Tool Reviews

What MIG inductance does In short-circuit MIG welding, the wire repeatedly touches the weld pool, shorts out, and then arcs again. Inductance controls how quickly current rises during that short…

For most mild-steel MIG welding, the practical choice is either 75% argon / 25% carbon dioxide (often called C25) or straight CO₂. C25 usually gives a smoother arc and less…

Why MIG spatter happens on thin sheet Spatter is molten metal that leaves the weld pool and sticks nearby. On thin sheet, it often comes with a second problem: the…

Wire speed is one of the main controls that determines how much filler metal a MIG welder feeds into the joint. Too little wire and the arc may burn back…

What matters in the field A plasma cutter for field repairs needs more than a high amperage rating. It needs a power source you can actually run, compressed air that…

Workshop sign production puts different demands on a plasma cutter than general repair work. You need clean outside contours, repeatable holes, narrow kerfs, and enough control to cut lettering without…

What Matters When Cutting Rusted Automotive Panels Rusted body panels are a demanding plasma-cutting job for a simple reason: the material is rarely consistent. One section may be solid 18-gauge…

Aluminum is easy to melt, but that does not make it easy to cut cleanly. Its high thermal conductivity carries heat away from the cut, while oxide, paint, oil and…

Choosing a plasma cutter for reinforcement plate Steel reinforcement plates are often thick enough to expose the limits of a small plasma cutter. A unit may advertise a high maximum…

Choosing a plasma cutter for aluminum square tube Aluminum square tube is easy to cut with a plasma cutter, but clean, square ends depend on more than the machine’s maximum…