Welding guides
Parts, troubleshooting, equipment, and life in the trade. Browse by topic or search below.
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Oxygen Regulator Pressure Creep Troubleshooting: Oxy-Fuel Gauge Rise, Seat Leak, and Safe Repair Path
Oxygen regulator pressure creep means the delivery-pressure gauge keeps rising after the regulator has been set and downstream flow has stopped. On an oxy-fuel torch setup, this is not a normal adjustment…
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Flashback Arrestor Inspection Guide: Oxy-Fuel Safety Checks Before Lighting a Torch
A flashback arrestor should be inspected before oxy-fuel use, after any backfire or flashback event, after hose or regulator changes, and anytime torch flame behavior changes. Do not treat an arrestor as…
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Oxy-Fuel Torch Backfire Troubleshooting: Causes, Checks, and Safe Repair Path
An oxy-fuel torch backfire is the sharp pop or snap that happens when the flame momentarily burns back into the tip and goes out or reappears at the tip. Treat every backfire…
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Stick Welding Porosity Troubleshooting: Pinholes, Wormholes, Moisture, Arc Length, and Electrode Checks
Stick welding porosity usually comes from gas trapped in the weld metal before the puddle freezes. With SMAW, start with the electrode, base metal, arc length, amperage, polarity, and technique before blaming…
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6010 vs 7018 Rod Selection Guide: When to Use Each Stick Electrode
Use 6010 when the weld needs deep penetration, fast-freeze puddle control, open-root tie-in, or tolerance for less-than-perfect steel. Use 7018 when the weld needs low-hydrogen deposit control, higher tensile classification, smoother fill…
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Stick Electrode Sticking During Arc Start: Amperage, Arc Length, Rod Condition, Polarity, Ground, and Hot Start Checks
Stick electrode sticking during arc start usually means the arc is not getting hot and stable fast enough to keep the rod from fusing to the work. The common causes are low…
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Stick Welding Arc Blow Causes and Fixes: Magnetic Arc Deflection, Ground Clamp Placement, AC/DC Settings, and Weld Sequence
Stick welding arc blow happens when the arc is pulled, pushed, or deflected away from the joint instead of staying under the electrode. The usual symptoms are a wandering arc, undercut on…
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7018 Rod Moisture Contamination Troubleshooting: Porosity, Rod Sticking, Arc Instability, and Hydrogen Cracking Risk
7018 rod moisture contamination is a low-hydrogen failure, not just a storage inconvenience. Damp E7018 electrodes can cause porosity, rough arc starts, excessive spatter, slag trouble, underbead cracking risk, and welds that…
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MIG Contact Tip Overheating Causes: Wire Drag, Short Stickout, Loose Tip, Duty Cycle, Ground, and Gun Setup
MIG contact tip overheating shows up as blue/purple discoloration, repeated burnback, wire sticking inside the tip, unstable arc, spatter welded to the tip face, loose consumables, or tips that fail after only…
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ESAB Rebel Aluminum MIG Setup Issues: Wire Feed, U-Groove Rolls, PTFE Liner, Contact Tip, Gas, and Spool Gun Checks
ESAB Rebel aluminum MIG setup issues usually show up as birdnesting, wire shaving, burnback, erratic starts, black soot, lack of fusion, poor bead wet-out, or aluminum wire that feeds briefly and then…