Welding guides
Parts, troubleshooting, equipment, and life in the trade. Browse by topic or search below.
-
6010 Electrode vs 7018 Electrode: What Welders Need to Know
6010 and 7018 are two of the most widely used stick electrodes in the welding industry—but they serve very different purposes. One is built for speed, penetration, and root passes. The other…
-
2025 Welder Certification Changes: What You Need to Know
Welding certifications are tightening in 2025. AWS, ANSI, and industry regulators have rolled out updated requirements focused on fatigue prevention, longer-term inflammation risks, exposure limits, and more robust process testing. If you…
-
Why Welders Are in Demand in 2025 (And What It Means for Your Shop)
The U.S. welding industry is entering a pressure zone: a massive labor shortage, an aging skilled workforce, and demand that keeps climbing. AWS projects a 400,000-welder shortage in 2025, and the average…
-
Arc Life Bundle – Everything You Need to Rep the Trade
The Arc Life Bundle is the complete gear package for welders who want to represent their craft every day—in the shop, at home, and everywhere in between. For $169.99 (regularly $259), you…
-
Victor 0381-1621 ST900FC Torch Assembly: Review & Buying Guide
Victor’s ST900FC is a workhorse torch handle for oxy-fuel cutting and heating. It’s the current flow-control version of the classic 100-series design, built for reliability in fabrication shops, maintenance departments, and field…
-
Drillco 350N29 Mechanics-Length Drill Bit Set: Review & Buying Guide
A dependable bit set matters when you’re drilling mild steel, stainless, aluminum, or shop-grade alloys. The Drillco 350N29 is a 29-piece high-speed steel (HSS) mechanics-length set designed for fabrication and repair work…
-
Strong Hand Tools MET11 Mini MagTab Review (2025)
The Strong Hand Tools MET11 Mini MagTab is one of those small, under-$20 fixtures that ends up earning a permanent place on the bench. It’s a compact magnetic clamp designed for holding…
-
Black Stallion GX5015 TIG/Mechanics Gloves Review & Buying Guide (L & XL)
The Black Stallion GX5015 series blends TIG-glove dexterity with mechanics-glove structure — now with a verified ARC 3 rating and an ATPV of 30 cal/cm², making these one of the safest crossover…
-
Steel Welding Table, Strong Hand Nomad TS3020 (Review)
The Strong Hand Nomad TS3020 is one of the most versatile budget welding tables available. Instead of a fixed plate with a fixturing hole grid, the Nomad uses 28 mm (1.1″) wide…
-
730 Spark Lighter vs. 3001 Spark Lighter: Which One Should You Use in the Shop?
Spark lighters are one of the simplest tools in the welding environment, but they’re also the ones that fail at the worst times. The GC Fuller 730 and the standard 3001-style lighter…
