6 MIG Welding Mistakes to Avoid
MIG welding offers loads of benefits, including high quality welds without sacrificing productivity. However, some common missteps can interfere with MIG welding success, costing you both time and money. Here are six often-made mistakes to avoid them.
5 Signs It’s Time to Replace Your MIG Welding Contact Tip
Like any tool, ignoring the signs that indicate it's time to replace your MIG welding tip can lead to subpar welds, increased spatter, and overall frustration. Here are some telltale signs that it's time to swap out your old MIG welding tip for a new one.
5 Tips for Choosing a CNC Plasma Cutter
Looking for a CNC plasma cutter? You likely have a lot of questions. Before you start your search, do some research to ensure you choose the right one for your shop. Here are a few factors to consider.
Choosing What Filler Metal To Use for DIY Welding Projects
No matter the welding process or material, here are six questions to help determine what filler metal to use for DIY welding.
5 Ways to Improve When FCAW Welding
Also known as flux-cored arc welding, FCAW offers a wide range of advantages when you’re welding. It offers high deposition rates and is the best process for dealing with moderate amounts of rust and mill scale to produce high quality welds.
That said, there are a few common mistakes welders make when using this process. The good news? There are ways to avoid them too. Here’s a look at what to know and how to improve.
3 Simple Tools to Mitigate Fumes When You’re Welding
No one wants to breathe in dirty air, especially when you’re fabricating metal. However, not all spaces provide enough air movement to keep you safe. For instance, areas that are smaller than 10,000 cu. ft. for each welder require extra help when it comes to fume mitigation.
Here are some three tools that when combined can drastically minimize fumes and capture polluted air – so you can breathe easier.
What to Know About Welding PPE & Protecting Yourself
There’s more to welding than just machines and materials. The right safety equipment is essential. Yet not all are created equal. With endless choices, how do you know what you truly need and the factors to consider when picking out personal protective equipment, aka PPE? Here’s a look at a few must-haves:
How to Keep Plasma Cutting Systems Clean
When it comes to proper plasma cutting, taking care of your equipment is key. Routine checks ensure the machine functions as intended, giving you the best performance. To help you in the process, here are some tips for maintaining your plasma cutting system each day, each week and on an ongoing basis.
Avoid Voltage Drop to Improve Weld Quality on Job sites
Avoid Voltage Drop to Improve Weld Quality on Job sites
How to Avoid Hot Cracking in Aluminum Alloys
When it comes to defects with welding aluminum, most appear in the form of cracks. This is simply because you’re not welding pure aluminum, which is too soft for commercial use. Instead, you’re welding aluminum that is alloyed with another element, like copper or magnesium.
Tensioning Up the Drive Rolls Correctly
Whatever you’re welding, you need to properly adjust your drive roll tension to ensure consistent wire feeding and a stable arc. First and foremost, though, choosing a drive rolls that’s the right size for the wire being used is key. If the drive roll is too large or small, then it can lead to issues with feeding.
What if I have issues TIG Welding?
The following addresses some of the common issues of TIG welding. In all cases of equipment malfunction, the manufacturer's recommendations should be strictly adhered to and followed.
Carbon Arc Gouging
In the past these words brought fear into most welding techs minds. Arc gouging was a process that TORE up machines. We would recommend customer getting old trashed machines so they could use them to gouge out metal, so they did not hurt their better equipment. 300-amp inverters were the worst. NOW at the present day, manufactures have quickened the welder's response time to not allow carbon arc gouging to tear up or damage equipment, Matter of fact if your machine has a dedicated process for CAG that is specifically made for this process and can be used very efficiently.
8 Plasma Cutting Tips to Improve Results
Plasma cutters are so easy to use that it's tempting to take your new plasma cutter out of the box and go to work. However, there are a few practices that can increase your efficiency, improve your cut quality and prolong the life of your equipment.
Whether your plasma cutter will be used in the shop or for DIY projects, arts or motorsports, using proper techniques will deliver better results.
Learn more about choosing the right equipment as well as plasma cutter setup and operation.