Mig Contact Tips

Frequently Asked Questions:

What does a contact tip do in MIG welding?

MIG contact tips are crucial components in MIG (Metal Inert Gas) welding torches. They play a vital role in ensuring a smooth and efficient welding process. Here's a breakdown of their key functions:

Guiding the Wire:
The contact tip acts as a guide for the electrode wire, ensuring it feeds accurately and consistently towards the weld joint.

Current Transfer:
This is the primary function of the contact tip. It directly conducts the welding current from the torch to the electrode wire. This electrical current is what heats the wire to its melting point, creating the molten metal needed for the weld.

Protecting the Wire:
The contact tip helps shield the electrode wire from contamination as it travels from the spool to the weld puddle.

What size contact tip for MIG welding?

The size of the contact tip you need for MIG welding directly corresponds to the diameter of the electrode wire you're using. In other words, the ideal contact tip will have an inner diameter (bore size) that exactly matches the outer diameter of your electrode wire.

Use a contact tip with the same size (in inches or millimeters) as your electrode wire.
For instance, if you're using a 0.030-inch (0.8mm) diameter electrode wire, you'll need a 0.030-inch (0.8mm) contact tip.

When to replace MIG contact tip?

Visual Inspection:

• Deformed Bore: The most common sign is a deformity in the tip's hole. The ideal shape is a perfect circle. If the hole becomes ovular or out-of-round, it affects wire feeding and can lead to inconsistent welds.

• Burn Marks: Burning or excessive wear on the tip's surface is another telltale sign. This can be caused by overheating or spatter buildup.

Welding Performance Issues:

• Erratic Wire Feeding: A worn contact tip can hinder smooth wire feeding, resulting in inconsistencies in the weld bead. You might experience stuttering, hesitation, or burning of the wire before it reaches the weld pool.

• Arcing Issues: A worn tip can lead to unstable or erratic arcing. This can cause problems like porosity (gas bubbles trapped in the weld) or undercut (metal melted away from the base metal).

• Spatter Increase: Excessive spatter is another indicator of a worn contact tip. The improper fit between the tip and wire can cause molten metal particles to splatter around the weld zone.

At Lincweld, you can buy MIG welding machines of different companies such as Lincoln, Jasic, Kemppi, Stealth and others.