9 Basic Steps to Reading Welding Symbols for Groove Welds
Reading welding symbols is very important at several levels of an organization. A welder needs to be able to interpret welding symbols to insure he puts down the right kind of weld, that he prepares the joint properly, that he places the weld in the right spot, right sequence, right dimension, etc. A design engineer […]
How To Weld 4140 Steel
Let’s keep it simple. 4140 steel can be welded without problems as long as you follow some simple guidelines. This also applies to AISI 4140 and 4340. We will not be discussing the metallurgical properties of 4140 or trying to explain what happens to its microstructure when it cools too rapidly, just remember that the […]
Mig Welding With S3 vs S6 Wire
One of the most frequently asked questions is if there is a valid reason to use an ER70S-3 (S3) mig wire versus the more commonly used ER70S-6 (S6) wire. Both wires belong to AWS Specification A5.18 and can be used interchangeably in most applications because they provide almost identical mechanical properties. There is subtle difference between the two […]
Understanding the Skills Gap
If you work in the manufacturing industry you have heard of the Skills Gap. This refers to the current and growing shortage of skilled workers in the manufacturing sector. This problem is not isolated to the United States, this is a worldwide problem. There are several numbers thrown around, these are all estimates, but they […]
Where Should I Buy My First Welding Machine
Buying your first welding machine can be stressful. Even the cheap brands can cost around $300-400 for a decent mig welder. Deciding where to buy is critical. You can certainly buy online, but you can also buy through industrial distributors or big box stores like Lowe’s and Home Depot. So how do you choose? Here […]
Calculating Weld Metal Requirements by Hand
If you need to calculate weld metal requirements and you do not have The Procedure Handbook of Arc Welding handy you can do this by hand by using simple geometry. What you need to do is find the volume of weld needed in cubic inches. A fillet weld with a flat face forms a right […]
7 Causes of Spatter and How to Eliminate It
Mig welding is characterized by sparks and spatter flying all over the place. It looks great on movies, but when we are doing the welding we realize spatter is a bad thing. It creates more work by increasing clean up time, it wastes material, and it can burn you if you are not wearing the […]
Deposition Rates for Stick Electrodes
Although most people may believe that stick welding is antiquated and a bone-headed choice for a welding process, this is simply not true. It is true that in production welding, especially in a controlled environment like a fabrication shop, the use of stick welding is typically a big mistake due to its low efficiency, extremely […]
Guidelines For A Proper TIG Setup
Tig welding can produce beautiful looking welds, and more importantly, x-ray quality deposits on some of the most critical welding applications. For the beginner it may be a very intimidating process. Selecting the right tungsten (type and size), cup size, and shielding gas and gas flow can be a daunting task. Below is a quick […]
Tips for Vertical Up Stick Welding Using E6010 & E6011
Stick welding can be a challenge for novice welders because of the constant need for adjustment caused by the shortening of the electrode as it is consumed. Go out of position and all hell may break loose. For those of us that are experienced welders a 3F or 3G vertical up with SMAW can still […]