Welding 20 Gage Sheet Metal With Smaw

It is imperative you consider the shielding gas welding process and electrode before welding 20 gauge sheet metals.

Welding 20 gage sheet metal with smaw.

Keep the stick out short stickout of your mig wire is important when welding any type of metal but especially sheet metal. In the us sheet metal is designated through the gauge the larger the number the thinner the metal. Everyone is different but those settings will get you in the right ballpark to weld sheet metal. Mig is one of the best ways to weld 20 gauge sheet metal.

For 3 32 7018 s it s about the same. To weld mild steel choose an american welding society classification wire such as er70s 6 which has a weld puddle that wets out nicely. A good heat setting for 1 8 6011 rods on thin material is about 80 90 amps. In a situation when a welder needs to make a butt weld on a 20 gauge panel and the parts are not able to touch each other not even for even 1 16 inches you will create a gap that is not capable of being absorbed by the heat.

Typically the gauges run from 7 to 30 gauge. It s recommended to use a 023 or 024 inch wire for most light gauge sheet metal work. Sheet metal welding demands really tight fit ups. Mig welding for thin metal.

20 ga steel is around 0 038 thick so start with your machine set for 40 amps. Sheet metal has usage in sectors like making automobiles airplane wings and fuselages roofing and medicinal tables. For thinner gauge sheet metal like 18 or 20 gauge we suggest 023 6mm wire in your mig welder. Holding the tip too far from the surface will cause the wire to have to come out too far to touch the metal.

Fit up and joint design.