MIG/MAG Welding basics for beginners and less experienced welders.
Basics considering welding torch handling. Travel direction - push vs. pull.
Let's start by defining the terms. When you weld, as the welding wire meets the steel being welded, an arc is created, which in turn forms weld pool. That would be the sparking area where the weld is formed.
Pull – means that, as the name suggests, you pull the arc and weld pool behind the welding torch.
Push – means that you push the arc and weld pool ahead of the welding torch.
Take a look at the image below to get a better understanding.
From a technical welding perspective, and especially in terms of penetration, direction of travel makes a difference. But since you're just beginning your practice, penetration doesn’t matter at this stage. Forget about it. Try both methods and go with the one that feels more natural to you. Both techniques will produce strong, durable welds, and at this stage in your welding journey, both are equally correct. The right method is the one that gets you a functional result. You can focus on the finer details of penetration later as you progress beyond the beginner level.
When I am welding workpieces lying flat on a table (moving from right to left in my case), I prefer pushing the torch forward. I like that it gives me a clear view of the joint ahead, so I can see where I’m guiding the torch. When pulling, the torch is in my line of sight, blocking the view, which often makes it harder for me to maintain direction and overall control.
If we take the same welding scenario but rotate the workpieces to a vertical position (90 degrees, with one end pointing toward the ceiling and the other toward the floor), my preferred method also changes. In this case, the best approach is to weld from top to bottom using the pullingpulling technique. While pulling in a horizontal weld can make visibility and direction control difficult, I don’t have this issue in a vertical weld. The direction naturally stays within the joint, even without constantly seeing it, and it’s actually very easy to control.
So, these are two slightly different situations. In one, pushing works best for me; in the other, pulling is the better option.
On the right: moving in the direction of the red arrow means "pushing," while moving in the direction of the yellow arrow means "pulling."
So once again—experiment, experiment, and experiment. Don’t get stuck on just one method unless it works absolutelly flawlessly for you. This way, you’ll find the techniques that suit you best.
Between pushing and pulling, there’s also a middle ground where the welding torch is held perfectly vertical. This isn’t wrong either—it might even be the right option in certain situations.
The angle of the welding torch also affects the welding process and the final result. In different situations, it’s useful to take advantage of various angles. Don’t just stick to the 30-degree example shown above—be bold and try everything between 0 and 70 degrees to see how it influences the weld. The best way to learn is through hands-on experimentation.
The closer you aim the welding torch toward 0 degrees, the deeper the penetration into the joint. However, keep in mind that on thin materials, this also increases the risk of burning through. As you increase the angle to 15, 30, or 45 degrees, penetration decreases, and the risk of burn-through is reduced. More horizontal travel is generally better for thin sheet metal, while a steeper angle works better for thicker materials.
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Articles:
Adjusting the welding machine
Push or pull?
Contact tip to workpiece distance
Welding torch work angle
How quickly can you learn welding?
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