MIG, TIG or stick: choose the process for the job
A practical comparison of control, speed, preparation and working conditions.
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18 guides
Welding aluminium: why preparation changes everything
Oxide removal, alloy identification and wire feeding explained before you choose a process.
WELDING DEVICES / FIELD NOTESPULSE / CONTROL
Pulsed MIG: what the extra control actually does
Understand peak and background current, and where pulse can make a useful difference.
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.
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.
WELDING DEVICES / FIELD NOTESKNOW YOUR MACHINE
Flux-cored wire polarity: read the wire, not the process
Learn what DCEP and DCEN mean, why two flux-cored wires can require opposite polarity, and what to verify before changing a spool.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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 NOTESBEFORE THE FIRST ARC
Before the first arc: build a safer welding workspace
Fume control, protection, fire prevention and people around you belong in the setup.