Just What Are Mig Mag Welders?
If you've been from the metal working or building industry for any amount of time, you'll probably have come across a piece of equipment termed as a mig mag welder. Mig mag welders are not as hi-tech and complicated to comprehend as the title may cause you to think. This is how it goes:
Mig mag welders are really a type of gas metal arc welding devices. Mig represents metal inert gas. Mag means metal active gas. Mig mag welders are actually two different kinds of welder which have been misnomered into one.
Gas metal arc welding was actually produced for welding aluminium and other non-ferrous metals. It spread into the steel industry because it's a quicker means of welding. However, inert gasses are very pricey this then limited the use of mig mag welders in smaller sized steel working workshops. Gas welding is actually mostly completed with semi-inert gasses like co2. However it has not faded into obscurity.
Because mig mag welders do not call for or even just work with a shielding gas, it isn't often used outside or in locations where the atmosphere flow may suddenly change.
The operating of mig mag welders isn't too complicated when handling basic metals including steel. The weld quality will invariably fluctuate because the excellence of the weld is dependant, not only on the experience of the individual doing the welding, but on the environmental conditions as well. The trick to a good weld is always to keep your process regular and precise. This obviously becomes simpler with practice, but practice may be costly. If particular parameters aren't observed, gas and electrodes may be wasted and they're expensive to restore. The more ferrous a metal, the more tricky it's to keep the weld from becoming porous. Such things happen whenever a metal cools faster than gas bubbles created in the welding process can get away. It can help to weld at a reduced rate for anyone who is dealing with a metal like aluminium which cools rapidly.
As with all welding, you should possess the correct protective clothing set up when running mig mag welders. The proper clothing contains heavy leather gloves and protective jacket sleeves as well as protective eye wear. A condition called arc eye is a very common affliction of mig mag welders who do not wear the proper eye protection. It's due to the ultraviolet light which is emitted when welding is performed and results in the cornea of the eye to become inflamed, and in extreme cases, the retina may become burned. Curtains made of pvc can be put in place to protect the other people in the room form the ultraviolet light emitted by the welding process. Another thing to bear in mind is that you are working with a dangerous gas. It is important to make sure that there is enough ventilation in the area you are working in.
Always be aware when welding and ensure you understand what you really are doing and that you are wearing the right protective clothing to prevent burns and arc eye.
