Welding guides
Parts, troubleshooting, equipment, and life in the trade. Browse by topic or search below.
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MIG Contact Tip Keeps Burning Back
If a MIG contact tip keeps burning back, the problem is usually not the tip alone. Burnback happens when the wire melts back into the contact tip instead of feeding cleanly into…
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MIG Wire Not Feeding Smoothly
If your MIG wire is not feeding smoothly, the fault is usually in the feed path, not the power source. Start at the spool and work forward through the drive rolls, gun…
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Why Weld Beads Look Inconsistent
Inconsistent weld beads usually come from variation in heat input, travel speed, arc length, wire feed, shielding gas coverage, or joint preparation. The visible bead pattern is often the result of one…
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Exothermic Cutting Rod Will Not Stay Lit
If an exothermic cutting rod will not stay lit, start with oxygen delivery, rod condition, and starting technique. Most ignition problems come from inconsistent gas flow, a worn consumable, or a poor…
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Flap Disc Loading Up on Aluminum
Flap disc loading on aluminum is usually a material-transfer problem, not just a disc problem. Aluminum is soft, gummy, and prone to packing into the abrasive surface. Once the disc loads, cut…
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Grinding Disc Glazing Instead of Cutting
When a grinding disc glazes, it stops cutting freely and starts skidding, smearing, or heating the work. The problem is usually not the wheel alone. Check pressure, speed, contact angle, and whether…
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8018W vs 8018-C3 for Welding Weathering Steel
Use 8018W when the weld must weather with ASTM A588, A242, Cor-Ten-type, or similar atmospheric-corrosion-resistant steel. Use 8018-C3 when the job calls for an 80 ksi low-hydrogen electrode with nickel-based toughness, especially…
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Carbon Arc Gouging Produces Ragged Groove
When carbon arc gouging produces a ragged groove, the cut is usually being driven too hard, too fast, or with poor torch control. In carbon arc gouging, groove shape is controlled by…
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Carbon Arc Gouging Rod Not Striking
If a carbon arc gouging rod will not strike, start with the basics: current path, air supply, holder contact, and the rod itself. Most no-strike complaints come from loss of contact, poor…