MIG "trigger" welding

[Iggle]

I know this type of MIG weld looks good, but is it really a "sound" weld? Does the constant starting and stopping of the weld cause problems? Is the weld hot enough? It seems like this is the preferred method of most of the people in the off road industry but mostly because of the way the weld looks when it's complete. Do any big shops test these welds? Do they pass inspection?

Curious to see what actual certified welders out there have to say. Any certified welding inspectors on this forum?

Thanks for your thoughts.
Iggy

[SPONSOR]

Membership in the largest desert racing community has its advantages - Participate in Forum Discussions - Send and Receive Private Messages - Maintain Public Photo Albums - Access to Groups - User Profile in our Social Network - Increased Access to more Sub Forums - Reduced Online Advertisements Join our community today

[atomicjoe23]

What a hornet's nest! This topic always brings up quite the debate. . .

I know this type of MIG weld looks good, but is it really a "sound" weld?

Depends on the welder and how good they are.

[QUOTE=Iggle;1410872]Does the constant starting and stopping of the weld cause problems?

Depends on the welder and how good they are.

[QUOTE=Iggle;1410872]Is the weld hot enough?

Depends on who is doing the weld, how good they, and/or what type of machine they are using. . .the newer pulse machines create this type of weld by default (if set-up to do so) but the trigger is never released. Instead, the machine varies the intensity of the arc (or pulses the arc) between high intensity and low intensity.

It seems like this is the preferred method of most of the people in the off road industry but mostly because of the way the weld looks when it's complete.

Be careful here, just because a weld appears to have been triggerd does not mean that it has been; it very easy to create the same look using either the "trigger" method or an oscillation method (without letting go of the trigger). . .I would venture to say that it would be incorrect to state that the "trigger" method is the "preferred method of most of the people in the off-road industry". I think a better statement would be to say that the appearance obtained using the "trigger" method is preferred in this industry regardless of which method is used to obtain it.

Do any big shops test these welds? Do they pass inspection?

This would have to be answered by a shop that is doing this. . .I will not attempt to answer for them.

I think it is safe to say that to generalize that one type of weld is better than the other is not safe to say. . .it all depends on who is doing the welding, how much experience they have, etc. One welder's "trigger" weld may be better than anothers oscillation weld and vice versa.

That probably answers your questions as clearly as mud. . .do a search on this subject and start reading the multitude of threads that are already out there on this subject, try both ways, do your own testing on practice pieces, and come to your own conclusion about what will work best for your for your situation.

Good Luck!

[gawdodirt]

There was a thread about this where a shop did X-ray and destructive tested "trigger " welds and found them to be as safe as other MIG welds. Again, like it was stated, depending on the person doing the welding. Buy a high end pulse MIG and learn to use it. Then you'll have to tools to produce good welds. Oh and lots of seat time.

GD

[kdm73091]

ususaly when people trigger weld its cause the material is to thin and you arent able to put alot of heat into the material such as sheet metal work.... to a trained eye you are able to tell whats trigger welded and whats a full bead. in my opinion its crappy fab work to trigger weld anything thats structual, you arent able to get enough heat and penetration into the material to properly fuse the metal together. i think people should just actualy learn how to weld....

[gawdodirt]

ususaly when people trigger weld its cause the material is to thin and you arent able to put alot of heat into the material such as sheet metal work.... to a trained eye you are able to tell whats trigger welded and whats a full bead. in my opinion its crappy fab work to trigger weld anything thats structual, you arent able to get enough heat and penetration into the material to properly fuse the metal together. i think people should just actualy learn how to weld....

Wow. Pretty harsh. There's a place for trigger welding. The thread I read stated that in destructive testing or X-ray, it is as good as any full bead. If it's that critical, just TIG the whole thing.

GD

[StokedMotorSport]

two words COLD LAP.

[BajaFand]

Wow. Pretty harsh. There's a place for trigger welding. The thread I read stated that in destructive testing or X-ray, it is as good as any full bead. If it's that critical, just TIG the whole thing.

GD

There is no place for trigger welding in ANYTHING structural. Dzus tabs and bedsides are one thing but I find it dangerous to think that there are so many people using this technique to weld rollcages. There shouldn't be any reason to weld in that fashion.

I'm not saying it's impossible for a trigger weld to be structurally sound and I'm sure there are some that are. I'll admit that I've done it on few things that aren't structural. I'm just saying it's a bad habit and is not a correct form of welding. I'd rather have an ugly continuous bead then a pretty trigger weld holding the cage above my head together. Please post a link to the thread.

[DBMETALWORX]

There is no place for trigger welding in ANYTHING structural. Dzus tabs and bedsides are one thing but I find it dangerous to think that there are so many people using this technique to weld rollcages. There shouldn't be any reason to weld in that fashion.

I'm not saying it's impossible for a trigger weld to be structurally sound and I'm sure there are some that are. I'll admit that I've done it on few things that aren't structural. I'm just saying it's a bad habit and is not a correct form of welding. I'd rather have an ugly continuous bead then a pretty trigger weld holding the cage above my head together. Please post a link to the thread.

Amen!!

[Jerry Zaiden]

Trigger welds = hot-cold hot-cold hot-cold hot-cold hot-cold hot-cold hot-cold hot-cold hot-cold hot-cold hot-cold hot-cold hot-cold hot-cold hot-cold hot-cold hot-cold hot-cold etc... Total crap for critical parts

Same goes for peddle pumpers when tig welding.

Both techniques are for people who don't have skill and have to "draw" the weld bead not let the weld bead form from proper technique.

[Iggle]

Trigger welds = hot-cold hot-cold hot-cold hot-cold hot-cold hot-cold hot-cold hot-cold hot-cold hot-cold hot-cold hot-cold hot-cold hot-cold hot-cold hot-cold hot-cold hot-cold etc... Total crap for critical parts

Same goes for peddle pumpers when tig welding.

Both techniques are for people who don't have skill and have to "draw" the weld bead not let the weld bead form from proper technique.

So if pumping the pedal when TIG welding is also incorrect, what is the correct form? Just using a pulsing TIG machine where the pulse is built into the machine? Isn't that accomplishing the same thing?