Articles
Expert welding guides, technique tips, and safety advice.
Aerospace Welding: Standards, Materials, and Career Paths
Complete guide to aerospace welding. Covers AWS D17.1, titanium, Inconel, clean-room requirements, qualification standards, and how to break into the aerospace welding field.
Best MIG Welders Under $500: Top Budget Picks for 2026
Compare the best MIG welders under $500. Reviews of affordable MIG welders with specs, pros, cons, and recommendations for home shops and beginners.
Best TIG Welders Under $1000: AC/DC Reviews for 2026
Find the best TIG welder under $1000. Reviews of AC/DC TIG welders with HF start, foot pedal compatibility, and aluminum capability for home shops.
Best Welding Carts and DIY Plans for Your Shop
Find the best welding carts for MIG and TIG machines, plus DIY welding cart plans. Compare pre-built options and learn how to build your own sturdy cart.
Best Welding Gloves for Every Application: TIG, MIG, and Stick
Find the best welding gloves for TIG, MIG, and stick welding. Reviews of top gloves by application with recommendations for heat protection and dexterity.
Best Welding Jackets and Aprons: Leather, FR Cotton, and More
Find the best welding jackets and aprons for your shop. Reviews of leather, FR cotton, and split-leather options for MIG, TIG, and stick welding protection.
Brazing vs. Welding: When to Use Each and How to Braze
Understand brazing vs welding — the differences in temperature, strength, joint design, and applications. Learn when to braze instead of weld and how to do it.
Essential Welding Jigs and Fixtures for Accurate Fabrication
Learn about essential welding jigs and fixtures. Covers corner clamps, pipe alignment, magnetic jigs, and how fixtures improve accuracy and repeatability.
How to Build a Heavy-Duty Welding Table: Plans and Material List
Step-by-step guide to building a heavy-duty welding table. Includes complete material list, cut list, and build instructions for a flat, sturdy steel welding table.
How to Reduce Welding Spatter: Causes, Prevention, and Products
Learn why welding spatter happens and how to reduce it. Covers voltage settings, wire feed speed, gas mix, technique adjustments, and anti-spatter products.
How to Start a Welding Business: Registration, Pricing, and Marketing
Step-by-step guide to starting a welding business. Covers business registration, liability insurance, pricing your services, finding clients, and growing your shop.
How to Weld a Roll Cage: DOM Tubing, Notching, and Certification
Learn how to weld a roll cage with DOM or ERW tubing. Covers tube notching, TIG vs MIG choices, NHRA/SFI certification requirements, and safety standards.
How to Weld Cast Iron: Techniques, Rods, and Preheating
Learn how to weld cast iron successfully. Covers preheating, nickel electrode selection, peening, slow cooling, and avoiding cracks in cast iron repairs.
Marine Welding: Techniques, Materials, and Corrosion Protection
Complete guide to marine welding. Covers hull welding, aluminum boat construction, stainless steel, corrosion protection, and materials for saltwater environments.
MIG Welding Settings Chart: Wire Speed and Voltage by Material
MIG welding settings chart for wire feed speed, voltage, and shielding gas by material and thickness. Bookmark this reference guide for accurate MIG welder setup.
Multi-Process Welders: Are They Worth It?
Pros, cons, and best multi-process welders for home shops and professionals. Find out if a MIG/TIG/Stick combo machine is worth buying versus separate units.
Pipe Welding for Beginners: Getting Started with 6G
Learn pipe welding from scratch. Covers open root technique, walking the cup, 2G to 6G progression, and what you need to pass a pipe welding certification test.
Pipeline Welding: What It Takes to Succeed in the Field
Everything you need to know about pipeline welding jobs. Covers certifications, daily life, pay ranges, API 1104 requirements, and how to break into the trade.
Structural Welding in Construction: Processes, Codes, and Careers
Complete guide to structural welding in construction. Covers FCAW, GMAW, and SMAW processes, AWS D1.1 requirements, AISC standards, and career opportunities.
Resistance Spot Welding: How It Works and When to Use It
Learn how resistance spot welding works — principles, electrode types, applications, automotive use, and DIY spot welders for home shops and auto body work.
Top Welding Certifications Beyond AWS D1.1
Explore welding certifications that go beyond AWS D1.1. Covers CWI, ASME Section IX, API 1104, military standards, and how to earn specialty welding credentials.
Underwater Welding: Salary, Training, and the Real Dangers
Everything about underwater welding careers. Covers salary ranges, commercial diving certifications, saturation diving, safety risks, and how to become an underwater welder.
Weld Inspection and Testing Methods: VT, UT, RT, MT, and PT
Complete guide to weld inspection methods including visual testing, ultrasonic testing, radiographic testing, magnetic particle, and dye penetrant inspection.
Welding for Auto Body Repair: MIG Welding Sheet Metal
Learn welding techniques for auto body repair. Covers plug welding, stitch welding, butt joints, and how to MIG weld 20-22 gauge sheet metal without burn-through.
Welding Consumables Guide: Wire, Electrodes, Rods, and Flux
Complete guide to welding consumables. Covers MIG wire, stick electrodes, TIG filler rod, flux-cored wire, and how to choose the right consumable for every job.
Welding Galvanized Steel: Safety and Techniques
Learn to weld galvanized steel safely. Covers metal fume fever risks, ventilation requirements, coating removal methods, and best welding techniques.
Welding Gas Tank Sizes, Costs, and How to Choose
Complete guide to welding gas tank sizes, cylinder costs, and gas types for MIG, TIG, and plasma. Learn how to choose the right tank size for your shop.
Welding Nickel Alloys: Inconel, Monel, and Hastelloy Guide
Complete guide to welding nickel alloys including Inconel, Monel, and Hastelloy. Covers filler selection, heat input control, interpass temperatures, and technique.
Welding Salary Guide: How Much Do Welders Make in 2026?
Complete welding salary guide by specialty, location, and experience. Learn what pipeline, aerospace, underwater, and structural welders earn in 2026.
Welding Schools and Training Programs: How to Get Started
Guide to welding schools, training programs, and apprenticeships. Compare community colleges, trade schools, and union apprenticeships to find the best path.
Welding Titanium: Complete Guide to TIG Welding Ti
Master TIG welding titanium with this complete guide. Covers argon shielding, trailing shields, contamination colors, filler selection, and setup tips.
Stick Welding Tips for Beginners: Getting Started with SMAW
Learn stick welding basics with practical tips for beginners. Covers electrode selection, arc striking, technique, and how to improve your welds fast.
Understanding Shielding Gases for MIG and TIG Welding
Learn how shielding gases affect MIG and TIG welding performance. Covers argon, CO₂, helium blends, and how to choose the right gas for your application.
How to Read Welding Blueprints and Symbols
Learn to read welding blueprints and interpret AWS welding symbols. Covers basic weld symbols, supplementary symbols, dimensions, and blueprint reading.
How to Maintain Your Welding Equipment for Longevity
Extend the life of your welding equipment with a complete maintenance guide covering MIG guns, TIG torches, stick welders, and essential routine care.
Welding Joint Types Explained: Butt, Lap, Tee, and More
Learn the five basic welding joint types and their variations. Understand joint design, preparation, and which joints suit different welding processes.
Welding Positions Explained: 1G Through 6G
Understand all welding positions from 1G flat to 6G inclined pipe. Learn what each designation means and how position affects welding technique.
Best Portable Welders for Field Work and On-Site Repairs
Discover the best portable welders for field work and on-site repairs. Compare engine-driven, inverter, and battery-powered options for every budget.
Common Welding Defects and How to Fix Them
Identify and fix common welding defects including porosity, undercut, cracks, and lack of fusion. Practical troubleshooting for better weld quality.
Flux-Cored Wire vs Solid Wire: Which Should You Use?
Compare flux-cored and solid MIG wire to choose the right one for your project. Covers pros, cons, costs, and best applications for each wire type.
Welding Thin Sheet Metal: How to Avoid Burn-Through and Warping
Master thin sheet metal welding with proven techniques to prevent burn-through, warping, and distortion. Covers MIG, TIG, and spot welding approaches.
How to Pass a Welding Certification Test (AWS D1.1)
Prepare for and pass your AWS D1.1 welding certification test with practical tips on practice, technique, test day strategy, and common failure points.
How to TIG Weld Aluminum: Complete Guide
Master TIG welding aluminum with this complete guide covering equipment setup, technique, filler rod selection, and troubleshooting common problems.
Plasma Cutting vs Oxy-Fuel Cutting: Which Is Right for You?
Compare plasma cutting and oxy-fuel cutting to find the best method for your metal cutting needs. Covers speed, cost, material thickness, and applications.
Choosing the Right Auto-Darkening Welding Helmet
Find the best auto-darkening welding helmet for your needs. Compare lens shade, viewing size, sensors, and features for MIG, TIG, and stick welding.
Understanding Welding Electrode Classifications (E7018, E6013, etc.)
Decode welding electrode classifications like E7018 and E6013. Learn what each number means and which rod to choose for your stick welding projects.
Welding Safety Essentials: PPE and Best Practices
Protect yourself while welding with the right PPE and safety practices. Covers helmets, gloves, clothing, ventilation, and fire prevention essentials.
How to Calculate Welding Costs for Your Projects
Learn how to accurately estimate welding costs including materials, labor, gas, consumables, and overhead for profitable project bidding.
How to Set Up a MIG Welder: Step-by-Step Guide
Learn how to set up a MIG welder from unboxing to your first weld. Covers wire installation, gas flow, voltage, and wire feed speed settings.
Welding Stainless Steel: Techniques and Tips
Learn the best techniques for welding stainless steel, including TIG and MIG methods, filler metal selection, and how to prevent common defects.
MIG vs TIG vs Stick Welding: Which Process Is Right for You?
Compare MIG, TIG, and stick welding processes. Learn the pros, cons, and best uses for each method to choose the right one for your project.