You’ve picked up spool gun welding on aluminum, your beads are looking decent, and now you’re wondering whether there’s a formal certification that recognizes that skill — either for a job application, a contract requirement, or your own professional development. Yes, welding certifications that cover aluminum spool gun welding exist. The American Welding Society (AWS) … Read more
Soldering a copper pipe is one of those skills that looks intimidating until you understand the process. Whether you’re fixing a leaky joint under a sink or adding a new water line, getting these three steps right makes the difference between a clean, leak-free connection and a frustrating callback. The three main steps to soldering … Read more
That greenish coating appearing on copper pipe, fittings, sheet copper, or copper electrical components is one of the most commonly misidentified surface conditions in metalworking and plumbing. Before you weld, braze, solder, or even touch the metal, knowing exactly what you’re dealing with changes how you approach the work. The green film on copper is … Read more
You pull the trigger on your MIG gun and get absolutely nothing — no wire feed, no arc, no sound, no gas. It’s one of the more frustrating situations in the workshop, especially when you were mid-project. When a MIG welder doesn’t respond to the trigger, the most common causes are a faulty or stuck … Read more
Working with fittings, tapped ports, or threaded pipe connections on compressed air systems, hydraulic lines, or fabrication projects brings you into contact with 1/8 pipe thread regularly. Getting the thread type, drill size, and sealing method right the first time prevents leaks and failed connections. 1/8 pipe thread refers to the nominal pipe size designation, … Read more
Welding 4-inch thick steel puts you firmly in heavy fabrication territory — the kind of work found in structural steel construction, heavy equipment repair, shipbuilding, and large industrial frames. Getting the amperage right is critical for achieving full fusion at that depth. For 4-inch (approximately 100 mm) thick steel, amperage requirements depend heavily on the … Read more
Running cold on stainless steel is a common trap. You dial back the heat to avoid warping or discoloration, and then you end up with a bead that sits on top of the base metal instead of fusing into it — creating a visually acceptable weld with poor actual penetration. Cold welding stainless steel doesn’t … Read more
Getting started with welding at home raises a lot of practical questions — which process to use, what machine to buy, how to set up a safe workspace, and what you can realistically weld without formal training. The answers depend heavily on what you want to build or repair. For most home welding projects involving … Read more
Maintenance and repair welding sits in an interesting spot in the industry. It covers a wide range of work — from patching cracked equipment frames to rebuilding worn machinery components — and the pay reflects that variety. If you’re considering this path, the hourly rate depends on where you work, what certifications you hold, and … Read more
Getting the wire speed wrong on flux core is one of the fastest ways to ruin an otherwise decent weld. Too slow and you get a stubby arc that burns back to the tip. Too fast and the wire ploughs into the puddle, spatters everywhere, and produces a cold, humped bead. Wire feed speed for … Read more