Author: Gary Hargrave

6013 rods are a great option to begin your welding career with as it operates easily regardless of the current source.  Most beginners and amateurs start their welding careers with the E6013 rods. The material of this rod is mild steel and it is a rutile-based rod. Even though this rod can’t be used for…

All welders have probably experienced a situation where their weld cracked, either while the weld was still hot or after it had cooled down. Each type is caused by different factors, and it’s important to understand the difference between them so that you can find the remedies for each. There are two main types of…

Welders are a unique bunch. They take machines that produce heat and sparks and use them to join pieces of metal together. But, just like any other machine, welders need protection from overuse and overheating. That’s where circuit breakers come in. So it’s extremely important to have a deep and clear idea about the appropriate…

The name pot metal may sound like something you would find in your kitchen, but believe me that’s not what it is. Pot metal is a low melting point, zinc-rich hybrid metal that has unusual properties for its type. Welding pot metal is a skill all welders will come across at some point in their…

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’d see concrete structures everywhere. They are the base of modern civilization. From little structures in your backyard to massive skyscrapers in the city- everything needs concrete. But there’s a problem, concrete has a high compressive strength but its tensile and shear strengths are not remarkable. To make…

MIG welding produces some of the cleanest and most consistent welds available, making them a popular choice for many welding applications. One key factor in achieving good welds is using a clean MIG welder liner. What’s that? Your MIG Welder isn’t working? It’s more than likely your MIG welder liner is clogged. You may be…

Between 0.030 and 0.035 flux-cored wire, there is still a lot of misconception in the welding world, especially among novices, concerning which flux-cored wire to use. It is quite popular due to its great productivity and efficacy. The ability to weld metal of various thicknesses, amount of spatter and smoking, tensile strength and elongation, ability…

People familiar with different welding types know both the MIG and Flux core are suitable welding methods.  But which one is better? Today, I will compare two of the most popular and widely used welding methods. MIG and Flux Core are the names they go by. Each method has its merits and drawbacks, so it…

Cast iron is famous among welders due to its high utility in the user’s community. No one will say that cast iron is easy to weld, rather the opposite is true! Different types of welding rods suit gray cast iron, malleable cast iron, white cast iron & ductile cast iron, etc. It depends on what…

Everyone wants a secure life & it needs a good amount of money. As a profession, the underwater welding job is quite respected. And it also pays pretty well. This lucrative career is not suitable for all, especially for those who do not want to go through intense hard work both physically & mentally. A…

In terms of technology, the world is growing at a rapid pace, so is the commercial diving industry that incorporates these technologies to enhance their outputs. One such industry that welcomes this revolution is welding. And even in branches of welding, one that is shining the most is the underwater welding market. Recently this specific…

Welding plays a huge part in our day-to-day lives and turn, the advancement of civilization. Just have a look around you, without welding, we couldn’t use any of the tools made of metals. It is true that MIG welding is one of the best ways to repair metal stuff. However, it is not without risks…

It is more complicated than you might have anticipated when it is about respiratory protection for welding. Experts always recommend respiratory protection because welding without having yourself protected first is like inviting diseases and injuries in your life. Although it varies from one welding task to another, there is a minimum requirement. The type of…

A TIG welder is a multifaceted welding tool capable of performing various activities according to a welder’s demand. But when beginners come into the field, they have a lot to explore what a TIG welder can pull off. Almost all of them have this question: can you braze with a TIG welder? If you can,…

Purchasing a TIG weld to perform specific welding projects has its advantages. It is most suitable for metal seams and joints like pressure vessels that require x-ray for coding. But some welders do not know that they can TIG weld with an inverter welder for many applications. So, how to TIG weld with an inverter…

If TIG welding intrigues you, you may know that learning it is complicated. But it is also satisfying once you get a grip on it and create beautiful metal pieces. A part of the learning process involves learning how to set up a TIG welder for mild steel. But, how do you do that? To…

If you are a welder but never got to welding underwater, you must have wondered how people even do it. Especially if you are a TIG welder, you might want to look into this. TIG welding underwater involves using the welder in a chamber like a submarine, allowing you to complete welding in dry surroundings….

Porosity brings trouble to any welding method. But it needs extra attention in the case of TIG welds. That is because welders do TIG welding to make the beads pretty. Also, TIG rods have no flux to clean metals and fight porosity. Contamination is one of the prime causes of porous TIG welds. Only a…

Welders prefer TIG welding to get attractive beads with a consistent and smooth texture. The biggest problem here is the absence of any cleaning agent or flux. That means the metal to be TIG welded needs to be flawless before welding. Unlike other welding methods, you have to clean it first. But, how to clean…

Having a few tricks up your sleeves can really make the whole session much easier while welding for hours. Like most other mechanical procedures, TIG welding too, takes loads of time and patience to get used to. In fact, you’ll find that several mechanics won’t have any idea about certain basic parts of the welding…

Increasingly, we’re seeing a shift away from emphasizing university and higher education, with apprenticeships now taking center stage and the number of participants in this type of scheme rising for the first time in three years in 2019. This type of initiative teaches core practical skills to applications, with welding offering a relevant case in…

When welding different metals, you can’t find something better than TIG welding. Whereas a plasma cutter rules in cutting various metals using agility and speed. But the question is- can you TIG weld with a plasma cutter? You can TIG weld with a plasma cutter if you’re using a multi-purpose machine. These machines combine multiple…

TIG welding magnesium properly is a skill only a very few welders possess. And, understandably so since the metal itself is super tricky and full of surprises. So, how to TIG weld magnesium properly in a way that does justice to both the material and welding process? Certain tips and tricks go into tig welding…

MIG welding is an excellent way of working with Mild steel. Here, the electrode is fed through the welding gun that makes a weld pool on the welded metal’s surface for connecting two base metals. To protect the weld from the contamination of the atmospheric gases, shielding gas or gases is also passed through the…

I’m sure it is tempting to jump right into the industry just after you finished welding school but trust me, you need to take a deep breath first. At this point, you don’t have much insight on how to set up a welding rig truck, so you’re most likely to either fail or overspend while…

Welding becomes interesting when you start crafting things using a welding machine. The more you practice welding, the more you gonna love this magnificent art.  On the flip side of the coin, you may lose sharpness in welding due to the lack of practice. That’s why you should try some easy welding project ideas for…

American Welding Society [AWS] estimates that in 2022, the US will be short of thousands of skilled welders. There is a significant demand, but not enough supply. So it is natural that those who are working as welders right now will be better paid. And welders who belong in a union get even better treatment….

An aspiring welder who wants to take this as a profession for life has two options- either to join a union or work by themselves. If you decide to join a union, then the next obvious question is- “how to join a welding union?”. I’ll answer that question for you. To join a welding union,…

Molten metals, people in safety gears, bright red and orange sparks- that’s our first impression when we hear the word “welding”. After all, this picture came to be as we perceive it that way. Because most welding techniques involve heating two or more pieces of metal and joining it, we’ve conditioned ourselves to think that…

Like any welding process that the industry has ever recognized, stick welding is not without debates on the choice of techniques, materials, and setups. ‘Push or Pull’ is one of the top arguable topics which leaves a large number of welders undecided. If you are one of them, I just got the answer. Between push…

Even a beginner TIG welder wouldn’t argue the use of shielding gas, especially argon and the importance of the appropriate gas pressure during an active welding session. But one of the challenges that many welding pros, including the experienced ones have to face is to know how much pressure or flow of argon is required…

When I asked one of my pals, who has been into TIG welding for a decade now, if it is possible to cut metals with a TIG welder! He frowned and asked, “Are you crazy?” But then, he gave me a quick answer with some warnings. After that, I did my research and finally came…

Becoming an underwater welder is just as demanding as pursuing any other job in the world of metal fabrication. But it takes a welder several years to achieve mastery overcoming specific challenges much of which are associated with the professionals’ stay underwater. So, anyone with some interest in this job should know how long they’re…

Perhaps, you know that TIG welding is arguably the most difficult of all welding processes even if an experienced person attempts it. This fact alone can make you think that TIG welding metal with a stick welding machine is a wacko idea. Is there any way to make this idea practical and sensible? As I…

A shielding gas in combination with a wire electrode is critical to the aesthetics and quality of a weld. These gases also aid in arc stability and shaping the penetration profiles and mechanical properties of welds. How much gas ensures that all these happen as expected? It is a question I hear a lot, especially…

Metal joinery is an important part of the fabrication process where welding is often considered as the best course of action for its ability to produce the strongest and most efficient of all joints. But the use of electricity, need for skilled labor, and susceptibility to poor penetration, slag inclusion, and porosity bring other bonding…

Anyone who has interest in welding must have heard about MIG welding. As soon as thoughts about this particular process begin, the question, “MIG Welding Push or Pull” is sure to come up at some point. Both ‘push’ and ‘pull’ work and offer advantages over each other. Then, why is it a debate in the…

The cost or availability of argon is not why you must know how long it lasts. TIG welding without an inert gas like argon is not recommended in a perfect world. Again, you would hate to stop in the middle of a project just because the existing amount of argon is not sufficient. That is…

Any conformist in the welding industry would consider welding with a car battery a crazy idea. But for those who have been in trouble in the middle of the road and had a welder in the car trunk but no easy access to a regular power source, the idea may not be impractical after all….

Companies that offer welding equipment rentals don’t usually disclose their pricing without a request for a quote. The problem with this solicited approach is that most of them can succeed in getting you to rent a machine you don’t really need. So, any idea about the cost prior to a decision comes handy. Rental companies…

An underwater welding project presents all of the mechanical and technical aspects of surface or topside welding besides some unique challenges which make one’s journey to become an underwater welder an arduous and time-consuming proposition. So, it is likely for an interested candidate to ask how long it takes to start as a professional. An…

Being part of an effective welding workforce requires precision, knowledge about metals, safety, equipment handling, and settings. Every welding process has its challenges. But some aspects of them make one more demanding than another. So, what is the easiest route to follow? MIG welding is the easiest of all other branches of welding. Flux-cored arc…

Welding is one of the industries with potentials for a steady growth over the next few decades. Where a freelance welder expects $30–$40 per hour and a reputable service provider makes in excess of $70,000 in annual profits, you can try and start your own business. The first thing you want to do is cost…

Even a beginner knows that argon is a must for MIG welding a non-ferrous metal like aluminum. Simultaneously, the idea of a gasless procedure has a fair share of appeal to the industry. Does it mean that one can MIG weld aluminum and a shielding gas is optional? You can choose aluminum to MIG weld…

Most people in the welding community know what happens when one attempts to MIG weld metals without shielding gases. You’ll see spatters, popping, and more importantly bad welds. Is it really impossible to MIG weld stainless steel using no active/inert gases? My answer is here: You can MIG weld 20 gauge stainless steel, but you…

Among the many challenges in MIG welding, the wire feed system is a fairly common host of many unexpected problems. One of them is a popping MIG welder that leads to a weak weld with little penetration. You can’t have it. So, you should find out the reason. A MIG welder pops when wire feeding…

MIG welding professionals are more or less familiar with Argon (Ar)–Carbon Dioxide (CO2) blends. Those engaged in TIG welding usually rely on argon, helium, and the blends. You may want to switch the gas, hoping that it would save you the troubles of choosing gases for different projects. There comes the question if it is…

A job like welding involves health hazards, and therefore, you can get zapped while working. As far as an electric shock is concerned, TIG welding is a safe process since you can use a torch switch to turn the welding current ON or OFF. Nonetheless, the probability of electric shocks is not ZERO. Your TIG…

When it comes to shielding gases for MIG and TIG welding, we’re actually talking about active and inert gases, the former for MIG welding, and the latter for TIG welding. Over the years, I’ve learnt a few things about them. I tell you what, for some reasons, you cannot use them interchangeably. So why we…

Have you ever thought, “Is there really any way to weld plastic?” Well, many of us certainly have and some of you still might be wondering how do we actually do that? Well, this guide has been produced only to demonstrate this process by using a Step-By-Step comprehensive approach. So just stick to the end….

Cast iron, one of the most brittle types of metal on the planet gets every new welder into thinking, “can we weld cast iron?” Well, literally many of us have at least one time heard from someone that cast iron cannot be welded. They basically refer to the fact that cast iron generally consists of…

Stainless steel is undoubtedly one of the most widely used metals on the planet. We use it because of the irresistible benefits it offers. Not to mention, the most lucrative attribute of stainless steel is its corrosion resistance. Since stainless steel generally isn’t extracted from nature and is being formed by combining two or more…

Aluminum is one of the most popular and widely used materials for manufacturing a diversified range of products that includes producing home appliances all the way up making commercial airplanes. Besides, it’s also one of the most flexible materials for welding purposes since you can join aluminum workpieces by using two of the major welding…

Welding spatter is a common weld defect which should be effectively cleaned right after you’re done with your main task. They are also quite destructive as they kill the aesthetic look of the finished metal and all the particles surrounding near it. But the problem here is many beginner welders don’t know the proper way…

As a new or professional welder, it sometimes gets tricky while choosing the strongest between two welding techniques. It happens because all of them have at least some sort of technical differences from the other. Stick welding is slightly stronger and better because of its ability to carry out substantial welding projects. Stick can also…

Every intermediate and professional welder knows the importance of having a welding table. No doubt, it’s a must-have tool for any welder, especially who is planning to take over multiple projects in the near future or someone who already has some projects in the queue. The best part is, this guide has been specially designed…

If you are a beginner in welding or just planning to embark upon, chances are you might have at least wondered about which are the must have welding gears out there to kick start your welding career. Well, we’ve made this ultimate guide to remove all your concerns and make you familiar with every possible…

For every welder, the knowledge of the difference between AC and DC welding is very essential. Every professional welder knows how crucial it is to use the appropriate power settings with a certain type of material in order to get the top-notch flawless result. Overtimes, being aware of this will not only help you to…

Underwater welding is a unique welding process where a professional diver who is also a welder goes into the water and applies the same tactics used in a traditional ground welding method over submerged structures and workpieces. The application of this process is quite large because most of the docking and pipeline industries have to…

It’s a common scenario that many of us tend to confuse ourselves in figuring out what’s the actual difference between welding, soldering, and brazing. Well, we’ll discover this shortly. But first, let’s learn about all of them in particular. What Is Welding? Welding is the process by which workpieces are strongly joined together by providing…

We all know that welding is one of the few sensitive jobs that leave no room for mistakes. Fortunately, that doesn’t mean all these welding mistakes are unavoidable. If a welder is efficient enough and takes adequate preparation and precautions before beginning the welding task, the chances of occurring this situation can be close to…

If you are planning to begin your welding career, chances are you are wholly concerned about which type of welder you should buy first. Well, let me tell you, choosing the appropriate welder at this time will give you a head-start in your welding career and so will make the upcoming challenges much convenient for…

Welding gas or shielding gas is an integral element used in two of the most popular welding processes. They are known as Metal Inert Gas Welding (MIG) and Tungsten Inert Gas Welding (TIG). The core responsibility of welding gas is to protect your weld metal from any unanticipated metal and atmospheric contamination. Besides, it also…

Welding can be described as an art. If you are a passionate welder, you know what I mean. But most importantly, it is the process of joining a diversified range of materials through melting them at high temperature. Pretty much straight, Right? But hold on, there are so many crucial aspects associated with this process….

Undercutting is another sign of imperfect welding, like porosity,  that can result in a poor and fragile combination of a particular metal and work-piece. Basically, it leaves a U-shaped dip over the toe of the weld which can be a great concern for any welder in work. There are diversified reasons lie behind this crucial…

If you are a professional welder or completely new to welding, chances are you might have at least heard about the term Arc Welding. Basically, it’s the most common welding technique out there that has been practiced since the inception of the term “welding” itself. In this article, we’ll go over all the arc welding…

TIG welding is basically unique for using a non-consumable tungsten electrode to supply adequate current for performing the welding task. The process is alternatively known as Gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW). However, using filler metal is optional which depends upon whether the welding is autogenous or not. Besides, shielding gas is also used in TIG…

MIG welding and TIG Welding are two of the most widely used welding processes in the world. They are popular for their flexibility and ease of use. However, both of them have their core technical differences that make one distinguishable from the other. This article is going to shed light on all the possible differences…

MIG welding is one of the most effortless and convenient welding processes for combining materials. This process is popular for its simplicity and cost efficiency among all beginner to professional level welders. Not only that, you’ll be able to weld a diversified range of materials regardless of their type and thickness. Now in this guide,…

Porosity is an intimidating term for any welder as it denotes to the poor welding of a particular material for which he has been given the responsibility. Not to mention, it’s a sign of bad welding and therefore should be avoided by taking some precautionary steps. But before that, let’s get familiar with this term…

Welding is the process of combining materials by melting them through sufficiently high heat and subsequently letting them cool down so that they strongly join together. However, the term itself isn’t as much straightforward as we think. There are many complex and diversified types of welding process exist so as to appropriately carry out the…