Tool Reviews

Joining two different stainless steels is usually a TIG job, especially when the joint is visible, thin, or exposed to corrosion. The welder matters, but it is not the only…

Thin-wall steel tubing rewards control, not brute force. A welder with a high maximum amperage is less important than a stable low-end arc, accurate amperage adjustment, and a torch that…

Fabricating stainless steel enclosures is less about maximum amperage and more about control. Thin 304 or 316 sheet can discolor, distort, and burn through before a large welder reaches its…

Repairing a cast aluminum housing is a demanding TIG job. The casting may contain oil, paint, corrosion, sand, porosity, and inclusions that were trapped during manufacture. A weld can look…

Repairing a cracked stainless steel bracket is a job for a controlled TIG welder, not simply the most powerful machine you can find. Stainless transfers heat quickly, shows contamination readily,…

What matters when welding aluminum plate Aluminum plate is a demanding TIG job because the metal conducts heat quickly, develops an oxide layer that melts at a much higher temperature…

Thin-wall stainless exhaust tubing rewards control, not brute force. A good TIG welder should start and stop cleanly, maintain a stable arc at low amperage, and let you control heat…

Fabricating a steel tool cart is a good job for a MIG welder: the joints are mostly accessible, the material is commonly 14-gauge to 1/8-inch steel, and a solid MIG…

Long seams in sheet-metal panels are harder to weld than short brackets or heavy plate. The metal heats quickly, distorts easily, and can develop pinholes or burn-through before you have…

Joining 1/4-inch mild steel plate is within the range of a good MIG welder, but it is near the upper limit of many 120-volt machines. The practical target is a…