When I first started running beads with a stick welder, one of the biggest questions that threw me off was, “should you push or pull stick welding?” What seemed like a small detail quickly proved to be a make-or-break factor…
Thin sheet warps fast and blows through even faster. With the right rod, polarity, and travel, stick welding thin metal is not only doable—it’s practical for field repairs and small shops. To stick weld thin sheet metal, use small-diameter E6013…
When I first stepped onto an oil rig as a welder, I remember staring at the thick steel plates, TIG torch in hand, and wondering, “Just how much does a rig welder make an hour?” After years of wrestling with…
First time I tried to weld stainless steel with a stick welder — I was confident, but the reality hit fast. The arc kept running too hot, my bead looked messy, and the stainless warped more than I expected. That’s…
One of my early shop days took a sharp turn when I nearly tripped over a poorly stored oxygen cylinder while moving my MIG rig across the floor. At the time, my head was buried in figuring out arc control,…
I burned through a thin sheet of stainless because I didn’t fully understand how gauge thickness worked. I had my MIG dialed in, filler wire ready, but the arc control was all over the place — and that one mistake…
Burn-through can ruin a thin stainless steel part before you have time to correct the weld pool. That problem often points you toward Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW), also called TIG welding, because it gives you tighter control over heat,…
Working on an oil rig as a welder is no joke—thick steel plates, tricky stainless joints, and the constant need for clean, strong welds can test even experienced hands. I’ve seen plenty of welders get stuck deciding between MIG and…
I once burned right through a thin stainless plate because my amperage was set too high. Nothing teaches you faster than watching a carefully prepped joint turn into a mess. Getting a strong, clean bead requires more than just striking…
When I first earned my welding certificate, I remember standing in the shop staring at a stack of plates, wondering, “Alright, now what can I actually do with this piece of paper?” I had put in the hours learning how…