One of the biggest lessons I picked up early in the shop was realizing that a weld can look perfect on the surface yet fail the moment real stress is applied. That’s where understanding how to calculate weld strength becomes…
When I first tackled MIG welding galvanized steel, I quickly realized it wasn’t as straightforward as running a bead on plain carbon steel. The zinc coating burned off under the arc, throwing up clouds of fumes, spatter, and leaving behind…
When I first picked up a no gas MIG welder, I’ll admit—I was a bit overwhelmed. The idea of welding without shielding gas made me wonder if I could still get clean, strong welds on steel, stainless, or even thin…
When you roll an acetylene cylinder into the shop, it’s easy to focus on things like joint prep, arc control, or whether MIG or TIG is the better choice for your stainless welding job. But tucked inside that cylinder is…
When I first had to MIG weld an exhaust pipe, it was a real test of patience—thin tubing, awkward angles, and the constant risk of burning through the metal. Exhaust work isn’t just striking an arc and running a bead;…
More than once I’ve been in the middle of a weld—metal cleaned, joints fitted tight, everything ready to go—only to squeeze the trigger and realize my welder isn’t feeding wire. It’s one of the most frustrating problems any MIG welder…
If you’ve ever been in the middle of a stick welding project and suddenly blown a hole through your metal, you know the frustration of burn through. It’s one of those welding defects that can stop you in your tracks,…
When I first started welding thicker metal, one of the biggest headaches I ran into was figuring out what size welder I actually needed for 1/4″ steel. I had a small 110V MIG that worked fine for sheet metal and…
first time my MIG welder started sputtering and feeding wire like it had a mind of its own. At first, I blamed the wire spool, then the contact tip, even messed with the tensioner — but the real culprit was…
When I first set up my garage shop, I struggled with one of the most common frustrations every welder faces—keeping pieces square and steady without eating up half the space with bulky fixtures. Whether I was running a quick MIG…