yeah most of your welding schools start you out by running beads on flat plates but in my opinion you dont see the fusion process until later I usually start them out by actually cooking 2 pieces of scrap together after they recognize that pretty little puddle merging the pieces together they stay f...

6011 rods work well ac or dc but dc reverse polarity will give deeper penetration in your weld 6012 will be harder to strike an arc on but can produce some damn fine welds in skilled hands. we use a variety of different rods at work including 6010, 6011,6012, 6013, 7014,7018, supercast, a120 (chrome...

Stick can teach tig just as good. Atleast it did for me. Yeah, I can see how it could. I think it has to do with the different ways we learn. As a newbie welder I just couldn't seem to see past the fireworks show of stick to identify what was happening at the puddle. Also, everything just seemed to...

we use hard facing rods on the crusher at our glass plant and the welds look like a crackled mess afterwards but boy does it last a long time.

make sure that the remote/local switch is set to local unless you are using a remote control tether.
if you are trying to weld local (welder within easy reach) and the switch is set to remote it will just spark and nothing more.
our industrial hobart is the same way

learning at any age is a benefit you get what you put into it. many times younger people tend to get bored too easily I teach welding and electrical ( and have taught my fiance ) she's deaf so she cant hear but she is very thorough and pays attention. doesnt care for welding that much but she's a go...

I refilled my 'B size' hobby tank of acetylene yesterday for $75 CAD in Calgary, Alberta. When I got home, the girlfriend had a surprise for me. Two more 'B size' (40 cu/ft) tanks of acetylene for free from her work place. They wanted to get rid of them, so I got them for free. I also got three ver...

not to mention welding extremely thin materials in the hands of a skilled welder
I have welded aluminium flashing and once did soda cans
but i have seen a guy weld a gum wrapper (steadiest hands i ever saw)

while a transformer type welder will do ok on an extension cord you need to be careful with any type that has electronic controls. calculate the voltage drop per length as any conductor has a specific resistance. when making extension cords its better for your welder is your cord is on the heavy sid...

rubber gloves (liberally dusted inside with baby powder), rubber boots skirted with old leather, ground clamp as close as possible to the weld area
but preferably don't weld in the rain

Want to add a class D extinguisher to shop just in case. Deal with magnesium cases and parts with would like to have something better then a bucket of sand. Unfortunately class D extinguishers cost a small fortune, but still cheaper then a fire out of control. Anyone have one in there shop curious ...

Sounds like what I have in mind. Once good enough make my own stuff and repairs etc. I wont have a crack at anything structural ie Roll cage, Car ramps etc but making things like work benches, oil catch can and even metal art would be my first projects. My main interest is automotive I guess.[/quot...

I think that learning to oxy-fuel weld 3003 definitely helped me TIG Aluminum for sure, but I don't think it was a necessity, more of a confidence booster since it's a long lost art for most anymore. I will say that if you plan on shaping metal after you're done, there really is no substitute for g...

hi mick when welding try to position your face off the the side a bit to avoid the fumes rising up under your mask and wear a proper half-mask and filters if welding galvanised (preferably do this outdoors) a proper fitting welding jacket is a must as you need to protect the throat area (too large a...

I retired from maintenance at a food plant. You had to be a plumber, a fabricator/welder, PLC programmer and troubleshooter, controls expert, tile and concrete man, electrician learn to deal with anhydrous ammonia systems, hazmat waste water treatment should I continue? LOL. Makes you work hard and...

if you’ve' never welded with a tig before heres a tip from an old torch monkey learn to fusion weld with an oxy/acetylene welding torch first. its easier than you might think. and once you get the hang of puddle manipulation with a torch you will be right at home at a tig (with a little instruction)...

welcome from another vet,
welding is something you need to keep practising because you can get rusty real quick

greetings from a grumpy old torch monkey no stranger to welding and my occupation is industrial Electrician Im a strict one on safety and have no problem chewing someone out for doing something the know they shouldn't! I am a member of numerous forums, moderator on a few and admin on my own private ...