What Welding Rods Need to Be Kept in an Oven
One thing every welder learns sooner or later is that not all rods can just sit on the bench overnight and still weld right the next day. Grab a handful of 7018s that have soaked up a bit of shop…
Alfred Chase
Flux Core Aluminum Welding Rods
Flux core aluminum welding rods are one of those things that had me scratching my head the first time I came across them. Most of us learn early on that aluminum is best handled with TIG for precision or MIG…
My Best Flux Core Welding Tips for Beginners
Flux core welding can be a bit intimidating for beginners — spatter flying everywhere, uneven beads, and metal burning through when you least expect it. It’s a common struggle, especially when you’re just getting used to how flux core wire…
How to Repair Rusted Metal with Holes
One of the trickiest jobs I’ve had in the shop was figuring out how to repair rusted metal with holes without making the damage worse. Rust eats away at the metal thickness until you’re left with weak, thin spots that…
How to Make Stainless Steel Fridge Magnetic
One of the first times I worked with stainless steel outside of the shop, I ran into a funny but common problem — the customer wanted to stick magnets on their stainless steel fridge, but nothing would hold. Most folks…
MIG Welding Aluminum Without Gas
MIG welding aluminum without gas is one of those jobs that really tested my patience when I first tried it in the shop. Most of us are used to running MIG with shielding gas on mild steel or even TIG…
How to Calculate Weld Thickness for Strong Joints
Figuring out how to calculate weld thickness can trip up even experienced welders. It’s one of those things that seems simple until you realize how much depends on getting it right — from metal thickness and joint prep to the…
How to Fill Holes in Metal Without Welding
One of the biggest surprises I ran into early in my fabrication journey was realizing not every hole in metal needs to be fixed with a welder in hand. There were times I didn’t have my MIG setup ready, or…
How to Set Up a Lincoln 140 MIG Welder
When I first got my Lincoln 140 MIG welder, I was excited — until I realized setting it up wasn’t as plug-and-play as I thought. Between figuring out the right wire feed speed, voltage settings, and choosing between solid wire…
How to Weld Aluminum with Flux Core
Welding aluminum with flux core was one of those challenges that caught me off guard in the shop. I was used to running clean beads on stainless with TIG or dialing in MIG for thicker steel, but aluminum is a…