How To MIG Weld Dimes Like A TIG Welder

  • By: Monica Shulz

I was in my shop looking over the welds of some new guys in the shop. Overall they were a mixed bag, some nice, some had terrible porosity and most fell in the middle. One weld, in particular, stood out. It looked like a stack of dimes, which a skilled operator can get with a TIG welder. So I asked myself, “How do you MIG weld dimes like a TIG welder?” I found some good videos and links online, but the short answer is this :

To MIG weld Dimes like a TIG welder you have to turn DOWN your voltage: (the heat) and weld colder than normal. Start with your normal settings of voltage and wire speed, then turn down your machine a step or two, and adjust your wire speed to keep the “bacon sound” and avoid and popping noises.

 

Now, I have a big issue with this process and I want to spend some time later on in this article to properly address it – but first – let me tell you what you’ll get in this article…

 

 

Now, since you might be brand new to welding and you want to know what is a TIG welder – then check out this explanation – and if you want a great multiprocessor machine that does TIG welding, check this out.

 

Ok, let’s break down our video to teach you exactly how to weld some dimes…

 

 

Preparation

 

When MIG welding using this process, it’s a bit of art and a bit of science. You’re going to be playing with your machine settings a bit, so be sure to get some scrap steel and have it cut down to size. You can form any joint you want or not – but the main point is to have some material available to get your settings right.

 

Settings

Now, if you’re using material you’ve welded before and had some specific settings you like, get your machine set to those parameters. If not, then open the door to your welder and check the chart inside- its full of the volts and wire speed you need.

 

Steps For Setting Your Welder

  1. Select the right setting for your material and electrode your using (wire). You’re going to want to make sure the voltage and amps are at the right settings for your metal – this will be important later.

select your electrode

select your shielding gas

select the steel thickness

 

  1. Run a test bead as you normally would on the joint with the scrap steel you have

 

  1. Once you’re satisfied with your weld, step down your voltage one or two steps. I would start with one step depending on your material and welder this could be 2 to 10 amps.

 

  1. Now, since your welding “colder” you’ll have to dial back the wire speed a bit. Lay a bead on the scrap steel you set up and see how it sounds – remember you want to get that “bacon” frying sound

 

Technique

I did mention earlier that you can use whatever technique you want because it’s not the most important thing in this process. However, I do encourage you to try different techniques to highlight your weld as much as possible. In this video, I’ll outline the exact process used.

Just to mention, a better welder will have more settings, so you’ll have a wider range of voltage and wire speed to play with to produce this effect…

And since we are talking about the difference between welders, check out this comparison article I wrote…

 

You want to start your bead as you normally would – in the center.

Next, you’ll want to make a complete circle with your torch

 

And finishing by bringing the torch to the center of the next location on your bead, effectively moving the puddle forward.

 

Pro tip: write down your welder settings inside the side panel of your machine – so you have your own reference chart, so you’ll always know how to stack dimes MIG welding.

Now, remember, your travel speed may slow down a bit or speed up – that is going to depend on how you feel using the welder and the result that you’re getting so experiment.

It’s important that you have a good grounding clamp- if not you may not be receiving steady power to your machine, and you will notice that fact with this technique, so for a few bucks, upgrade to a heavy-duty clamp.

Also, a good wire will make a difference in your weld too – better equipment will help a lot here.

And, if you’re looking for more “tips and tricks” to become a better welder, definitely check out this article: “63 tips and tricks for beginner, professional and DIY welders

 

Q & A

Q:  Since you are welding with a lower voltage and wire speed, how will this affect the quality of my weld?

A: That’s a great question to ask. The lower voltage setting will cause you to have less penetration with your weld. How much we can only determine if cut the weld and actually see the result.

So I would use this style of welding on decorative work, such that artist may create or anything that is NOT structural or load bearing. If you want a nice visual effect, this is a great style to have under your belt.

 

Q: Why is this style popular among welders?

A: Well, the short answer is this: Dimes = quality welds. Now, as a welder you know that’s not true!  Quality and the strength of a weld depends on many factors and the visual aspect ties into examining for undercut and porosity.  But people love the way it looks – in fact so much so that there are entire Reddit threads on the topic. So, short story… it helps to sell the product because it looks pretty and people think it’s a quality weld.

 

Q: Are there any other concerns about welding with this style?

A: Yes, in fact, it goes a bit deeper than the penetration alone. Welding MIG dimes like TIG can create a high crown. High crowns can happen more when you are running a cold welder and have a slow travel speed. Those high points can cause an accumulation of moisture or foreign elements, weakening the weld over time. Also, since it’s not a smooth weld and will not be ground down, there is more surface area- a higher chance for porosity within the weld, and that’s why I like it as a decorative weld only.

 

Conclusion

With one simple adjustment to your voltage and wire speed, it is possible to stack dimes and weld MIG like TIG. The one thing you want to keep in mind with this technique is this: it looks pretty but the penetration and overall weld quality might suffer. So use this technique, but only non-structural welds (it wouldn’t pass code anyway) and decretive welding jobs.

 

image is showing a welder who has welded a dime bead