First time I tried welding outside with my gas MIG welder. The wind kept blowing away the shielding gas, my arc control went out the window, and the welds were full of porosity. That’s when I realized I needed to…
Whether you’re a DIYer fixing up a trailer, a hobbyist crafting a custom gate, or a pro welder prepping galvanized steel for a client, you’ve likely faced the challenge of painting over that shiny zinc coating. How to clean galvanized…
Prices for shielding gas vary widely by region and supplier, so the smartest way to budget is to calculate your cost per cubic foot and multiply by the gas you’ll actually consume. This updated guide covers best-practice gas choices, current…
Struggling with arc stability on stainless sheet metal can be incredibly frustrating — no matter how careful you are with joint prep or filler rods, the welds can wander and overheat. Often, the culprit is the tungsten electrode. Choosing the…
I switched from MIG to flux core welding on a thick steel trailer frame—it was a game-changer but also a bit intimidating. Many welders, especially beginners, wonder what flux core welding is used for and when it’s better than MIG…
I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve walked into the shop, ready to start a weld, only to find a piece of mild steel covered in rust. It’s a common frustration, whether you’re running MIG vs TIG, setting up…
When I first got my hands on a Lincoln welder, I thought dialing in the right settings would be straightforward—but I quickly realized that voltage, amperage, wire feed speed, and metal thickness don’t always play nice together.…
I tried welding on a flimsy workbench that wobbled every time I struck an arc — and believe me, nothing kills your weld quality faster than chasing stability while trying to control your puddle. That’s when I realized a solid,…
When I first started running beads with stick, one of the biggest headaches I had was figuring out the right amperage setting for different rods and metal thicknesses. Too low, and the arc would stick and sputter; too high, and…
If you’ve ever pulled off your hood to find tiny holes pockmarking your weld bead, you’ve likely encountered porosity in arc welding. It’s one of those frustrating defects that can turn a solid weld into a weak, unreliable joint. As…