Can you weld knives? While it’s certainly possible to weld a knife, it’s not always practical. Consider the value and purpose of the knife in question. An intermediate-to-advanced understanding of metals increases the chances of success; however, welding knives is often left to the experts or simply used as a last resort. Your broken knife blade sits before you. You …
High-Powered Art: The Expense of Engraving
Why is engraving so expensive? Engraving requires extremely accurate equipment, intricate step-by-step processes, and the proper tooling, among other things. Though engraving has come quite a long way since the days of hand carving, the true expense lies in the details. Total up the man-power, hours of labor, high-end machine costs, and you’ll begin to see why engraving isn’t for …
What Are Dimes in Welding?
What Are Dimes in Welding? If there ever was a signature weld, it would be the “stack of dimes” weld. A pretty stack of dimes says, “This welding job was done by a pro.” What are dimes in welding? The “dimes” in welding are the hardened, round puddles of metal and filler created during the welding process. They line up …
There’s a Hole in Your Table, Dear Welder
Do you want a welding table with holes? Holes intentionally placed within the structure of a welding table serve quite a variety of purposes. These holes can be of any shape and/or size, really, and are meant to either help hold a tool or work piece that is being welded. Welding tables are useful both with and without holes. Whether …
Quick Guide to Welding Your Engine Block: A Mechanic’s Hail Mary
How can you successfully repair a cracked engine block by welding it—and is it actually possible? Repairing a cracked engine block via welding first requires proper diagnosis. Given the engine block can be repaired by welding up the crack, certain precautions must be taken to ensure success. There are a variety of methods used in welding cracked engine blocks. Each …
Welding Positions and Types: A Quick Guide
What are the different welding positions and what special considerations are there for each type? The American Welding Society defines four welding positions. The plane of the weld, as well as the type of weld required, defines a welding position. A pairing of numbers and specific letters denote a weld position. The numbers 1-4 denote either a flat, horizontal, vertical, …
Casting Misruns : What They Are And How To Fix Them
Have you ever had a misrun casting defect while welding and wondered how you to avoid it in the future? A misrun is a metal pouring defect. It happens when the liquid metal isn’t totally filling the cavity mold when it pours. This can be due to a lack of molten metal fluidity, and faulty designs and/or gating. Misrun remedies …
What Is Cold Shut In Casting
What Is Cold Shut in Casting? You broke your 3/4-inch crescent wrench trying to loose that fitting on some stubborn, rusty old plumbing. Let that sink in for a moment. You broke a 3/4-inch crescent wrench. Sure, you really put your back and shoulder into it to add extra torque, but the wrench shouldn’t break like that. Well, before examining …
Strike it Rich: How a Welding Arc is Produced
How is a welding arc produced? In welding, the electric current travels between the electrode and the ground, creating an arc. This process is essentially like a miniature lightning bolt. The purpose of the arc is to melt the base metals together, fusing them in a bond. As a result, part of the metal is consumed; therefore, a filler material …
Welding With a Car Battery and Coat Hanger: How it’s Done
How can you weld with a car battery and a coat hanger? Using the battery as a power source and the coat hanger as your filler rod, you can successfully weld. However, it’s better to link more than one battery together. This will allow you to achieve the proper amount of amperage needed to start and sustain the arc. And …