Welding guides
Parts, troubleshooting, equipment, and life in the trade. Browse by topic or search below.
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TIG Collet Body Overheating Symptoms: Hot Torch Front End, Black Tungsten, Arc Wander, and Gas Lens Damage
If a TIG collet body overheats, the torch front end may run hot, the tungsten may discolor, the arc may wander, the cup may crack, or the electrode may loosen after a…
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TIG Torch Gas Leak Troubleshooting: Argon Loss, Black Tungsten, Porosity, and Torch Seal Checks
If a TIG torch has a gas leak, the weld may show black tungsten, gray weld color, porosity, sugaring on stainless, unstable starts, or a loud uneven gas hiss even when the…
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TIG Tungsten Splitting Causes: Cracked Electrodes, Spitting, Balling, and Arc Instability
If TIG tungsten is splitting, cracking lengthwise, spitting small particles into the weld, balling excessively, or breaking down after only a few starts, stop and check heat load, shielding, polarity, tungsten type,…
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ESAB Aluminum Spool Gun Setup Guide: Rebel Compatibility, Argon, Wire Size, and Feed Checks
Set up an ESAB aluminum spool gun by verifying the machine supports the exact spool gun, connecting the gun fully, using 100% argon shielding gas, installing the correct aluminum contact tip, loading…
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Lincoln POWER MIG Gas Solenoid Troubleshooting: No Gas, Gas Keeps Flowing, or Weak Shielding Flow
If a Lincoln POWER MIG has no shielding gas at the gun, gas that keeps flowing after trigger release, or weak gas flow even though the cylinder is open, troubleshoot the gas…
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MIG Gun Cable Overheating Causes: Duty Cycle, Loose Connections, Liner Drag, and Undersized Guns
If a MIG gun cable gets hot enough to soften the jacket, smell burned, heat the handle, discolor the power pin, or make the gun uncomfortable to hold, stop welding and inspect…
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MIG Wire Feeding at Inconsistent Speed: Causes, Tests, and Feed Path Fixes
If MIG wire feeds at inconsistent speed, surges mid-bead, slows down, slips at the drive rolls, or starts smooth and then stutters, troubleshoot the wire path before replacing the drive motor or…
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ESAB Rebel Drive Roll Setup Guide: Wire Size, Groove Type, Pressure, and Feed Testing
Set up ESAB Rebel drive rolls by matching the feed roll groove to the wire diameter and wire type before adjusting pressure. Solid steel and stainless wire need the correct smooth V-groove.…
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Lincoln Magnum Gun Trigger Sticking Causes: Switch, Handle, Leads, and Feeder Checks
If a Lincoln Magnum MIG gun trigger sticks, stays partly engaged, feeds wire after release, double-clicks, or only works when squeezed hard, do not assume the whole welder is bad. Most trigger…
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MIG Nozzle Spatter Buildup Troubleshooting: Poor Gas Coverage, Porosity, Burnback, and Arc Instability
MIG nozzle spatter buildup is not just a cleaning issue. When spatter packs inside the nozzle, bridges toward the contact tip, or blocks the diffuser ports, shielding gas flow becomes restricted or…