The one thing I hear most from students struggling to control their arc is “I have shaky hands.” The truth is, it’s not how fast you can move your hands, but how steady you can keep them. Any movement in your hands is exaggerated in the arc, and if you’re on a long weld, it […]
Just because the weld looks like it has penetrated, does not mean that it is. One of the biggest mistakes novices make is trying to get a pretty bead, a straight line of metal. But what is important is that the pieces be fused together. You must generate enough heat to melt the two pieces […]
It is easy to get drawn into watching the light and the sparks, but those can be deceiving. I’ve seen lots of new welders focused on the arc, when they should be watching the pool of molten metal just behind the arc. The pool is where the actual welding happens, and being able to see […]
The puddle has no patience for indecision. Many first few welds are lumpy like a rough cord or sprayed like a splash because the arc was moved, the speed varied, or the torch distance was adjusted. It’s easy to attribute this to the welder, but the primary influence is the operator’s hand. Anchoring your feet […]
