TECH TIP: SP MIG 'Hot Start': The Why & How!
SP MIG 'Hot Start': The Why & How! The Benefits & Programming of the SP Pulse MIG Welder's Hot Start Function. Quick Overview It's no secret that welding aluminum is different than steel. One of the biggest differences is how heat is dissipated on aluminum. Steel: Heat stays confined to the area where the heat is applied. Aluminum: Heat rapidly transfers throughout the material. This causes what is known as a " Cold Start "; the beginning of the weld bead is weak due to not enough heat at the start causing poor penetration. To counter this we have two options: Tail-In Method - You start the weld outside and move in toward the weld join so that the material is pre-heated allowing proper penetration. Hot Start function - The cleanest way to program it and avoid the cold start. (See VIDEO below) Solution : The SP series MIG welder's " Hot Start Function ", allows us to dial up the amper