Tool Reviews

What adjustable arc control means for 7018 For 7018 stick welding, adjustable arc control usually means one or both of two features: hot start and arc force, sometimes called dig.…

Thick steel base plates are not a job where a welder’s advertised maximum amperage tells the whole story. The machine needs to run a suitable electrode steadily, hold an arc…

Carbon steel pipe fittings are a good match for stick welding because the process handles mill scale, outdoor drafts, and less-than-perfect fit-up better than MIG. The welder still matters: pipe…

Heavy trailer repairs are a good match for stick welding when the work is outdoors, the steel is dirty, or the joint is too thick for a small MIG welder.…

Rusty farm machinery is a poor place to learn what a welder can’t do. A stick welder can tolerate dirty conditions better than most processes, but it cannot make a…

A stick welder can build sturdy steel support frames, but the machine is only part of the decision. Frame joints need sound fit-up, adequate weld size and enough heat to…

Choosing a Stick Welder for Plow Repairs Plow equipment gets hit, bent and dragged through dirt, so a repair has to tolerate shock as well as hold together on the…

Stick welding is a practical choice for repairs away from the shop: it needs no shielding-gas cylinder, handles rusty or weathered steel better than many wire processes, and uses equipment…

TIG welding stainless steel often leaves a blue, purple, brown, or black band around the weld. This discoloration is called heat tint. It is not just a cosmetic problem: the…

Thick mild-steel channel asks more of a stick welder than occasional repairs do. The machine needs enough output for the electrode and joint, a duty cycle that can keep up…