Welding Your Own Roll Cage: A Quick Reference Guide
How do I weld my own roll cage? Welding a roll cage requires applying a variety of techniques and mathematical calculations. Among the factors to consider are the interior dimensions of the vehicle, applicable safety regulations, and your particular set of welding skills. By no means a beginner’s project, building a roll cage can, however,…
The Ultimate List of Welding Resources
Where can I find the best welding resources? From learning how to weld to perfecting your technique, there are plenty of welding resources available, both online and in-person. Traditional welding classes are offered at many community colleges and technical schools. The wealth of online welding knowledge includes videos, tutorials, write-ups, guides, and much more. It’s…
How Do You Ground a Welding Table
How Do You Ground a Welding Table? When setting up a welding circuit, you know that clamp that you call a grounding clamp? Don’t call it a grounding clamp. Call it a “return” clamp, because it returns the current to your welder. That differs from an earth ground. An earth ground makes a physical connection…
Teach Yourself to Weld At Home: A Beginner’s Guide
Can you teach yourself to weld? While teaching yourself to weld isn’t easy, there are many ways you can learn and practice welding at home. There are many books, tutorials, YouTube videos, classes, and in-person opportunities that can teach you the basics of welding. Focusing on one type of welding will set you up for…
Welding Extension Cords: Lengthen Your Metal-Melting Power
How safe are welding extension cords to use? Purpose-made welding extension cords can bring a sense of portability to your welder. However, there are certain stipulations which you should follow when buying and/or creating your own welding extension cord. The welder (both operator and machine), length of cord, power supply, and many other details affect…
Rod Ovens: What Are They and Do I Need One?
Those proficient at stick welding already possess expertise in temperature management, shielding gas, travel speed and more. You would expect no less from them in terms of equipment and materials prep. Stick welders should carefully maintain everything involved in the welding process. A rod oven is a good example. What are rod ovens and do…
Welding Knives: The Good, the Bad, and the Just Plain Ugly
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…
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…
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…
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…