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matthew maguire[_2_]

wrote:

(snip)
with a fixed setting of DIN 13 goes so dark I cant see the weld line - all I
can see is the arc, and maybe a little each side of it. So doing a
straight line is impossible, it wanders off.

Andrew VK3BFA.

Hi Andrew,

Shade 10 or 11 works up to 150 amps for most folks...

Also a common error for folks new to mig is getting the eyes too close
to the work. Short circuit mig has a very "nervous" arc and puddle
action with shadows and puddle edge reflections going everywhere.

When I was teaching my son to mig he was all over the place...(he tig-ed
race cars fine at his real job). I gave him a cap screw and nut and
asked him to put them together, which he did at arms length, I then
asked "why didn't you do that 4" from your nose so you could see
better?". At arms length with the torch he got better fast...

I've been mig-ing for years and if I have a horizontal flush butt weld
weld that needs to look good I'll follow a wide soapstone line. I think
it just keeps me from looking at the arc.

Matt