To Pulse or not to Pulse?

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I am a new welder and have a lot to learn.  I have a 350P on its way.  Currently I only weld steel, not aluminum.  I know the Pulse feature really shines on Aluminum.On steel when do you use the pulse feature?  This is the first time I have the ability to weld using something other than Short Circuit Transfer.  How do you know when to use short circuit vs sprays (I know this can't be used out of position) and pulse?
Reply:The fancy pulse machines allow a combination of short circuit and spray for out of position welds. I think pulse would allow you burn hot but have a better control of the puddle. It depends on the type of weld you are doing if you need it.
Reply:Pulse works really good on sheet metal use 90-10 gas.
Reply:You will get higher deposition rates and better fusion compared to short-arc MIG, especially when welding out-of-position. Less useful for flat and horizontal welds on steel thicker than 1/4", where spray transfer is generally used. Pulse MIG welds have a different "look" than short-arc welds, smoother with little or no ripples. Also welds are virtually spatter-free, although you can do almost as well with short-arc and 75/25 if you are properly dialed in.JohnA few weldersA lot of hammersA whole lot of C-clamps
Reply:im not a huge pulse fan i dont do alot of thinner stuff and that is supposed to be where it shinesHigh Octane Welding
Reply:We run pulsed spray on steel pretty much exclusively where I work.  Depending on what wire you are using, it can really shine when welding out of position.  Like the previous posters said, little to no spatter.  Faster travel speeds than short circuit, but more control than regular spray transfer.
Reply:I'm not a fan of a pulse welding either. A must for up to 5mm alu, good choice for CuSi, usable for stainless up to 4mm and not very usable for steel. You can use it on 2-5mm steel, but there is really no benefits in doing that (correctly set-up short-circuit produces the same amount of splatter as pulse). For thicker stuff I wouldn't trust pulse mig. I did some test welds with several (EU) machines and with pulse settings there was problems with non-constant penetration. No problems with normal spray tranfer, especially when trying to set up automated linear mig machine, that must produce x-ray quality welds.
Reply:Read and learn, http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...-MIG-questions"Discovery is to see what everybody else has seen, and to think what nobody else has thought" - Albert Szent-Gyorgyi