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The Real Purpose of a Welding Procedure Specification
Excessive Contact Tip Consumption: Causes and Remedies
Hot Cracking of 304 and 304L Stainless Welds
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8 Ways to Increase Welder Efficiency

Skilled welders are a valuable asset—but too often, their time is wasted on non-welding tasks. In this post, we break down 8 proven ways to increase welder efficiency and get more value from your team. From smarter fixturing and better equipment maintenance to choosing the right welding process and consumables, these practical tips will help your shop boost productivity without burning out your welders. If you’re serious about improving throughput and lowering costs, this article is a must-read.

6 Challenges When Increasing Deposition Rates

Want to boost welding productivity? Increasing your deposition rate is one of the most effective ways—but only if done right. This post explains the difference between melt-off and deposition rate, how higher deposition leads to faster travel speeds (and real time savings), and the common mistakes that sabotage these gains. Learn how to avoid costly errors, why simply turning up the amps isn’t enough, and how training and proper welding procedures can unlock major efficiency improvements in your shop.

Who is responsible for determining weld size?

In many fabrication shops, welders are often left to determine weld sizes due to a lack of clear specifications from design engineers or customers. This common practice frequently leads to overwelding, where fillet welds are significantly larger than necessary, wasting material, gas, and labor. Beyond the increased cost, overwelding also introduces quality issues like distortion and slag inclusions, paradoxically causing more failures than undersized welds. While structural welding codes provide minimum weld sizes to ensure adequate heat input, these often appear "too small" to welders, leading them to apply excessive weldment.

3 Mistakes that lead to distortion in welding
Prequalified Welding Procedure and Qualified Welding Procedure
3 Key Factors Affecting the Quality and Cost of Welds

Quality and cost are directly connected, even though many fabricators treat them as separate issues. Poor weld quality may look inexpensive up front, but it often leads to expensive warranty work, rework, and lost customers. By establishing clear quality standards, implementing and enforcing welding procedures, and investing in welder training, shops can dramatically improve both quality and productivity. These steps are not just about compliance — they are proven ways to lower costs while boosting consistency and customer satisfaction. In short, improving welding quality does not have to mean higher costs; done correctly, it saves money and strengthens competitiveness.

5 Common Mistakes Made When Estimating Welding Costs
Rule of Thumb for Fillet Weld Sizes

Don't let overwelding inflate your fabrication costs! This blog post explores the "Rule of Thumb for Fillet Weld Sizes," a common guideline that can save you significant time and material. Learn when this rule applies, its underlying assumptions, and how understanding minimum weld sizes can lead to substantial savings, even without a design engineer on staff. Discover practical examples and considerations to optimize your welding operations and avoid unnecessary expenses.

The Outrageous Cost of Poor Fit Up in Welding Operations
Why You Must Have Welding Procedure Specifications
Importance of Macro Etch Testing of Welds