Welding Supplies Blog

While incredibly rewarding, working on motorcycles can be quite challenging. Using a jig and being very careful with your measurements is a basic first step. But there are also some key tips when i...

Looking at the Miller Weld-Mask 2 feels like discovering a turtle without a shell. Sure it’s smaller and more lightweight, but it’s just so… different. That’s not a bad thing. Heck, we’d still be w...

If you counted the hours of your life lost on a grinder or wire brushing, how much of your time would it be? Between prepping your work for welding and cleaning up after you finish, grinding and br...

If welding machines were edible, the Millermatic 211 would be a staple diet. Not only is it a highly-sought-after machine, its pricing makes it easily obtainable. With its affordable pricing, high...

There’s nothing like enjoying the great outdoors without having to hike 20 miles in the blazing sun. That’s why man was graced with the off-road vehicle, the perfect solution to all your nature cr...

A big feather in the plasma cutter’s cap is how much less you have to spend in recurring costs compared to Oxy Acetylene. While this is definitely true, it’s repeated so often that some welders mig...

Around this time of year, you’ll start hearing how “staying cool improves your productivity.” But is that just a common misconception or is there any real science to it? And if so, what is the most...

We’re not going to fluff this up with phrases like “your helmet is an extension of your personality, nay your soul.” Because ultimately, your helmet has one job: keeping your peepers from getting b...

Within the past few months, there’s been a sudden wave of welders posting online images of strange, cube-like projects. These unique pieces are known as “infinity cubes.” While infinity cubes have ...

The Lincoln Ranger series is a staple of the welder/generator world. And while improvements have been made to the GTX 250 and other machines over the years, it’s a rare occasion for an entirely new...

Society is more addicted to automobiles than any substance. Think about it, how much of your daily life is only possible because of modern transportation? Because of this, welders with the ability ...

We’ve all seen PAPR headgear. Those helmets with the tubes like your scuba diving on land. And yet, not a lot of welders know when or why you might need to use a PAPR.   What the heck is a PAPR?   ...

With one of the coldest winters in recent history, outdoor welding over the last few months has been as fun as a sharp stick in the eye. Now that winter’s bitter grip is loosening, it’s time to thr...

2019 is more than just another calendar for ESAB. They’ve entirely switched up their Burn and Earn Promotion including a brand new machine that’s set to release soon. Within the last few years, ESA...

When the temperature drops, a lot of welders usually have two questions: Will the low temperatures hurt my machine and how will this affect my welds? These are valid questions and ones that many we...

Within any community you’ll find a sense of pride, loyalty and a clinically-insane amount of memes. This has never been truer than within the world of welding. In case you’ve somehow avoided being ...

December is the best time of year to be looking at a new machine as you’ll often find some incredible deals. Also, if a welding machine manufacturer is going to increase their prices, it usually ha...

Gift buying with welders can get a little tricky. Your friends and family ask, “What can I get you for the Holidays?” Of course, you want something for welding. But you can’t just say “something fo...

For welders who like to go between MIG, TIG and stick, multiprocess machines are a lifesaver. Hauling your TIG/Stick and MIG welders around your shop can be a huge pain and buying the same accessor...

With huge rebates on both the Lincoln Power MIG 210 MP and Multimatic 215, people want to know how these two welders stack up. Both machines offer the ability to Stick, MIG or TIG weld, but which o...

If you learned anything as a kid, it was to say “NO” to crack. It’s time we all took another look at those life-guiding words of wisdom. Because welding cracks are a common, yet incredibly serious ...

Does this highly praised machine really deserve all the fanfare it gets? It’s been hailed as possibly the best-selling MIG machine of all time, but how does it hold up when put to the test? The Mil...

It’s more than slasher movies, haunted houses and candy corn: It’s that time of year when making your own decorations really stands out. So let those creative juices flow like blood in an 80’s horr...

When it comes to picking between the different types of welding, including MIG, TIG and stick, it's not an exclusive relationship. However, learning to master a single method can take a significant...

How often do your loved ones see a lawn ornament or piece of furniture and say, “You could build that!” It’s an enticing idea: building your own furniture. When done right, it’s a great way to save...

Nothing is more frustrating than porous, spattery welds that seem to happen no matter what you do. This is often a huge issue specifically with Stick welders since a bad machine can pretty much cou...

How could anyone possibly screw up tacking? The truth is, you could be tacking wrong and never know it. This is because most of the problems with tacking incorrectly often don’t become apparent unt...

When the web was first being populated by an unwavering multitude of cat videos, a few welders managed to claw their way out of obscurity and become something of internet celebrities. Specifically,...

For beginners, welding can often seem like an overly complicated and perplexing task. There are different welding techniques, different types of welding machinery, and so many different pieces you ...

Right now, IOC has some great prices on Optrel’s best-selling helmets, plus our “try it, love it or return it” promo on the Optrel E684. The only real question is, which Optrel helmet is right for ...

Often where you weld can be just as important as how well you weld. Your location determines how much work is available near you and how much competition there is. For instance, you’ll make a whole...

  In the immortal words of Freddie Mercury, “I want to weld my bicycle, I want to weld my bike.” No, that’s not exactly how the song goes, but now that line is now stuck in your head. Don’t fight i...

  As winter’s chilling grasp finishes melting away, it’s the perfect time to take on a few summer welding projects. Here’s some of our favorites to help get your creative juices flowing.   Fire Pit...

This is a serious machine. We’re talking 600 pounds of engineered power. Its Professional level equipment: That means it’ll run all day, every day, while dealing with rough environments and fluctua...

Oxyacetylene cutting is a process often used in welding and fabrication, involving a unique blend of oxygen and acetylene gas to create a flame hot enough to slice through metal with ease. Understa...

Among plasma cutting fans, the Powermax45 has been a favorite. Although somewhat dated now, the original 45 built a reputation as one of the most reliable plasma cutters ever made. Recognizing this...

We’ve all been told if there’s any risk of electrical shock, make sure you’ve got some solid rubber boots. But would rubber boots really keep you from being zap-fried by an electrical jolt? What’s ...

Buying welding gloves can feel like a nightmare and a petting zoo mixed together, especially if you don’t know what you’re looking for. Do you need deerskin or goatskin? Who even knows what deer an...

We call it a loyalty program, but it’s really just like “here’s free stuff!” And who doesn’t want things for free? “That depends on what the free ‘Stuff’ is,” you say? Well we’re talking anything w...

Welding with tired eyes sucks. After several hours of staring at your arc, your peepers can feel like they’ve gone through hell and back. Eye fatigue is one of the most uncomfortable and irritating...

It’s said in order to be a true master of a skill, you must first master the fundamentals. There are books, videos, and entire curriculum that cover MIG welding, but today we’ll be scratching the s...

Penetration: One of the most important, most innuendoed topics in all of welding history. In every new welder’s journey, there comes a point when they realize welding is more than just “sticking” 2...

2017 saw the rise of a nightmarish dance move known as the “dab”. To be very clear, that’s not what we’re talking about. Dabbing in the welding world is one of the most common techniques used for T...

We’ve covered everything from space welders to working on oil rigs and yet we’ve never hit on one of the most aspirational positions in the industry. That’s because pipeline welding is a mine field...

We tend to treat grinding like monkey work. For instance: When working in larger groups, often the lesser experienced welders are put in charge of grinding. But is that how it should be? Few expert...

Sight. It’s an important part of welding. It’s so important, we’ve gone to great lengths to protect our eyes. Because sight helps us understand what we’re doing. It helps us comprehend our surround...

For some welders, small electric shocks can be common occurrences. It begins to seem like a bunch of kids playing with an electrical fence. Sure it doesn’t feel great, but there doesn’t seem to be ...

Imagine little metal termites eating through your weld, digging out craters and carving tunnels. Not only is that what porosity looks like, it’s a great visual of what it actually does to your weld...