Today’s blog will be a short one, because I’ve been so busy working on several awesome projects that time is limited.  As those of you who have read this blog for any length of time know, I am the Founder and President of Arc-Zone.com.  When I’m not blogging on Joe Welder about welding, motorsports, cycling or other things that interest me, I run our welding supply company.  Here’s some of the cool stuff happening at the Zone, and the reasons why it’s good to be Joe Welder:

Reason 1: Miller just delivered a bunch of new toys

I’ve been working on a special program with our friends at Miller for some time, and today it finally feels real.  Miller dropped off a Millermatic 211 MIG welder, a Dynasty 200 TIG welder, a Diversion 180 TIG welder, a Spectrum 625 XTREME Plasma Cutter, and some cool accessories like a wireless foot control for us to play with.  I can’t tell you what it’s for yet, but I can say that we’re working on a way to get you more free education and better information to make sure you have what you need to do the job right the first time.

Reason 2: The contractor and designer were here working on our new spaces

Arc-Zone HQ is expanding, and part of that expansion are two spaces that I’ve been dreaming about for some time.  We’ll announce more in the coming months, but what we’re working on is totally unique, and will transform Arc-Zone.com from just an online weld-shop to a real-world destination and hangout for welders.

Reason 3: We’re hiring

The American economy is slowly recovering, and thanks to our great customers, the Arc-Zone business is expanding.  We’re combing Southern California for customer service reps and warehouse staff to meet the demands of our ever-growing customer base.  We’ll profile a couple of the new additions on the blogs very soon.

Thanks to our Arc-Zone.com customers and readers of the Joe Welder and Carmen Electrode blogs (that means you!), I get to watch the big vision that started with our opening in 1998 come to fruition.  We’ll soon be back to our regularly scheduled programming.  Until then, weld on!

ATTENTION WELDERS:

We would like to announce that Joe Welder is back, energized, excited and ready to blog. Due to some staffing changes and record sales at our welding supply store, Arc-Zone.com, we have really lagged over the last few months on updating the blog for all of you readers.

But Joe Welder is back and ready to rock it with a weekly blog post that contains interesting and helpful info for all you welders out there. Here’s a sneak peak of what’s to come:

• How-to articles
• Stories from Jim Watson aka Joe Welder
• Metal fabrication industry news
• Favorite product highlights
• Welding education
• The Ask Joe column
• Unique welding applications
• Welding events
• And So Much More….

So what do you think? Our goal is to be the go-to blog for metal fabricators. Is there anything you want to see covered in the blog? Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment below.

A lot of folks ask about the M&Ms we include with every order.  Some even ask us to toss in an extra bag for a co-worker.  Our customers like getting the M&Ms, but still, they ask why M&Ms?

When I started Arc-Zone.com in 1998,  the internet and the idea of ecommerce was new.  Folks were hesitant to do business online and with people they never met…    I had a pretty small marketing budget and some big ideas, so including M&Ms in each order was a way to personalize our customer’s shopping experience and say “thank you” for the order.

Our core belief is that our customers deserve the best technical support and top quality, performance proven welding accessories in the marketplace.   But we also believe that work can be fun…   and M&Ms are fun!

From EHS Today (the magazine for environment, health and safety leaders):

OSHA’s fall semi-annual regulatory agenda was published in the Federal Register Dec. 20, featuring updates on regulatory actions including the Injury and Illness Prevention Program, modernizing recording and reporting requirements, infectious diseases, hazard communication, combustible dust and more.

CONTINUE READING–>

At Arc-Zone.com we think safety is important also. In fact, you may have noticed that we have been enhancing our line of welding safety apparel and equipment–  from Miller’s Arc Armor and Weld X to Angelfire welding apparel for women, BSX Welding apparel, and some of the best welding helmets on the market.  We’ve also been working behind the scenes as well.   We’ve just put the finishing touches on a Technical Focus  paper, Eye Care for Welders (.pdf), also available in the Arc-Zone.com Welding Library.

In yet another sign that today’s cell phones are progressing faster than anyone thought was possible, ESAB announced today that they have created the world’s first smart phone application aimed exclusively at welding.  The app itself  is supposed to help users find the right parameters for a specific job.  I downloaded one to my Android phone, and it is a pretty cool app!  Good to see ESAB get welding in on the smart phone application craze.  

1/18/2011

ESAB Welding & Cutting Products has introduced the first-ever Smart Phone application for welding. Available for use with iPhone, Blackberry®, and Android™ devices, the ESAB Welding Parameters Set-up Guide is a user-friendly application that helps welders quickly identify the correct parameters for a specific job. The user simply enters the metal to be welded and the filler metals, and the application determines the appropriate settings for the welding machine.

The free application can be downloaded at http://www.esabna.com/apps.

You can read the rest of this press release over at ESAB –>

And don’t worry, Arc-Zone.com is fully accessible on any Blackberry, Android, or iPhone.  Our live chat option is even accessible by your smart phone!  So for any welding products on the go, oxy-fuel torches and parts, or MiG guns and parts, or Plasma Arc Welding torches and parts, head on over to Arc-Zone, and we’ll get you dialed in and ready to weld.

Came across a great informative article over at The Fabricator on different types of metal production.  Very detailed look into how the different ways of steel production can affect the quality of the steel itself, and how that in turn can affect the quality of the weld.  Porosity is a huge problem in welding, as any welder knows all too well.  This article gives you a lot of insight into how porosity can occur when the steel is originally cast.

By Carl Smith

Metal production processes introduce flaws (dimensional and integral discontinuities) and cleaning requirements that affect welding.

Most metals actually are mined as minerals—metal combined with another element. Commonly used metals—not the exotic metals—are combined with nitrogen, oxygen, or sulfur. Those combined with oxygen are called oxides. Metals combined with sulfur are called sulfides, and those containing nitrogen are called nitrides. (Some stainless steels are treated with nitrogen to harden the surface.)

CONTINUE READING AT THE FABRICATOR –>

And don’t worry, Arc-Zone.com stands by every product we sell.  We’ve got your every Welding Accessory covered, from TIG Torches to TIG Rod, to all sorts of welding apparel, helmets and more.  We’ll get you dialed in, and ready to weld!

At Arc-Zone.com we’ve been expanding our line of CK Worldwide products online. On our website, you’ll find most of CK’s Master TIG line of TIG torches and replacement parts—including the Flex-Loc and Micro-Torches. These CK torches offer quite a few improvements over traditional parts’ designs, targeting some of the common complaints in the industry:

COLLETS

If you’re having problems with collets losing their shape due to high amperage applications, try the Wedge Collet. This collet design uses an interference fit to lock the electrode into place, rather than the clamping action of traditional collets that tends to wear out faster.

THREADING

If the threading in your torches is wearing out from accidental cross-threading or just from heavy use, try the Contractor Series torch (CK-C150). This 150 Amp Air-Cooled torch uses all the same front end parts as traditional 17-Series TIG torches, but the torch body is made of Stainless Steel. CK Worldwide has perfected this design so that you get the full 150Amp capacity (100% Duty Cycle) in a TIG Torch that is designed to last in the harshest environments.

CABLES

And, if you haven’t tried CK Worldwide’s SuperFlex power cables on your air-cooled TIG torch then you need to find out what you’ve been missing! These single piece air-cooled power cables are so flexible and light weight that you can coil them around your hand—and the pricing is almost unbelievable.

CK Worldwide has a proven track record in the industry offering products that address the needs of welders in the field. From specialty low-profile TIG torches to high-visibility Gas Saver parts, CK innovations can really improve your welding process.

If you don’t see something you’re looking for, give us a call; if it’s not online, we still have it—and if it doesn’t exist, there’s a chance that CK Worldwide will make it custom. Their technical expertise and dedication to excellence in the industry is impressive.

NEW BSX® HYBRID™ JACKET AND SLEEVE

For the best of FR cotton and genuine leather in a sleek stylish and safe welding apparel, check out the new BSX  Hybrid™ jacket and sleeves. The Hybrid™ series takes advantage of the comfort and breathability of FR cotton and adds genuine leather for additional durability and protection where it is needed most.

The BXRB9C/PS BSX® Hybrid™ welding jacket features durable grain pigskin sleeves to protect against sparks and light slag.

And just because you’re dressing for safety doesn’t mean you can’t be comfortable and look good!  The royal blue flame resistant body is specifically designed to fit comfortably and look good on any welder. It features adjustable waist straps to provide an optimal fit, a stand-up welder’s collar, slant-opening scribe pockets, and a zippered inner pocket.

The new BX-19P BSX® Hybrid™ sleeve is convenient, comfortable, and pulls on easily for added protection in light welding. It combines grain pigskin with flame resistant cotton for extra durability and comfort, and features a secure wide arm elastic.

The BSX® line of welding gear is available at Arc-Zone.com. Details and information about BSX® products can be found at www.bsxgear.com

Lincoln Electric to Hold Free Pipeline Welding Seminar in March
Sessions to Address Safety, Quality and Productivity

Cleveland – Lincoln Electric is offering a free Pipeline Welding Seminar intended for contractors and professionals in the pipeline industry. The three-day, in-depth session will take place on March 29-31, 2011, at Lincoln Electric’s corporate headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio.

With the growing demand in energy markets, rehabilitation of existing infrastructure and construction of new cross-country and subsea pipelines will continue to increase. The seminar will focus on these topics, as well as new solutions for overall improved safety, productivity and quality.

Topics will include:
• Solutions to common pipeline welding challenges
• Understanding hydrogen cracking and how to minimize it
• Effects of welding essential variables, including heat input, on weld metal properties

Sessions will be followed by welding demonstrations on the latest pipeline welding techniques, equipment and consumables. Tours of Lincoln’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities will also be included.

For more information on this free informational seminar or to reserve a spot, contact Lincoln Electric at (216) 383-8355. Space is limited, and the deadline to register is Tuesday, March 15, 2011.

The Lincoln Electric Company, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, is the world leader in the design, development and manufacture of arc welding products, robotic arc welding systems, fume extraction equipment and plasma and oxyfuel cutting equipment. The company holds a leading global position in the brazing and soldering alloys market. For more information, visit their Web site at www.lincolnelectric.com.

This would also be a good time to check out some of the performance proven pipe welding accessories at Arc-Zone.com like purge film and heat resistant purge bladders and purge baffle systems for localized purging…  not to mention our incredible stock of top performing CK TIG Torches and Weldcraft TIG torches, parts and accessories.

The end of the year is a good time to look back, see what you’ve done right, and wrong, and a good time to take stock.  Give yourself credit for what you’ve done right, and for the things that didn’t go so well–  now you have an opportunity to do it better next time!

Continuous improvement has always been a part of the Arc-Zone culture, and while I hesitate to say “resolutions”  GOAL SETTING is an awesome way to start off the New Year.  It’s also a good time to replenish the stock and look at ways to improve for the upcoming year.

If one of your goals is to improve your weldshop and maybe get some new equipment, here’s some places to start your research:

Miller EQUIP TO WELD.  Miller Electric just launched this easy-to-use online tool to help you select, customize, and even price the welding system you need.

Weldcraft Torch Selector. Weldcraft also has an online tool that guides you to selecting the torch for your specific welding application.

Welding Design Online Buyers Guide. From Cylinders to Safety products and welding equipment, this guide lists many of the industry’s top manufacturers though you may have to dig around to find where to buy…

If one of your goals is to learn more about metal fabricating and the welding  industry and keep up-to-date on equipment, technique, and what’s happening  (aside from reading this blog, and CarmenElectrode.com) check out The Fabricator magazine and its affiliate publications  Tube and Pipe Journal, and Practical Welding Today.  You probably qualify for a free subscription.

AND… since you know this is an Arc-Zone.com powered site, I have to add:

The place to end your search is Arc-Zone.com–  for a wide variety of high-performance MIG, TIG and Plasma Arc Welding and Cutting accessories.  You’ll also find a great selection of welding safety apparel and equipment, welding books and DVDs, tungsten electrodes for TIG welding and Plasma Arc Welding, tungsten electrode sharpeners, water coolers for welding… well you get the picture!

Check it out for yourself. And if you don’t find what you’re looking for, or need help making a decision on what you need, give us a call.  We’re available online (Live Chat and email) and on-the-phone (7am to 5pm California time) and it’s a top priority for us to make sure our customers find the right product to amp up their weldshop and Weld Like A PRO !

May 2011 be good to all of us!