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For TIG & Aluminium MIG use.
Straight answers to the questions people ask most when choosing and using MIG welding accessories and consumables.
Beyond the welder and torch, a few small items make a real difference: a pair of MIG pliers for cutting wire and removing nozzles and tips, a tool for cleaning spatter from the nozzle, anti-spatter, a torch stand, a gas flow tester, and spare tips and nozzles.Depending on your work you may also want wire lubricant pads, a spool adaptor, and a gas heater for carbon dioxide. None of them is essential on day one, but each saves time or prevents a common problem, so build up the kit as you find out what your work needs.
Spatter builds up inside the nozzle and, if left, narrows the gas path, which disturbs the shielding gas and causes porosity. Clear it regularly using a reamer or the jaws of the MIG pliers, with the torch cool and the machine switched off.Avoid hammering the nozzle or scraping it with sharp tools that might scratch it, because scratches give spatter a place to stick. Using anti-spatter in moderation helps, and replacing a nozzle that is badly worn or damaged is better than cleaning it again and again.
Anti-spatter makes spatter easier to remove from the nozzle, tip and workpiece, and reduces the time spent on cleaning up. It is applied lightly to the nozzle or onto the surface near the joint.There are some downsides. Some products contain silicone, which can cause problems if the work is going to be painted or coated afterwards, and there are silicone-free types for that. Do not overdo it, and avoid getting it on the contact tip or in the wire path. Follow the maker's safety information.
Small cylinders are handy for occasional light jobs because they are light and easy to store, but the gas does not last long, so they are not suited to regular or heavy welding. How long one lasts depends on the flow rate and how much you actually weld.If you weld often, a larger refillable cylinder is usually more practical. Small cylinders need a regulator and, in some cases, an adaptor made for them, so check what fits. Never refill or tamper with a disposable cylinder.