Lower blast speed, or shielding gas, is used to protect your eyes and skin when you weld. It prevents us from getting burned by the welding arc. As a result, fewer welders wear safety glasses than they should. Lower shielding gas protects your eyes and skin from the extremely hot metal fumes produced by the welding arc.
These fumes are known as “arc scrapings.” If you need to shield gas, make sure that you have the proper equipment for it. There are several different types of shielding gases available for your mig welding needs. Ranging from economical to high-end options that can cost you hundreds of dollars per fill.
Shielding gas is especially important if you’re using a power welder instead of stick welding with manual welder or inertialess machines.
A power welder produces more intense arcs than manual ones. And can melt through both steel and most other materials more quickly. As well making it nearly impossible to shield effectively during stick welding like what you’d do with an inertialess machine or manual welder of the same type (depending on the model).
A Mig weld is an arc welding technique used to join metal components, primarily in the automotive industry. This process is commonly known as MIG welding. It has many advantages over other welding processes like stick welding, laser welding, and gas welding.
Mig welders work by applying a current along with a neutral (also called shielding) gas via a nozzle that feeds into the weld pool. They are fast and easy to set up, and require no maintenance once they are in operation.
However, this process has some disadvantages as well. Hence, one needs to understand how to shield the mig welder properly so that it can be operated without any problems. This blog will guide you through everything you need to know about shielding your mig welder so that you can operate it without any issues or problems whatsoever.
What is a Shielding Gas for Mig Welding?
A shielding gas is a gas that is used with a welding torch to block or divert the heat of the welding arc. Thereby reducing the amount of oxidation that occurs in the weld pool as a result of the welding process. This reduces the amount of corrosion that occurs in the weld joint as a result of the dissimilar metals joining together.
Shielding gases are used in all types of welding to reduce welding heat. Prevent welding defects and to increase the life of welding electrodes. A shielding gas will be used in all welding processes that produce an arc to prevent the heat of the welding arc from melting the base metal.
This reduced heat will result in a longer service life of the welding equipment and no damage to the base metals at all. Shield gases are generally mixed with the welding gas to reduce the amount of heat and oxidation from the welding arc. Shielding gases will also act as a liquid blanket, lowering the temperature of the weld and protecting the weld joint from oxidation.
Why is Shielding Required for Mig Welding?
Mig welding is a very fast and efficient process involving the joining of two or more pieces of metal using an electric arc. Because of its high speed and efficiency, it is one of the most common types of welding used in industry.
However, one of the main disadvantages of mig welding is the formation of a weld joint that is highly corrosive and prone to damage. This is due to the high oxidation rate of the metal from the welding process. Hence, the next thing that you need to understand is why the shielding gas is required for mig welding.
The high oxidation rate of the metal from the welding process is one of the main reasons why we need a shielding gas for mig welding. It is not just for preventing metal damage. But also for preventing the electrode from being irreparably damaged due to oxidation.
Shielding gases are mainly used to reduce the temperature of the metal by diverting the heat from the arc and also to prevent the base metal from being melted by diverting the heat.
Types of Shielding Gases for Mig Welding
- Argon – Argon is a colourless, odourless, and non-toxic gas used in a gas shield for mig welding. This gas is mainly used to protect the weld joint from oxidation.
- CO2 – CO2 is a carbon dioxide derivative that is used as a shielding gas for mig welding. It is another non-toxic gas that is mainly used to protect the weld joint from oxidation.
- MIG Gas – MIG welding is a process that uses MIG welding gas to weld metals together. The welding gas used for MIG welding is primarily made up of Argon with some CO2 and other trace gases present.
- MIG Gas Shielding – The shielding gases that are used for MIG welding are Argon, CO2, and MIG Gas. MIG Gas Shielding is the process of shielding the arc with a CO2 gas to prevent the weld joint from oxidation.
- Shielding Gas for MIG Welding – MIG welding is a lightweight welding process that uses an electric arc for welding.
- Shielding for MIG Welding – A shielding gas is an inert gas that is used in conjunction with the welding process to prevent oxidation in the weld joint.
Requirements of a Good Shielding Gas for Mig Welding
1. It should be a dry gas. Dry shielding gases are usually less expensive than wet gases. However, they are less effective as well.
2. It should not be too cold. Cold shielding gases are not effective and also prone to forming ice crystals in the weld pool.
3. It should be mixed properly with the welding gas. Shield gas mixed with the right amount of the base welding gas will be more effective and efficient.
4. It should be of a high purity. If it is of poor quality, it will not work effectively. – It should have low odor and be odourless.
5. It should have a specific gravity of around 1.0 – 1.4.
6. It should be available in different volume and flow rates.
7. It should have a long shelf life and not lose its effectiveness over time.
Recommended Brands for a Good Shielding Gas
There are many brands available in the market for shielding gas for mig welding. However, for a good shield gas, it is recommended to go for a brand that has been proven to be of high quality. Hence, here are some recommended brands for a good shielding gas:
Welder Shield – This brand is known for its high purity and effective shielding gas. It is a dry gas and is usually available in a 50-gallon drum and a 5-gallon pail.
MasterShield – This brand is known for its high purity and low odor shielding gas. It is a dry gas that is odourless and is usually available in a 50-gallon drum and a 5-gallon pail.
Weldcraft – This is another brand known for its high purity shielding gas that also has low odor and is a dry gas. It is usually available in a 50-gallon drum and a 5-gallon pail.
A Shield – This brand is known for its low cost shielding gas. It is a wet gas that is available in a 50-gallon drum and a 5-gallon pail.
Conclusion
Mig welding is an arc welding technique that uses an electric arc to join metal parts. Shielding gas is required for mig welding to protect the weld joint from oxidation and to prevent the arc from melting the base metal. This process is very fast and consumes little energy.
Hence, if you want to weld metal components with great speed, then you must consider using the shield gas for mig welding.