MIG, TIG or stick: choose the process for the job
A practical comparison of control, speed, preparation and working conditions.
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35 guides
Welding aluminium: why preparation changes everything
Oxide removal, alloy identification and wire feeding explained before you choose a process.
MIG burn-through on thin sheet: what to check first
Distinguish a through-opening from distortion and excess penetration, then record thickness, fit-up and local heating before changing settings.
MIG welding spatter: investigate what changed
Learn how to record a sudden increase in MIG spatter, check consumable identity and separate equipment, distance and arc-control questions.
Lack of fusion: why a tidy bead does not prove a bond
Learn what lack of fusion means, why access and travel matter, and how to organise a controlled investigation before changing settings.
TIG end craters: plan the finish before stopping the arc
Understand why a TIG weld can end in a hollow, how current and filler coordination matter, and when a suspect termination needs assessment.
Between-pass slag removal: what to check before welding again
Learn where slag can remain between weld passes, how to organise a cleaning checkpoint and why a clean surface cannot prove internal soundness.
MIG undercut: investigate the groove beside the bead
Learn to recognise possible MIG undercut, record where it appears and investigate setup and movement before changing settings.
WELDING DEVICES / FIELD NOTESSHIELDING / GAS
TIG post-flow: why the gas continues after the arc
Learn what TIG post-flow protects, why timer ranges differ by machine and how to check your setup without guessing a universal setting.
Magnetic arc blow: why your stick-welding arc pulls away
Understand magnetic arc blow, record a directional arc pull and plan a controlled investigation of the work-return arrangement.
TIG tungsten contamination: when to stop and reprepare
Learn how to recognise likely TIG tungsten contamination, stop safely, reprepare the electrode and avoid chasing unrelated settings.
Low-hydrogen stick electrodes: keep them dry after opening
Learn how to store opened low-hydrogen stick electrodes, separate holding from redrying and handle rods with an unknown exposure history.
MIG wire-feed problems: birdnesting, burnback and slipping
Learn to recognise three common wire-feed symptoms, understand the feed path and record useful evidence before changing settings.
Weld preparation manual: fit-up, tacks and inspection
Understand joint types, preparation, fit-up checks and the limits of visual inspection before your next supervised practice exercise.
Welding technique: travel speed, angles and straight beads
Learn to separate gun position from travel movement, compare labelled practice coupons and keep useful technique notes.
MIG/MAG welding manual: your first practice session
Learn setup checks, gun angles, straight beads and a repeatable inspection routine for supervised MIG/MAG practice.
TIG welding manual: torch control and filler rhythm
Build TIG coordination through isolated hand practice, supervised pool control, filler timing and careful sample review.
Stick welding manual: arc starts and controlled beads
Learn electrode checks, isolated movement practice, short arcs, restarts and slag-aware inspection for supervised MMA/SMAW sessions.
WELDING DEVICES / FIELD NOTESBEFORE THE FIRST ARC
Welding masks and helmets: what to check before buying
Passive or auto-darkening? Compare shade range, arc detection, fit and replacement lenses.
WELDING DEVICES / FIELD NOTESBEFORE THE FIRST ARC
Welding gloves: match heat protection and control to the job
Understand the difference between fine torch control and protection from heavier heat and spatter.
WELDING DEVICES / FIELD NOTESBEFORE THE FIRST ARC
Beyond the helmet: clothing, boots, eyes and hearing
Build a complete protection kit for welding, preparation and clean-up.
WELDING DEVICES / FIELD NOTESBEFORE THE FIRST ARC
Welding respirators and extraction: two different jobs
Why a welding helmet is not a respirator, and why moving air is not the same as capturing fume.
WELDING DEVICES / FIELD NOTESSHIELDING / GAS
Torches, regulators and consumables: check the whole connection
Understand the accessories that keep wire feeding, gas delivery and maintenance working together.
WELDING DEVICES / FIELD NOTESKNOW YOUR MACHINE
Affordable DIY welders: stick, flux-core or MIG?
Compare lower-cost welding devices by the jobs they support and the cost of the complete setup.
WELDING DEVICES / FIELD NOTESKNOW YOUR MACHINE
Your first welding machine: buy for the work you will do
Start with the material, the work space and a complete setup budget before choosing a machine.
WELDING DEVICES / FIELD NOTESKNOW YOUR MACHINE
Professional equipment: invest in useful output and support
Compare the duty cycle, electrical supply, feeding system and service arrangements against actual paid work.
WELDING DEVICES / FIELD NOTESKNOW YOUR MACHINE
Your first welder: read the specification before the price
Compare process capability, available power, useful output and the complete setup.
Stainless steel: preserve more than the appearance
Why grade, heat control and the finished surface matter to a stainless joint.
Porosity: troubleshoot the cause before the settings
A structured way to investigate pinholes and trapped gas in a weld.
WELDING DEVICES / FIELD NOTESSHIELDING / GAS
Shielding gas: match the process and the material
Why one gas bottle cannot be assumed to suit every welding task.
WELDING DEVICES / FIELD NOTESFOCUSED ENERGY
Laser welding: the promise and the practical limits
Concentrated heat, fit-up requirements and a very different safety environment.
WELDING DEVICES / FIELD NOTESPULSE / CONTROL
AC, DC and pulse TIG: understand the controls
Separate current polarity, AC balance and pulsing before comparing TIG machines.
Thin sheet: plan distortion before the first tack
Fit-up, tacking and welding sequence can matter as much as the current setting.
WELDING DEVICES / FIELD NOTESKNOW YOUR MACHINE
Flux-core or solid wire: the shielding changes the choice
Compare solid-wire MIG/MAG, self-shielded flux-core and gas-shielded flux-core by work area, setup, total cost and practical limitations.
WELDING DEVICES / FIELD NOTESTHE CONNECTED WORKSHOP
Connected welders: when the job comes with instructions
An example of guided sequences and production records, with the manufacturer’s claims kept in context.