How to MIG Weld. “A grinder and paint makes a welder what he ain’t” – My dad So, you want to MIG weld? The first thing you’re going to have to do is start criticizing other people’s welds on the internet. This is the first step, and the best part […]
Welding & Fabrication
How to MIG Weld Sheet Metal Without Warping!
Oil canning is the enemy As you MIG weld, you’re moving electrons in the substrate. The electrons don’t exactly like to do this. This electrical resistance is what causes panels to heat up. That heat causes metal to expand and contract. All welds cause a little bit of heat expansion […]
MIG90. I love it and you should too.
The “Flux-Core ONLY” Problem What is “True MIG” welding? There’s a big problem with the entry-level welder market. Most sub-$300 machines are strictly “flux-core” welders. (Flux-Core means that the shielding atmosphere for your weld is produced by burning the flux in the core of the special wire) Some manufacturers even […]
MIG90 or MIG180? Which is the better welder?
Here is some basic stats on both the welders to help you understand where I’m coming from here. See the end of the article for a full stat breakdown of both machines. Differences: Price: The MIG180 costs double, but has double the capability. Input Voltage: The MIG180 can run on […]
Can You MIG Weld Stainless Steel?
We often get asked if metals other than mild steel can be welded with a MIG welder. The most common is Aluminum or Stainless Steel and if it can be welded by a MIG welder. Below we give some information about welding stainless steel with a MIG.
How to Make Perfect Rosette or Spot Welds with your MIG Welder
The terms “Spot welds” and “Rosette welds” are often interchanged in the DIY automotive world but they are two different things. A true spot weld is when two panels are pinched together and joined through an electrical current to fuse them together. A rosette or plug weld is when you […]
Defining Tungsten for TIG Welding
One of the defining elements of TIG welding is the Tungsten. In fact that is what the first letter in TIG stands for: Tungsten Inert Gas. TIG uses an inert gas to shield the weld (typically Argon), a filler rod of a metal that matches what you are welding, and an electrode made of Tungsten that focuses and directs the arc. All TIG electrodes are more than 95% Tungsten, which is a rare metal used because it is hard and has one of the highest melting points of any metal. There are at least 5 distinct types of “Tungstens”, as most people call them, typically color coated based on how much of what other elements have been added.
5 Easy Ways to Strengthen Sheet Metal
When you get a piece of flat sheet metal it tends to be very weak and it can be bent quite easily. So if it is so weak, why do we use this stuff for the bodies of our cars? Why not a heavier metal like metal plate? If we did that our cars would all be styled like and as heavy as a tank! This means none of those beautiful curves you see on classic cars (I don’t want to live in that world!).
The Black Art of TIG Welding Aluminum- Crash Course Edition
Tig Welding can be a black art if you start on your own with no direction. All too often we see first time TIG Welders struggle with the basics and this can lead to frustration and a long learning process. TIG welding aluminum can be more difficult than steel; even with a simplified TIG welder like the Eastwood TIG 200 AC/DC. Aluminum tends to be less forgiving and there are some simple steps you can take before, during, and after the weld that can help you successfully weld aluminum. I decided to throw together a few common mistakes and corrections for beginners when learning the “black art” of TIG welding aluminum.