Tool Reviews

Start with the joint, not the process name For thick mild steel plate, “stick versus flux-core” is not a simple choice between a strong and a weak weld. Both can…

Portable TIG repairs often happen beside a truck, on a farm, or in a small shop where a full-size TIG setup is impractical. If you’re choosing between scratch-start and lift-arc,…

Short answer: choose the process around the boat For a welded aluminum boat, AC TIG and MIG can both make sound welds, but they suit different parts of the job.…

Thin aluminum panels are easy to warp, burn through, or leave with weak, porous welds. MIG and TIG can both join them, but the better choice depends on panel thickness,…

Plasma cutters and bandsaws can both cut steel tube cleanly, but they solve different problems. A plasma cutter is fast and flexible, especially for notches, short pieces, and work that…

Rusty steel is a tough test for a plasma cutter because rust, paint, scale, and uneven contact can interrupt the electrical path between the torch and the workpiece. Arc-start design…

The short answer An air plasma cutter is the hand tool: you guide the torch along a marked line and make the cut yourself. A CNC plasma table moves the…

For occasional straight cuts in thin sheet, an angle grinder is usually the cheaper, simpler choice. For frequent work, tight curves, or cleaner cuts with less mechanical force, a plasma…

Aluminum frames are light, stiff and quick to build, but they are less forgiving to weld than mild-steel frames. The choice between MIG and TIG comes down to the frame’s…

Choosing a process for fence repairs For outdoor steel fence repairs, the choice between MIG and stick welding usually comes down to access, wind, steel thickness, and how clean the…