We have posted a lot of information regarding employment opportunities in the welding and metal fabrication industries. But, how can you get started? An article in The Fabricator Magazine features practical advice for beginning your career as a welder. Marty Rice, a welding instructor from a high school career center in Texas and an honorary member of the Ironworkers Local 263, shares his story- his challenges and his triumphs. He also provides tips for achieving the career goals you set for yourself. With a little smarts and alot of sweat, you can achieve the goals you set.

Learn your trade, pay your dues
Advice for new welders
By Marty Rice, Contributing Writer

Welding jobs may not be as plentiful as they once were, but welding instructor Marty Rice believes a lot of welding work is “waiting to bust loose once the economy straightens out, and there’s always work in welding, if you’re willing to pack a suitcase.”

Rice has some advice for those embarking on a welding journey.

I’ve paid my dues during my long and crazy welding career. I’ve had good jobs and bad jobs, good bosses and bad bosses, and I’ve met good and bad people in the field. In my opinion, one good person makes up for a bunch of lousy people. Which do you want to be?

CONTINUE READING ONLINE ->

And, Arc-Zone.com has the PRO Gear Packages to get you started

And don’t forget to ask about our Student Discount Program!

Check out the July issue of Practical Welding Today for an article written by our very own Jennifer Simpson, Arc-Zone.com‘s director of marketing and new media!  And the cover photo is Joe Welder laying down some awesome TIG welds, shot in studio C by our talented Graphics guy, Matt Munz. Good job team!

Know your TIG torch

Advice and maintenance practices to ensure quality
By Jennifer Simpson
July 1, 2009

Even though money is tight, saving it by purchasing less reputable GTAW torches or skimping on maintenance practices can cause more harm than good in the long run.

Photos courtesy of Matt Munz, Arc-Zone.com Inc., Carlsbad, Calif.

When times are tough our initial instinct is to save money and buy cheap. That’s not always the best strategy, especially when you’re looking at a new gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) torch.

One of the biggest differences between a low-quality and high-quality torch is the materials used in manufacturing it, as well as the production process. Quality torches last longer, run cooler, provide a stable arc, and offer overall improved weld quality.

CONTINUE READING ONLINE ->

Want to read some more articles written by Jennifer?  Check out these two other fabricator articles: Obtenga la conexión and Optimize your plasma performance, co-written by me, Jim Watson, aka Joe Welder.

And when you’re ready to buy a quality TIG Torch, check out Arc-Zone.com. We deliver the best quality TIG torches on the market, from CK Worldwide to Weldcraft. At our online store you’ll also find accessory kits, all the connectors you need not to mention replacement parts and tungsten electrodes….

Practical Welding Today has introduced Practical Welding Television, an online video channel. Video topics  include general welding safety as wells as tips on improving SMAW and GMAW skills.

Want more informative welding videos? Arc Zone features free educational welding videos on a variety of topics, from comparing TIG torch cable materials to connecting an air cooled TIG torch.

Welding is a delicate art, but with the right skills, techniques and welding tools and accessories you can bridge the gap between your vision and your final product. The following article, from Popular Mechanics , provides a clear and concise overview of the welding process from start to finish. It includes an introduction to welding equipment needed, an overview of the process, information on different types of welding, and free print plans for creating a welding cart.

Master Basic Welding Skills: A Step-By-Step Guide

Welding is a delicate art, but once you learn it, ordinary steel becomes a blank canvas for invention. These steps will help you with any welding project.

By Mike Allen

A thing of beauty is a joy forever. And around our Saturday Mechanic shop, beauty often takes the form of a perfectly laid welding bead—one that looks like a tall stack of dimes laid on its side. Okay, welding has some practical aspects, too. Your world, as a tinkerer and fabricator, fundamentally changes when you can permanently fasten two pieces of steel together in seconds. Sure, it takes years of experience to perfect the craft, and an investment in welding equipment. But don’t let the cost intimidate you.

CONTINUE READING ONLINE ->

And when you’re ready to get started, check out the Pro Gear Packages at Arc-Zone.com…. everything you need to stay safe, and look good when you’re welding!

It is a well known fact that there is a current shortage of young people entering the welding and metal fabrication industry. Welders are needed in a diverse range of industries –from manufacturing to construction. Creating awareness of career opportunities and benefits is a great way to attract young people to the field. The following video provides a concise overview of what welders do,explanations of various types of welding,qualifications and benefits of employment. You can also find some educational welding videos on Arc-Zone.tv .

Expert Village offers an extensive collection of welding how-to videos on their youtube channel. 

In this short and sweet video, welding expert, teacher and Connestoga College graduate, Malcolm MacDonald, presents the basics of TIG and MIG welding.

You can enjoy free welding videos on the Arc Zone YouTube channel as well.

And if you’re just getting started, check out the Arc-Zone.com Welding Gear packages– all the top gear you need to complete that school welding program or upgrade your favorite fabricators current safety gear! Your Pro-Gear Pak features the stylish flame-resistant BSX™ welding gear built for performance and safety; including, the Striker Jacket, the FireRag™ doo rag, and two pairs of matching gloves—one design

Marty Rice is a welding instructor at a high school career center in Texas and an honorary member of the Ironworkers Local 263. In this article from The Fabricator.Com Marty shares safety tips, answers to commonly asked questions, books and online resources for welding hobbyists and those just getting into MIG welding. This may also be a helpful review for those of you in advanced welding.

Photo courtesy of AlcoTec Wire Corp.

MIG welding tips and resources

By Marty Rice, Contributing Writer
April 11, 2005

Motorcycle- and hot rod-building shows on TV have put welding in a very positive light lately. In fact, Jesse James, the star of Discovery Channel’s “Monster Garage,” was named the American Welding Society (AWS) Welder of the Year because of his contributions to the trade. It’s nice to see welding in a good light after seeing it maligned for so long.

Over the years I’ve had a love/hate relationship with welding. I loved it when work and money were plentiful and the weather was nice. I hated it when there was no work to be found, I was broke, and when I was freezing or sweating my tail off.

Welding gets into your blood. It’s fun for both professional and hobby welders, and being a welder is like belonging to a club.

CONTINUE READING ONLINE ->

And be sure to check out the ever-growing MIG welding section over at Arc-Zone.com:

MIG Guns, MIG gun replacement parts (and more!)

MIG Nozzle cleaning stations, and

MIG Wire feeders and drive roll kits

Selecting the proper equipment for your welding application can be an intimidating task for a first-time buyer. Thankfully, an expert is here to help with the process. Charlie Minnick, a welding instructor for Miller Electric Mfg. Co. shares some important considerations including available power, material type, intensity of machine use, and the thickness of the material you intend to weld. Not to mention, the welding accessory experts here at Arc Zone can also answer all your welding questions.

Miller Electric Gives Advice On Choosing Welding Equipment:
Common sense advice from Miller on equipment picks.
Published in the April 2003 issue.

Having the ability to weld greatly expands your ability to repair and to build, but it can be daunting for the first-time buyer to select equipment. With that in mind, here are some words of advice from Charlie Minnick, a welding instructor for Miller Electric Mfg. Co., a manufacturer of welders based in Appleton, Wis.

Where To Start
First, your equipment choice is based on several factors. Listed in random order they are:

1. The power you have available.
Most home shops will have 120- or 240-volt single phase power. This is the typical power available for hobbyists who are setting up shop in their garage or an outbuilding. This also holds true for most light-commercial buildings. Higher-voltage machines enable you to weld heavier metals more quickly as well as run other kinds of large shop machinery–such as sandblasters and large saws.

2. Material type.
What will you be welding most of the time–sheet steel, stainless steel, aluminum? Minnick advises to think in terms of the long haul. Maybe you’re buying a welder now to restore an old car, but in the future you may want to do other kinds of welding–such as repair the running gear for your snow plow. Sure, you have to buy equipment to meet your present need, but include some forward thinking in your choice.

CONTINUE READING ONLINE ->

I found another great free resource for you. The Welders Lens is an educational welding website created by Michael D. Treadway, an experienced boilermaker, ironworker, and welder. The site features free articles and a video welding course on everything from stick welding to TIG welding. Here’s an example of one of the instructional videos:

Arc Zone also offers free educational welding videos which can be viewed here.

I was surfing the internet and I found this great free opportunity to learn more about weld inspection. Olympus NDT has scheduled a free webinar titled “The Benefits of Phased Array in Weld Inspection.” This 45-minute event is scheduled on Tuesday, May 19, at 11:00 a.m. (EST). How can you say no to free?

The following topics will be discussed:

• How phased arrays significantly increase the speed of your weld  inspection
• Much improved imaging of the weld defects
• Highly reproducible inspections
• The keys to make your inspection more cost-effective
• Availability of wide range of instruments at various price levels
• Training takes the mystery out of phased array

This 45-minute live webinar includes a Q & A session. Attendees can register on-line here.