Using too low a wire speed can have a big effect on penetration. Not a problem on thin stuff or 11 ga outside corner joint but on a tee joint where more heat is needed, too low a wire speed can definitely result in lack of fusion.
I generally like to use about 10% less wire speed than what is listed on the wire speed charts on welders.
either that or I bump voltage up a bit.
how bout you?
September 30, 2015 at 1:10 AM
I was wondering if you have found that pushing the torch creates less penetration as does lowering wire speed feed rate (amperage, as they are synonymous). It would be cool to do an acid etch to see the variation in penetration between pushing versus pulling the torch with no other machine adjustments. I was told that by pulling the torch in GMAW some of the heat is “spent” on the puddle and not used to preheat ahead of the puddle, thus causing less penetration. It would seem that by using the 90 degree angle, as you mentioned in the video, would allow the arc force to create greater penetration. Thoughts?