Push vs. Pull: How Travel Direction Affects Your Welds

When it comes to welding, technique plays a crucial role in the quality, strength, and appearance of your welds. Arc welding processes like MIG welding rely on the heat generated by the welding arc between the electrode and base metal to melt the materials and fuse them together. As the arc melts the base metal and filler wire, it forms a weld pool, which the welder controls and directs by either pushing or pulling the torch or electrode. Which brings us to this hotly debated question- it is better to push or to pull? Each method has its own benefits and applications, and understanding when to use each can help improve your efficiency and weld quality.

So let's break down the differences between push and pull welding, when it might be best to use each, and how to refine your skills to get the best results! 

PUsh WELDING TECHNIQUE

Push welding, sometimes referred to as forehand welding, involves moving the welding torch or gun in the direction of travel. With your torch at an angle of 5 to 15 degrees, you are “pushing” the molten weld pool forward.

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CHARACTERISTICS

• Provides better visibility of the weld pool, allowing you to make more aesthetically pleasing welds.
• Produces a flatter, wider bead with more shallow penetration, making it suitable for thinner workpieces
• Generates more spatter (and possible slag inclusions with flux-core processes)
• Better shielding gas coverage

BEST FOR
- Automotive welding 
- Sheet metal and aluminum welding
- Jobs where visibility and control are top priorities

PULL WELDING TECHNIQUE

Pull welding, sometimes called drag or backhand welding, is when the torch or gun is moved away from the direction of travel. With your torch at an angle of 5 to 15 degrees, you are “pulling” the molten weld pool forward.

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CHARACTERISTICS

• Creates a narrower, higher, and deeper weld bead
• Offers better penetration and higher deposition rates, making it ideal for thicker workpieces
• Generates less spatter
• Limits your ability to weave or achieve more aesthetically pleasing welds
• Can require more post-processing
• Not suitable for overhead or vertical up positions

BEST FOR
- Heavy-Duty Structural & Pipe welding
- Jobs where deeper penetration is needed

Understanding the strengths of each technique will help you optimize weld quality, penetration, and efficiency. But the conclusion is that there’s no universal right or wrong answer when it comes to push vs. pull welding—it all depends on your material, welding process, and desired results! It also depends on what the welder is most comfortable with, which is why practicing both techniques is important for a successful job every time.

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Looking to perfect your technique? At Earlbeck Technical Center, we offer hands-on welding training that will help you master and refine your skills. There's never a better time than now to get started on your welding journey!

ENROLL TODAY!