a big project will be both time consuming and frustrating—if not costly if you’re on the clock!

The best duty cycle for your MIG welder all depends on how often you plan on using your welder and the size of your projects. The typical hobby welder at home doesn’t need a particularly long duty cycle, although there are always exceptions.

High and Low Voltage Options for a MIG Welder

One of the features that you’ll find in a welder like the Millermatic 211 All-in-One MIG Welder is that it can switch between 120 and 230 V in order to give welders more versatility for the different jobs that will come in their shops. If your welder doesn’t have enough power, there will be certain materials that you won’t be able to weld because they’re too thick. If you have too much power, you could burn through the metal. Having this wide range of options ensures that your investment in a welder provides the most options.

Pick Out a MIG Welder Today

When you check out the MIG welders on sale (with FREE SHIPPING) at Baker’s Gas and Welding, don’t forget that you can read customer reviews, compare products specs, and learn which welders are the bestsellers. 

Plasma Cutting Table Set Up Guidelines

Today’s guest post is by Tim Lux of Miller Electric.

Given the fact that smaller cutting tables are becoming more affordable, the use of automated tables over hand cutting is becoming more and more popular. In most cases it is not necessary to purchase a new plasma cutter to go onto a cutting table. The majority of the cutting tables sold today will adapt to the hand held plasma system you already own.

Image Source: Baker's Gas and Welding

While it is possible to purchase a plasma system that comes table ready with a machine torch and all the cables like the Spectrum 875 Auto line (Miller part number 907396-00-2), you can just as easily hook up your Spectrum 625 X-Treme with a hand held torch (Miller part number 907531-01-1) with only a few modifications.

3 Signals for an Operational Plasma Cutting Table

The First Signal

The table needs a signal to tell the plasma cutter to turn on the cutting arc. The cutting table control box is going to supply two leads for this.

The Second Signal

Some tables come with an automatic torch height adjustment option. This is an option and not all tables have this. On tables that do not have this option, you will manually set your torch height in the fixture. For tables that do have this option, the control box for the table will have two leads, normally black and red or labeled + and -, that go to the plasma cutter.

The Third Signal

The third signal the table is looking for is an “ok to move” signal. This basically tells the table that the plasma cutter is cutting metal so it can go ahead and start moving. Some tables require this signal. Other tables just use a timing offset or a delay between the start signal and the actual time the table starts movement—something you can set on the table.

If your table requires an “ok to move” signal, you can provide it with a reed switch (Miller part number 190602). If your table is looking for this signal, the control box will again supply 2 leads that need to be connected to the coil of the reed switch.

The reed switch is an open cube with two coil leads coming out of it. To hook it up, run your work clamp lead through the cube three to four times and connect the two coil leads to the leads coming from the control box. The reed switch is a magnetic switch that closes when current is detected by it. Once the work connection sees current from the plasma arc, it is passed through the reed switch and the switch closes.

 

While this article addresses the ease of hooking up your existing plasma cutter to a cutting table, you should consult either the cutting table or plasma cutter manufacturer’s service department with any questions you might have. Miller is always happy to help answer any questions regarding our cutting equipment and will be happy to answer questions about hooking up Miller equipment to any cutting table.

Learn more about plasma cutting: 5 Keys to a Clean Cut

Find a Plasma Cutter Today at Baker’s Gas and Welding

 

About Today’s Guest Post Author

Tim Lux has been with Miller for 25 years. After spending the majority of that time with Millers’ industrial products service and end user training department, Tim currently is the service and application’s specialist with the Plasma group at Miller.