Can You Make $100,000 a Year Welding?
The $100,000 Question: Deconstructing a Welder’s Salary “Can you make $100,000 a year welding?” It’s a question loaded with hope, myth, and the powerful allure of a skilled trade. As someone who signs the paychecks at a fabrication shop, I can tell you the answer is an unequivocal, absolute yes. I can also tell you […]
What is the Gold Melting Point?
For most of my career, I’ve dealt with the titans of industry: steel, titanium, aluminum. These are metals of structure and strength. But in the world of high-tech manufacturing, we also have to be masters of the aristocrats of the periodic table, and none is more famous than gold. Whether we’re dealing with electrical contacts […]
The 4 Types of Welding: An Expert’s Guide
It’s a question I hear all the time, from aspiring hobbyists to new engineers on my team. When you look at the fiery, intimidating process of welding, it’s easy to think of it as one single thing. But that’s like looking at a kitchen and just seeing “cooking.” In reality, welding is a family of […]
FCAW Welding vs MIG: An Expert’s Choice
This guide is written from my personal perspective as a professional engineer and a partner at RM (Rapid Manufacturing). The alphabet soup of welding acronyms is a huge barrier for newcomers, and this specific point of confusion—FCAW vs. MIG—is one I address almost weekly with my team and our clients. They aren’t the same, but […]
MIG vs TIG Welding: An Expert’s Choice
MIG vs. TIG Welding: The Quick Answer Feature MIG (Gas Metal Arc Welding) TIG (Gas Tungsten Arc Welding) Core Analogy The Hot Glue Gun The Surgeon’s Scalpel Speed Extremely Fast Slow & Deliberate Ease of Learning Very Beginner-Friendly Difficult; Steep Learning Curve Weld Appearance Functional, often has spatter Precise, beautiful, “stack of dimes” Control Good, […]
What Does an Arc Welder Do? A Complete Expert Guide
At its heart, the job of an arc welder is deceptively simple and profoundly powerful: it uses a controlled bolt of lightning to melt and fuse pieces of metal together, creating a bond that is as strong, or even stronger, than the original material. Think of it as the ultimate industrial hot glue gun, but […]
What is Plastic Welding? An Engineer’s Guide to Fusing Polymers
You have two pieces of plastic that need to become one. Your first instinct might be to reach for a tube of super glue or a two-part epoxy. While adhesives have their place, in the world of professional manufacturing and high-performance repairs, there is a far superior method for creating a permanent, monolithic bond: plastic […]
MIG vs. ‘Normal’ Welding: An Engineer’s Guide to the 3 Main Types
If you’re asking about the difference between MIG welding and “normal” welding, you’ve hit on one of the most common points of confusion in the entire world of metal fabrication. You’ve likely seen someone welding in a movie or on a farm, with sparks flying from the end of a glowing stick. That’s the image […]
MIG vs. TIG Welding: Which is Better for Your Project?
In the world of metal fabrication, few questions are more common or more critical than, “Should I use a MIG or TIG welder?” To the newcomer, they both seem to do the same thing: join metal with a flash of light and a steady hand. But to a professional, they are as different as a […]
What is welding in welding?
What is Welding in Welding? On the surface, it’s a strange question. But for anyone who has spent their life around the blue-white glare of a welding arc, it makes perfect sense. It’s asking: What is the essence of this craft? What is the fundamental, unchanging truth that connects a massive shipyard welder to a micro-TIG artist […]
