How To Weld An Aluminum Boat In 7 Steps

weld aluminum boat

Welding aluminum boats is not as easy as it sounds. I can be a more technical and tricky than welding a simple aluminum structure. Most quality aluminum boat makers use 5000 series aluminum in their designs. 5000 series alloy contains both aluminum and magnesium (and potentially manganese), which defend strongly against corrosion in marine environments. Since aluminum … Read more

How to Wire a 50-Amp Plug for Welder?

Welders draw large amounts of electricity and require high-capacity connectors to pass the electrical current needed for welding. As electrical safety studies say, proper wiring is a must for electrical equipment. When the quality of wiring is a matter of life or death — as it is with a welder — you need to be very precise … Read more

MIG Welding vs Stick Welding – Which Is Right For You?

MIG vs Stick Welding

Are you planning to get your first welder and are still deciding between a MIG or stick? In this article we discuss how MIG and stick welding compare across 6 factors. This should help pick the right machine for you. MIG vs Stick Comparison Factors to Consider Ease of Use Materials Weld Quality Weld Speed … Read more

How Does MIG Welding Work?

How MIG welding works

If you’re planning to get into welding, you must choose the welding method that fits your needs and helps you do your job well. MIG welding is arguably the easiest method to learn, especially if you’re just starting your welding journey. You can weld sophisticated metal joints with MIG, using either shielding gas or flux-cored … Read more

MIG Welding Checklist for Beginners

MIG welding checklist for beginners

Using a MIG welder comes with very minimal requirements and a few things to master. Follow this simple sequence and you’ll quickly be on your way to laying down decent quality welds. This checklist assumes you’re using a 110V MIG welder plugged into a standard 3-prong wall outlet, or a 220V MIG welder set up … Read more

Why Is My MIG Welder Popping? (and How to Stop It)

MIG welder popping

When people start to learn to weld, especially MIG, one of the first problems they encounter is popping sounds while welding. The result of that popping isn’t good; it results in a very bad quality weld with a high failure rate. In this article we discuss why your MIG welder is popping and how to … Read more

OSHA Face Shield Requirements

OSHA Face Shield Requirements

Under OSHA regulations, workers are required to wear face shields when working in areas where there is a potential for exposure to flying objects, dust, pathogens, or other airborne particles. OSHA face shield requirements for flying objects and dust OSHA 29 CFR 1926.102 – Eye and face protection from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration … Read more

Does Welding Give Off UV Radiation?

Welding UV Radiation

Most people know that welding can be dangerous because it involves working with high-temperature flames and hot metals. However, few people are aware of the dangers of UV radiation exposure from welding. What is Welding? Welding is a fabrication process that joins metals or thermoplastics by using high heat to melt the workpieces and cause … Read more

How Infrared Plastic Welding Works

Infrared Plastic Welding

Did you know that you can actually weld plastic together using infrared light? That’s right, with infrared plastic welding, two pieces of plastic can be joined together using heat and light. But how does this process work? Let’s take a closer look. What is infrared plastic welding? Infrared plastic welding is a process that uses … Read more

Does Welding Give Off Infrared Radiation?

Welding Infrared Light

Welding produces intense heat and ultraviolet light, which can be harmful to your skin and eyes. But did you know that welding also produces infrared radiation? What is welding? Welding is a process of joining two pieces of metal together by heating the metals to melting point and then cooling them. The molten metal that … Read more

Dangers of Infrared Lights

Dangers Of Infrared Lights

Here I’ll be discussing the dangers of infrared light exposure. While they are very useful in certain applications, infrared lights need to be used with caution. What are infrared lights? Infrared lights, also known as red light therapy, are a type of LED (light-emitting diode) that emit low levels of infrared light. Infrared light is … Read more

Leg Guards for Welding & Metal Work

Welding Chaps

Looking for some serious leg protection while welding or working with metal? Look no further than welding leg guards. Made from tough, heat-resistant material, they’ll keep your legs safe from sparks, debris, and more. Plus, they’re comfortable to wear all day long. Why you need leg guards for welding and metal work If you work … Read more

What Materials Are Welding Gloves Made Of?

Welding Gloves Materials

Welding gloves are made of a variety of materials, and each type of material has its own advantages and disadvantages. This is why it is so important to choose the right one for your application. Here’s a quick rundown of the most common materials used in welding gloves. What are welding gloves made of? Choosing … Read more

How Much Heat Can Welding Gloves Resist?

Welding Gloves Heat

Are you a welder looking for the perfect gloves to protect your hands? Or are you just curious about how much heat welding gloves can actually resist? Either way, you’ve come to the right place! In this blog post, we’ll be discussing everything you need to know about welding gloves and how much heat they … Read more

Welding Glove Designs – How Do They Compare?

Welding Gloves Designs

Welding gloves are an important part of any welder’s safety gear. But with so many designs and brands on the market, it can be tough to know which ones to choose. In this blog, we’ll take a look at some of the most popular welding glove designs and compare their features. Different types of welding … Read more

Jobs That Require Welding Gloves

Welding Gloves Jobs

Welding gloves are not just for welders! In fact, there are many jobs that require the use of welding gloves. Here are some of the jobs that require welding gloves. Jobs that use welding gloves Jobs that require welding gloves include: Welding Building and home construction Automotive work Metal fabrication Pipeline construction (water, oil & … Read more

5 Things You Can Weld With A MIG Welder

MIG welders are known for being powerful and effective tools that can get serious jobs done. Part of what makes them so useful is the flexibility and range of things and materials they can weld. This post will cover 5 things you can weld with a MIG welder, so keep reading! How MIG Welders Work … Read more

Top 5 Welding Injuries (+ How To Avoid Them)

Welding is a dangerous activity, especially if you are not wearing proper safety gear. There are many welding injuries that can occur, but some are more common than others. Here are the top 5 welding injuries, and how to avoid them: 1. Burns The most common welding injury is a skin burn. This can happen … Read more

Best Stick Welders For Farm & Ranch Use [2022 Picks]

Running a farm or ranch can be challenging, especially when faced with the need for constant repairs. To avoid spending a lot of money on repairs, you must have the best stick welder for your farm and ranch. With a reliable stick welding machine, you will be able to efficiently repair your heavy equipment, pipes, … Read more

Best Auto-Darkening Welding Helmets Under $100

All professions have some health hazards and risks on different levels. Even desk jobs have health risks like getting obese, diabetes, and many more diseases. Likewise, welding has some serious safety issues, and the first thing you need to protect is your eyes with the best welding helmet you can find within your budget. You … Read more

Best 110v Stick Welders – Top 5 Picks

Stick welding is one of the most widely used welding methods for a wide range of uses. You can weld nearly any metals with a stick welder, even rusty and dirty metal. Stick welders can weld thick metal, such as heavy plate and pipe effectively. Modern stick welders feater inverter technology and high-quality electrodes that … Read more

5 Best 110v MIG Welders for Low Budgets & Beginners [2022]

If you need to do basic welding jobs on a budget or with limited experience, chances are you’re looking for a small yet efficient MIG welding machine. MIG welding is by far the easiest welding method for beginners, and it has a wide application ragne. MIG welding is easy to learn, works for construction, fabrication … Read more

Best Welders for Aluminum [2022 Buying Guide]

Since aluminum has a low melting point and high oxidation potential, it can be quite complicated to weld properly. Having the best welder for aluminum goes a long way toward creating high-quality welds. We’ve analyzed over 75 welding machines and narrowed them down to the 5 best welders for aluminum in this buying guide. Let’s … Read more

Best MIG Welders Under $500 [2022 Buying Guide]

If you want to invest in a MIG welder for your workshop and you’re on a budget, you can get a solid welder for less than $500. In this article we go over the 7 best picks for reliable MIG welders under $500 that we’ve found. A MIG welder allows you much more productive than … Read more

How To Become a Certified Welder In 6 Steps

Leaving college degrees aside, one of the trades that earns a good amount of money is a certified welder. Welding skills are always in demand, and a certification in welding can increase your earning capacity by 50% or more. Here are some key stats on becoming a certified welder: A certified welder earns an average … Read more

Can You Stick Weld In the Rain? (Is It SAFE?)

Electricity and rain sound very contradictory and rather scary, right? Well, welding is all about electricity — an electric arc melts the electrode, heats the base metals and joins them together. While there are definitely risks involved in welding in the rain, it’s not as scary as it might seem. Stick welding can generally be … Read more

Is Stick Welding Stronger Than MIG?

Welding is the most practical way to join two metal pieces together, and the two most common choices for welding are stick welding and MIG welding. Both of them work on a variety of metals and can get you a nice strong weld bead. If you want to know whether stick welding stronger than MIG … Read more

7 Flux-Core Welding Tips

Flux core welding or FCAW is one of the most widely used welding methods, especially for beginners. It’s a viable welding method for a wide range of uses, including heavy equipment fabrication, repair, structural building, etc. One of the best things about flux core welding is it doesn’t require an extra gas supply like regular … Read more

Why is MIG Welding Better Than TIG Welding?

MIG welding has some impressive features that make it better and more flexible than TIG welding, such as: No sticking electrode: The electrode in the MIG welding method never sticks to the base metal, so it’s easier to weld. The tungsten electrode in TIG welding tends to get stuck to the base metal, requiring a … Read more

Can You Use a MIG Welder Without Gas?

Yes, there is one way to use a MIG welder without gas: Use flux-cored wire, rather than argon/CO2 or helium, to shield the weld puddle. MIG Welding Without Gas Using Flux-Cored Wire Creating a protective gas layer doesn’t necessarily require an expensive gas cylinder. Flux-cored wire creates its own shielding gas around the weld puddle … Read more

How To MIG Weld Aluminum?

Though welding aluminum is less suitable in MIG welding machines than TIG welding, it can be done effectively if the right procedure is followed. MIG machines can effectively weld aluminum materials over 14 gauge. You need the right filler wire and spool gun, shielding gas, power settings, wire feed speed, surface preparation and surface temperature … Read more

What Kind of Welder Do I Need?

“What kind of welder do I need?” is a very common question for people looking to buy a new welder. In this article, we describe the different types of welders and which ones match your requirements best. Different Types of Welders and What They Do Before deciding on the right welder for your situation, you … Read more

How To Weld Without a Welder

There are many reasons to join pieces of metal together. Whether you’re doing it professionally or working on a DIY project, the most common way to weld is to use a welder. But what if you don’t own a welder or don’t know how to weld? In this article we show you how to weld … Read more

Can You MIG Weld Stainless Steel?

Welding stainless steel using MIG can be more complicated than TIG welding. The right selection of gases and the right settings for your machine are critical. Once you understand how MIG welding stainless works, you’ll find it pretty straightforward. Can You Weld Stainless Steel With a MIG Welder? Yes you can weld stainless steel using … Read more

How To Choose a MIG Welder

Are you thinking about buying a MIG welder and want to make the best choice? One size does not fit all with MIG welders. This article will help you to choose the right MIG welder and the most important features to consider for your specific application. What Type of MIG Welder Is Best for You? … Read more

Are Auto-Darkening Welding Helmets Safe?

You should be very conscious about your health as a welder. A welding helmet is the most important safety tool to keep your eyes, skin, and lung safe. When it comes to protecting your eyes from the dangers of welding, the first thing to consider is whether the auto-darkening lens on your welding helmet actually … Read more

Is Flux Core Welding Any Good? (Basic Welding Techniques)

Welding is the art of joining metals and plays a major role in manufacturing, energy and construction industries. If you’re researching welders for the first time you might be confused between different welding methods and what they’re good for. Flux core welding is one of the most popular methods and probably the easiest to learn. … Read more