How Long Does JB Weld Take to Dry in Cold?
One winter evening in the shop, I mixed up a batch of JB Weld to patch a small crack in a steel bracket, thinking it would be solid in no time. Hours later, the bond was still soft, and I…
What Does a Welder Do on a Daily Basis?
A welder’s daily work goes far beyond just striking an arc. From the moment the torch fires up, every step matters — prepping joints, fitting metal, selecting the right filler rods, and deciding whether MIG, TIG, or stick is the…
How to Weld with a 70 Amp Stick Welder?
When I first struck an arc with a small 70 amp stick welder, I quickly realized that it’s not about having the biggest machine in the shop—it’s about technique. The arc wanted to stick, the filler rods burned fast, and…
TIG Welding Filler Rod Selection Chart
I struggled to pick the right TIG welding filler rod for a stainless steel project — the joint kept cracking, the bead looked uneven, and I realized I had no clue how critical filler rod selection really is. Choosing the…
Common Types of Welding (FCAW, GMAW, GTAW, SMAW, SAW)
When I first started welding, one of the biggest challenges I ran into wasn’t striking an arc — it was figuring out which process to use. Should I go with MIG for speed, TIG for precision, stick welding for versatility,…
Miller TIG Welder Settings for Stainless Steel
One of the biggest lessons I picked up early in my welding journey was how challenging stainless steel can be when setting up a Miller TIG welder. Too much heat and the metal distorts or loses its corrosion resistance; too…
Flux-Cored Welding Wire Types and Uses
Early on in the shop, grabbing the wrong spool of flux-cored welding wire taught me a hard lesson about porosity, spatter, and weak beads. Not all flux-cored wires are created equal — some are built for structural steel, others for…
How I Fix Hobart Welder Wire Feed Problems?
One of the most frustrating moments I’ve had in the shop was running a clean bead on a piece of sheet metal when my Hobart welder’s wire feed suddenly started sputtering and surging. Everything was prepped—the joint was clean, the…
MIG Welding 304 Stainless Steel: Wire, Gas & Settings (2025)
When I first tried to MIG weld 304 stainless steel, I ran into problems that most welders eventually face—discoloration, porosity, and beads that looked fine at first but didn’t hold up. Stainless can be tricky compared to mild steel, because…
How to Weld Aluminum with Flux Core Wire?
Welding aluminum with flux core wire can feel like trying to tame a completely different metal compared to steel or stainless. The puddle doesn’t behave the same, the bead often looks weak or porous, and without the right prep or…