Tool Reviews

Plasma cutters make quick work of aluminum angle, but the right machine depends on the angle’s thickness, the available power supply and how clean the edges need to be. Aluminum…

Stainless sheet asks more of a plasma cutter than mild steel does. The cut can discolor a wide area, thin stock can warp, and a poor consumable or dirty work…

What 16-gauge mild steel needs from a plasma cutter Sixteen-gauge mild steel is about 0.060 inch thick. That is thin enough for most 30-amp and 40-amp plasma cutters, but thin…

Choosing a stick welder for steel pipe supports Pipe supports are often short pieces of carbon-steel angle, channel, plate, or tube welded into brackets and frames. A stick welder is…

What you need to cut 1/8-inch steel A 1/8-inch mild-steel plate is not a demanding job for most air plasma cutters. The harder part is getting a clean, controlled cut…

A cracked steel bucket is usually a repairable stick-welding job, but the crack’s location and the steel’s condition matter more than a welder’s advertised maximum amperage. A bucket made from…

Fabricating machine mounts is not especially demanding welding, but the joints have to survive vibration, shifting loads and the occasional hard bump. A stick welder is a practical choice for…

Large steel base frames are less demanding than pressure vessels, but they punish an undersized or poorly matched welder. Long seams, thick joints, and repeated starts can push a small…

Weathered structural steel is not a special welding process, but it is unforgiving of poor preparation. Rust, mill scale, paint and moisture can make an otherwise capable stick welder produce…

Farm gates tend to fail at hinges, latch points, and cracked joints—often outdoors, where rust and awkward access complicate the repair. A stick welder is a practical choice because it…