Tips for MIG welding upside down?

[bfr57]

I'm the typical home-grown self-taught do-it-yourselfer and always have problems MIG welding upside down. Gravity always takes over! What are some tips for doing this?

[3 Tri-Fives]

I haven't noticed a problem other than the sparks falling on me. Make sure that you cover up your skin and hair!

[jpccrowe]

are you using gas or fliux core wire, with gas I am pretty sure that the gas falls to quick before hitting your welding area, the gas is heavier than air. I have always had a problem with welding upside down, I am by no means a professional, this is just what i know.

[nhramike57]

Flux core is limited upside down but with Argon/CO2 mix shield gas i turn up the gas pressure just slightly to shield the arc and keep the slag down:)

[bfr57]

I'm using gas shielding.

[Nsanehotrodz]

Use good ear plugs:sign0020: It's not good hearing that little sizzle rolling around your ear.

[jeffs55]

What DeWayne said...
Plugs or head phones, or one of those welder's snoopy caps that will cover your ears.
Plus anything else you can wear. If you don't have welder's leathers a good heavy jean jacket will help.
Try and get to one side if you can so the spatter don't fall on you.
Doing my pocket kit was....fun...:rolleyes:

[moses]

experiment with different gun angles 5 to 20 degrees from straight in angle and travel speed make a big difference.

[1956 Sedan Delivery]

I was told to take my time when welding upside down and it made a big difference. Try not do do such a long weld in one go. Also try not to weld directly upwards. And as allways the cleaner the two pieces are the better your weld will be.

[salazarich]

I am a weldor and i am still learning. You have a heat problem. I have been reading a book and it tell me to manage your heat. Try to adjust your amps lower. I would to aim toward the more thicker material when welding. At the same time aiming the tungston or gas point at the healthier material try to draw the thinner material to the thicker material heat spot you just made. Also if the clamp or metal table is in direct contact with the material it will not heat as fast as a tacked in piece of metal.
When you weld down to up be careful.

[perk85]

auto darkening helmet, good shop light, and ear plugs and get welding.

[porchdog]

try stacking the weld. which is more like spot welding . i weld from top down and stack it. looks like a tig weld. short hot welds. hardest part to learn is being able to tell when the heat reaches that point of dropping out.
i also have a spot light so i can see better and use a magna lens in my helmet. hope this helps.

[JT56]

I was told, "you will become a better welder, when you get tired of GRINDING!" We all have been there, so don't get discouraged.

Some very good points here:
1.Turn down the machine
2.Make sure your getting the proper shielding gas
3.Position on the gun(slightly at an angle)
4.Good protection is a must

Best of Luck

[Ratpackin]

I'm very new to welding (only did it during class so far) why all the suggestions for ear plugs when welding up-side down?

[finn210]

I'm very new to welding (only did it during class so far) why all the suggestions for ear plugs when welding up-side down?

believe me, its not funny feeling when you get something VERY hot to your ear
and you can even smell burning ear wax...ughh nasty lol

[NickP]

Some things I have used:


http://www.weldingtipsandtricks.com/images/mig-welding-stickout-good.JPG

1. Keep your Stickout Short - KYSS
Adjust the nozzle so that the contact tip is actually protruding a little bit. If your MIG nozzle just wont go down that far, you may be able to buy contact tips that are a little bit longer or mig nozzles that are a bit shorter so that you can have the tip at least flush... and preferably even sticking out a bit.
This one thing might make more difference than anything else for mig welding overhead.
If you just cant get it to happen, trim the nozzle. Yes that's what I said...trim the nozzle. It wont hurt it. just use a hacksaw, a slitting wheel , whatever and trim just enough so that your contact tip sticks out.
Because without even knowing it, gravity will cause you to have a longer stickout than normal on overhead welding. When you add the fact that you tip is recessed way back in the nozzle, it makes for overhead welding that piles up like unhealthy.
2. Crank That Boy!!
Crank up the heat for overhead MIG welding to what you would weld in the flat position. This is not time to be afraid of the heat. By holding a close stickout along with a good hot arc, you will be taking advantage of a thing called "arc force" that helps punch the puddle in and makes it flatten out instead of pile up like hammered dog crap.
3. Watch the Angle of the Dangle
Should I push or pull? How about this?...Neither! What’s wrong with 90 degrees - dead nuts - straight in? You are going have a little bit of angle without even realizing it one way or the other. It might be push, it might be pull. But who cares if you push or pull as long as it works? The Result is the only thing that matters. Just don’t get carried away with the angle either way and you will be OK.
4. Not Circles but Loops
The overhead welding technique I like to use for mig welding is the one in the picture at the top of the page. Did you see it? How would you describe it? I would call it making loops...like a series of cursive little e's. Making circles can actually cause you to back up into the puddle too much and that would cause too much build up and a high weld bead along with a slow travel speed. By making a little loop like the picture shows, the build up is minimal, the ripples are smooth, and the travel speed is pretty fast.....It just flat out works.

[joeelutz]

I have found from personal experience welding upside down it helps to turn the gas up slightly, turn the heat and wire speed down a notch. This keeps the puddle from falling out. Hold your gun at an angle so that it is not pointing straight up.

[bad55gasser]

I have found in addition to all the other tips explained here, to turn the wire speed down a bit and watch the weld penetrate. It helps prevent the weld from pooling to much.

[moses]

I would go hot and fast but thats just me going slow and cold tends to stack the weld up on it self causing less penetration and drooping of weld. you need to get something to practice on overhead out on the bench where it is easier.