Welding Sheet Metal Gauge

For thinner gauge sheet metal like 18 or 20 gauge we suggest 023 6mm wire in your mig welder.

Welding sheet metal gauge.

Everyone is different but those settings will get you in the right ballpark to weld sheet metal. To weld mild steel choose an american welding society classification wire such as er70s 6 which has a weld puddle that wets out nicely. For 3 32 7018 s it s about the same. It is imperative you consider the shielding gas welding process and electrode before welding 20 gauge sheet metals.

Generally the skip welding technique is the best way to distribute heat in an even manner. Holding the tip too far from the surface will cause the wire to have to come out too far to touch the metal. As for mild steel wires such as er70s 6 are recommended for use as they have a weld buddle that wets out nicely. Say if you are welding an 18 gauge stainless steel sheet that is 2 2 feet in size to repair the side of your tank start by creating a weld that is 1inch long then skip 6 inches and then create a 1 inch long weld.

When the material is 18 gauge and thicker you may be able to use a 030 inch wire. Keep the stick out short stickout of your mig wire is important when welding any type of metal but especially sheet metal. It s recommended to use a 023 or 024 inch wire for most light gauge sheet metal work. In the us sheet metal is designated through the gauge the larger the number the thinner the metal.

However if you are dealing with materials that are 18 gauge or thicker one should be able to use 030 inch welding wire. Typically the gauges run from 7 to 30 gauge.