Tool Reviews

For stainless pipe repairs, TIG usually gives better control over heat, puddle size, and root penetration. Stick welding is faster to set up, works outdoors, and costs less to get…

Flux-core and stick can both weld thick steel outdoors, but they solve different problems. Self-shielded flux-core wire feeds continuously and can lay down metal quickly; stick welding uses coated electrodes…

Plasma cutting and metal grinding both put your eyes at risk, but they do not call for the same lens. Grinding throws fast-moving chips and abrasive dust; plasma cutting adds…

Handling hot steel between welds is a different job from shielding your hands during an arc. You may need to lift a tack-welded part, move a plate, or steady a…

Stainless TIG work demands a glove that protects your hand without making the torch feel clumsy. Too much bulk can spoil fine movements; too little insulation can leave your fingers…

Stainless steel welding creates a different respiratory-protection problem than ordinary mild-steel work. TIG and MIG fumes can contain nickel and chromium compounds, including hexavalent chromium, while grinding and brushing add…

What “replaceable battery and solar assist” means A solar-assisted auto-darkening helmet uses light from the arc, often supplemented by a replaceable battery, to power its lens. Solar assist does not…

Why confined-space work changes the choice A helmet for welding in a tight bay, tank, or equipment frame has to do more than block arc light. It needs to clear…

What you need for accurate cuts A plasma cutter can make clean circles and repeatable template cuts, but a steady hand is rarely enough for close-fitting parts. The main variables…

Expanded metal is a tough cut for a plasma cutter because the sheet is mostly openings. The torch can lose its path across a strand, then fail to re-establish the…