Practical MIG Welding: MIG Table and Cart
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MIG Table and Cart
04.19
| 00:00 | Setting up our MIG welding station is an important part of the welding procedure. |
| 00:04 | Being comfortable and having everything we need on hand for quick and easy setup changes will speed up our welding and generally allow us to produce a better quality result. |
| 00:13 | For a fabricator, there's nothing more satisfying than having all of your components cleaned, prepped and sitting on the table ready to weld because once you put the helmet on and press that button, you don't want to have to think about anything other than producing the best weld you can. |
| 00:27 | This is the reason why we showed you how to build the TIG welding table in the Motorsport Fabrication Fundamentals course which is something you should definitely check out if you haven't already. |
| 00:37 | Every fabricator needs a dedicated area to sit down and do their TIG welding. |
| 00:42 | The MIG welding process however is a little different because we wouldn't typically sit down and weld small parts on a table like we would with a TIG welder. |
| 00:51 | The MIG machine will be more at home on a portable weld car that will allow us to reel it closer to complete larger jobs like modifications on a vehicle chassis. |
| 01:00 | MIG welders are also physically bigger than most TIG welders due to the internal spool of filler wire housed inside them and that generally means that it will require a cart to be purchased or made for it to be portable. |
| 01:12 | With a lot of larger machines, that isn't necessary though as they're often supplied as an assembly with their own wheels, making it portable right out of the box. |
| 01:20 | A feature on all welding carts or portable welding assemblies is that they'll have a provision for the gas bottle to securely fix to the back of the welder. |
| 01:28 | If you're making or buying a welding cart then it's extremely important that it's chained or tied to the cart so that it can't fall over when being transported over uneven ground. |
| 01:38 | Having a bench that's set up for MIG welding with a provision to roll our welder in next to it will give you the best of both worlds. |
| 01:45 | This bench will need a metallic top that completes the electrical circuit for the current to transfer through the part and into the table which will have the earth lead attached to it. |
| 01:55 | Holding and securing our workpiece for MIG welding can sometimes be a little difficult. |
| 02:00 | If we're welding up complicated tube structures then it can be beneficial to use a table that incorporates a clamping system. |
| 02:07 | These tables are known as fixture tables and will have a series of holes spaced evenly across the entire surface. |
| 02:14 | Fixture tables are available in varying degrees of precision and the more inexpensive versions will be a laser cut kit made from heavy duty steel sheet that you'll need to weld together. |
| 02:24 | For those looking for greater precision, there are thicker machined steel plate versions available at a much greater cost. |
| 02:30 | These machined tables are usually supplied as a kit with slip in clamps and 90 degree angled uprights for a modular fixture table. |
| 02:39 | Be mindful that weld spatter can stick and penetrate into steel bench tops and it might not be a good idea to MIG weld on an expensive fixture table if it's used for measuring or creating flat fixtures. |
| 02:52 | If the material is free of contaminants or coatings and our MIG welder is set up appropriately, we might not find it to be such a big issue, but it's also worth keeping in mind as I know a lot of shops have TIG only areas and despise the inclusion of weld spatter onto important surfaces. |
| 03:08 | Setting up a MIG welding cart doesn't have to be expensive or complicated. |
| 03:12 | By making your machine portable, securing the gas bottle on the back of the cart, having your leads wrapped neatly around a hook with your weld helmet sitting on top, you'll be ready to roll the cart into position and get to work on your project within minutes. |
| 03:27 | Let's quickly run over the main points found in this module before finishing up our workshop preparation section of the course. |
| 03:33 | Setting up a MIG welding station for efficiency and quality welding is essential. |
| 03:38 | Unlike TIG, MIG welding doesn't require sitting down at a dedicated table, making it more suitable for a portable weld cart, especially for larger projects like chassis modifications. |
| 03:49 | For optimal welding, it's crucial to have a bench with a metallic top to complete the electrical circuit and secure the workpiece. |
| 03:56 | In some cases, fixture tables with evenly spaced holes are used and are available in a variety of levels of precision and cost. |
| 04:04 | Setting up a MIG welding cart doesn't have to be an expensive job and keeping the machine portable, securing the gas bottle, organising the leads and having the weld helmet ready ensures quick project setup. |
