ZTFab's welding method summary

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This is a video of Jody showing his torch movement when welding mig.  It is the same as I was taught as well as many other's over the years.I posted this on another thread that had mentioned ZTFab's welding. Here is what Paul had to say:"Funny...the technique he shows in that video is the exact same motion that I do and is exactly how I've described it to people for years. The main differences being that I run a slower hand speed and slightly lower settings to allow a little more puddle freeze. I am not in a rush just looking for the end of the weld. In the video Jody mentions that he is looking for a faster way to get the parts done...and in a production setting that is exactly what you need to do. I am not a production shop looking to lay down as many IPM as humanly possible. I am a custom fabricator and am always trying to make each part/job the best that I can."From all the posts that Paul has put up describing his method, I can summarize in this list:1. PREP, Prep, prep.  No mill scale. No rust. No paint.  Clean white metal.2. Fit up.  He is meticulous about his fit ups.  There is care and attention to the joint so that there doesn't need additional filler over what is required for an effective joint.3. Welder set up.  He has his wire feed match his volts so he isn't throwing splatter the size of golf balls. He likes S6 wire with Ar75C25 shielding gas.4. Parameters.  With all welding there are upper and lower limits of what is acceptable.  When Paul says he is welding cooler, he simply is welding within the acceptable limit for material thickness.  It is important to remember that too often people are caught up with the mentality of the macho phrase, "I turned it up hot as hell and really burned it in there."  Most people can't weld well running hot and fast.  Get over trying to prove....(I'll get off my soap box)5. Welding.  He likes to pull his weld.  This would offset welding cooler somewhat as pulling changes the underlying bead profile.  He also is a careful student of electrode stick out.  He is also consistent with torch angle.6. Time under the Hood.  There is nothing that will make a welder better than time under the Hood.  You can know everything, but if you haven't developed an eye for the weld pool and haven't developed the muscle memory for the welding, you will never have anything but bird poo.6 things that are the basis of what makes Paul at the top of class for welding.  The same thing can be said of Zap or anyone else that welds well.  This method is just one method to get the job done.  The type of machine you have and the filler metal and shielding gas you choose will effect your outcome.  Dan and others have a lot of knowledge as far as slope and inductance that will effect the outcome of the weld appearance.Paul, I hope I haven't overstepped.  I just thought that it would be nice to put a summary out there for those that are interested in knowing how you do what you do.On a side note:
Reply:Scott...that is a great summary and no, you haven't stepped on any toes. Maybe people will listen to you because they don't seem to listen to me! http://all-a-cart.comWelding Cart Kits and accessories
Reply:Hmmmmmmmm  Like I said before and will say it again, "You will get old and DIE, and no one learned anything"  and at that I will go to the coffee shop with my dogs..  Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:Originally Posted by B_CHmmmmmmmm  Like I said before and will say it again, "You will get old and DIE, and no one learned anything"  and at that I will go to the coffee shop with my dogs..
Reply:Originally Posted by shovelonHuh.I am so poor, the wife makes my coffee.Of course she follows me to work to keep tabs on me too.
Reply:Still waiting on that 4943......I ordered 20 Lbs  Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:I am still trying to learn and listen to all of the great info and put it to use. I just have a hard time keeping things Square, fit up and prep are good I just get out of square sometimes. So one day I checked the walls in my shop yep they are square, then I check my table good to go.Then I get to thinking what am I missing?? so I check my welder MM252 to see if it was square............no not square, there is my problem it's out of square all the way to the gun......... so I am still working on it.Last edited by Thats Hot; 02-21-2013 at 02:46 PM.
Reply:Originally Posted by B_CStill waiting on that 4943......I ordered 20 Lbs
Reply:Nice Summary Scott
Reply:Originally Posted by shovelonHuh.I am so poor, the wife makes my coffee.Of course she follows me to work to keep tabs on me too.
Reply:Originally Posted by shovelonHuh.I am so poor, the wife makes my coffee.Of course she follows me to work to keep tabs on me too.
Reply:Boy is this going downhill fast....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:Originally Posted by shovelonI can shoot ya up some to hold ya over if you want.
Reply:Originally Posted by ZTFabWell, if you'd stop buying Dynasty's like Whitney Houston bought crack then maybe you could afford some freakin' coffee!!
Reply:Originally Posted by zapsterBoy is this going downhill fast....zap!
Reply:I bought my first mig before it was accpted by most welders, an Idealarc Lincoln SP 200.  The instructions said " we don't believe in MIG welding, but this is a good power source for those that do." So I taught myself, and always pulled my welds Ten years later some guy told me I was doing it backwards. I still drag most wleds, but push sometimes.  I always get a better weld when I drag.  So practice makes permenant, not practice makes perfect! Oh, and before that I taught myself to push stick electrodes.  I must have read all the books wrong. Been welding for amost 40 years backwards, but haven't had to many failures at the weld itself, so I am not changing anytime soon!
Reply:Originally Posted by blackbartI bought my first mig before it was accpted by most welders, an Idealarc Lincoln SP 200.  The instructions said " we don't believe in MIG welding, but this is a good power source for those that do." So I taught myself, and always pulled my welds Ten years later some guy told me I was doing it backwards. I still drag most wleds, but push sometimes.  I always get a better weld when I drag.  So practice makes permenant, not practice makes perfect! Oh, and before that I taught myself to push stick electrodes.  I must have read all the books wrong. Been welding for amost 40 years backwards, but haven't had to many failures at the weld itself, so I am not changing anytime soon!
Reply:Originally Posted by ZTFabWell, if you'd stop buying Dynasty's like Whitney Houston bought crack then maybe you could afford some freakin' coffee!!
Reply:Yeah, I try to teach kids in the shop, and then realize I am supposed to push the bead. I guess it's best in the long ruen they know they can do it both ways depending on the circumstance. I'm not likely to change now.
Reply:Hey Paul, Im toying with the idea of getting one of the new 350P-Aluminum  mig machines.....My customer is bringing another part into his product line that would require Aluminum MIG welds.....Terry and I have been talking about it and wondered if you heard anything yet?  Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:I played with that machine at the farm show. It was impressive (so was the price, close to $6000).  I can see potential problems with the two feed motors if they didn't synq quite right. In fact when I came to the machine it was birdnesting before I could try it. Personally I am going to stay with a spool gun, but I have to admit the remote voltage/wire speed control and pulse is intriguing.   When I toured the Pierce fire engine plant in florida, their favorite machine was the miller 350P set up fo aluminum. Many of their truck and ambulance bodies are aluminum. They run it 24 hours a day.
Reply:Hmmmmmmmm yeah your right the price is scary....But I like new stuff....  Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:Originally Posted by blackbartI played with that machine at the farm show. It was impressive (so was the price, close to $6000).  I can see potential problems with the two feed motors if they didn't synq quite right. In fact when I came to the machine it was birdnesting before I could try it. Personally I am going to stay with a spool gun, but I have to admit the remote voltage/wire speed control and pulse is intriguing.   When I toured the Pierce fire engine plant in florida, their favorite machine was the miller 350P set up fo aluminum. Many of their truck and ambulance bodies are aluminum. They run it 24 hours a day.
Reply:Originally Posted by B_CHmmmmmmmm yeah your right the price is scary....But I like new stuff....
Reply:The miller salesman was telling me the 350PA pulsed like 400 times a second.  I thought when they first came out is was more like once every second or so.  I couldn't really feel much difference between it and a spool gun, but then I don't weld aluminum mig daily.I am trying to master welding like ZTFab's stick like chit.  Attached ImagesCity of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:Yeah the price is kinda scaring me after spending 8 grand on the tig machine.......Im 65 and still in good shape as far as welding goes anyway, so I figure if I can get the work for it a new state of the art MIG machine is doable.......Either that or become a professional Burger Eater.......  Miller Dynasty 350Twenty Six HammersThree Crow BarsBig Rock
Reply:Originally Posted by B_CYeah the price is kinda scaring me after spending 8 grand on the tig machine.......Im 65 and still in good shape as far as welding goes anyway, so I figure if I can get the work for it a new state of the art MIG machine is doable.......Either that or become a professional Burger Eater.......
Reply:Originally Posted by SteelwillNow that's a burger.
Reply:Originally Posted by tanglediverLooks like "In~N~Out", I am guessing double-double w/cheese.They are The Bomb!!   Sure could use one right now!  (But I would chew and taste it.)
Reply:Originally Posted by tanglediverI am trying to master welding like ZTFab's stick like chit.