The Highs, Lows of A New Metal Fabricating Business

THE REAL WORLD FOR WELDING PROFESSIONALS March/April 2018
Formerly Practical Welding Today
The highs, lows

of a new metal
fabricating
business
4 ways welding
distributors
can help you
Best practices
for welding
out of position
An official publication of the

Fabricators & Manufacturers
Association, International®
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PM
THE
CONTENTS
®
March/April 2018 / Vol. 1 No. 4
FEATURES DEPARTMENTS
06
14 28 UNDER THE HOOD
COVER STORY WELDING SUPPLY
The trials, tribulations, and thrills of 4 ways welding distributors 08
being your own boss can help weld shops CALENDAR
Joe Lynch found himself almost two Welding distributors are equipped to help
decades into a career that was neither
rewarding nor fulfilling. So he quit his
you in more ways than you might think.
From process analyses and safety audits
09
job and went into the welding and metal to hands-on training and equipment dem- INDUSTRY NEWS
fabricating business full time. While he’s onstrations, many distributors can offer
only been at it for a little over a year, Lynch
has experienced the roller coaster that is
expertise and a foundation to grow your
welding operation.
40
small business ownership—the good, the WELDING HACKS
bad, and the unexpected. Through it all, A multitool for small spaces; a third hand
however, he’s never been happier. 32 for tack welding.
(Cover photo courtesy of Eric Stoike, WELDING SUPPLY Q&A
Allendale, Mich.)
A glimpse inside the welding 42
distributor PLAYING WITH FIRE
20 Evan Bennear, sales manager at Dale Hungry men and women, sparked by
PIPE WELDING Oxygen Inc. and member of the GAWDA the same fire, won’t stop evolving
board of directors and co-chair of the
Clamping jig aids in mitering, Plenty of successful individuals have trusted
member services committee, discusses
coping, welding at precise experience as their preferred method of
some of the hot-button issues welding
locations and angles higher learning. The lesson for all—weld-
distributors face today.
ers and nonwelders alike—is to challenge
One welder, fed up with using a combina- yourself to look outside the boundaries of
tion of clamps, vises, jigs, and fixtures,
devised a system specifically for setting, 35 your profession (or degree) to grow, adapt,
and experience as much as possible.
marking, cutting, and welding tube and ADVERTORIAL
pipe. Learn how Airgas can help you
navigate a variety of business needs. 46
ALUMINUM WORKSHOP
24 Still experiencing porosity?
FILLER METALS 36 If your weld porosity problems are not
Out-of-position welding ARTIST’S GALLERY caused by the usual suspects, it may be
Some processes and consumables are Learning to weld in a shipyard something a little less obvious. Frank
better suited to fit your needs than others. A South Carolina metal artist uses the Armao shares potential causes for porosity
Learn how to choose appropriately for your welding skills he learned while serving that aren’t commonplace but still have an
out-of-position needs and which common as resident artist at a shipyard to create effect on the weld.
mistakes to avoid. life-like sculptures out of flatware and other
upcycled materials. 48
CONSUMABLES CORNER
Tips for welding thin materials
The columnists share a comprehensive
guide to welding thin materials.
50
PRODUCT NEWS
56
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING
57
ADVERTISERS INDEX
58
JIM’S COVER PASS
Tips to pass a 4G SMAW 7018 test
Jim Mosman shares insight for passing a
difficult out-of-position SMAW test.
4 March/April 2018 The WELDER

UNDER THE HOOD
Amanda Carlson
Editor, The WELDER®
amandac@thefabricator.com
Happy National Welding Month

April is National Welding Month, a time to then maybe people would be more accepting of
recognize the work that welding professionals young people heading down that path after high
do across all industries. I am not a welder, but I school versus going the college route.
can truly say that I appreciate it more with each While the vast majority of you will probably
passing year. When I came aboard this magazine continue doing what you do best during National
roughly 11 years ago, my exposure to weld- Welding Month—which is weld—the American
ing had been limited at best. But after several Welding Society has a few suggestions on how
months on the job and a four-day crash course in you can bring attention to it.
all things welding at Hobart Institute of Welding Be a Mentor. My perception of the welding
Technology, I gained a very real appreciation for community is that it is supportive and helpful.
welding. Welding is truly a craft and it takes time, reps,
I won’t lie to you, I was terrified of burning and a lot of mistakes to become proficient. It’s
down the building or lighting myself on fire. I a lot easier to navigate the terrain with a guide
was sure that, somehow, I would make the gas who’s been there, done that. If you’ve logged
tank explode during oxyacetylene welding—and some serious miles under the hood, maybe
I was relieved when none of that transpired. consider taking a younger co-worker aside and
After I broke through the fear of striking an arc, I showing him or her something that helped you
have to say it was extremely addicting. Hearing in your formative years.
nothing but the buzz of the arc and seeing noth- Promote the Value of Skilled Trades. Take
ing but blue or white light through my welding advantage of Manufacturing DaySM by hosting
helmet was almost calming. an event and inviting schools and community
When I returned home from the class, I found members to tour your shop.
myself noticing welds everywhere around me in Set the Example. Consider bringing your
daily life. I saw the welds in the bleachers at the sons and daughters to the shop or garage, ex-
gym during volleyball tournaments, in the items plaining to them what you do, and letting them
I had in my home, and in the metal art sculpture get their hands dirty—safely, of course.
in my parents’ front yard. I tried to guess what However you choose to spend the month of
process was used, and I even would talk about April, thank you for putting time and energy into
it with friends (who thought I was totally weird honing a craft that affects many but is noticed
for bringing it up). I’d even get excited when I by few.
saw a truck on the highway rigged with a power
source.
It was like I was seeing something for the first
time, when in fact it had always been right there
in front of me. If more people who don’t weld
had a better understanding of what it is, where @TheWELDERmag @theweldermagazine
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THE
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
®
10th Annual Safety Conference Hands-on Workshop: Metal Fabrication

18-19 Elgin, Ill.
Fabricators & Manufacturers Assn. Intl.
23-25 Fundamentals
Palatine, Ill.
April July
888-394-4362 | www.fmanet.org Fabricators & Manufacturers Assn. Intl.
888-394-4362 | www.fmanet.org
Smart Manufacturing Experience
30-2 Boston GOLF4MFG NBT Open
April/May
SME, AMT
800-733-4763
20 Chicago
Fabricators & Manufacturers Assn. Intl.
www.smartmanufacturingexperience.com August
888-394-4362 | www.fmanet.org
FABTECH® Mexico
2-4 Mexico City
Manufacturing DaySM
May FMA, SME, PMA, AWS, CCAI
888-394-4362 | https://mexico.fabtech.com 5 North America
NAM
October
Internet of Things North America 202-637-3121 | www.mfgday.com
31-1 Oak Brook, Ill.

TWST Events
May/June FABTECH®
720-799-1460 | http://iotna.com
6-8 Atlanta
FMA, SME, PMA, AWS, CCAI
FABTECH® Canada November
12-14 Toronto
FMA, SME, PMA, AWS, CCAI
888-394-4362 | www.fabtechexpo.com
June
888-394-4362 | http://fabtechcanada.com
The WELDER staff FMA officers & directors Phil Kooima, Kooima Co.
President & CEO, FMA Edward Youdell Chairman of the Board Lyle Menke, Peddinghaus Corp. Carlos Mendizabal-Perez, Industrias Selbor SA de CV
Group Publisher Dave Brambert First Vice Chairman William “Jeff” Jeffery, IRMCO Jay Phillips, Valley Iron Inc.
Second Vice Chairman Gregg Simpson, Ohio Laser LLC Sarah Richards, Jones Metal Inc.
Editor-in-Chief Dan Davis
Secretary/Treasurer Bill Isaac, MC Machinery Systems/ James Rogowski, TRUMPF Inc.
THE WELDER Editor Amanda Carlson
Mitsubishi Laser Lori Tapani, Wyoming Machine Inc.
Contributing Editor Amy Nickel Immediate Past Chairman of the Board Vivek Gupta, Lisa Wertzbaugher, Superior Tube Products
Senior Copy Editor Teresa Chartos Texas ProFab Corp. President & CEO Edward Youdell,
Graphic Designers Jennifer Paulson, Margaret Clark, Fabricators & Manufacturers Association Intl.
Mary Mincemoyer, Janell Drolsum Directors
Publication Coordinator Holly Lipper R. Bruce Benedict, Production Tube Cutting Inc. The WELDER Editorial Advisory Committee
Director of Circulation Kim Bottomley Ron Bochat, INNOVO Corp. Paul Cameron, Element Materials Technology-St. Paul
James R. (Rob) Bohn Jr., Nema Enclosures Manufacturing Corp. Daniel Galiher, Tower Intl.
Circulation Manager Brenda Wilson
Rick Hargrove, Steel & Pipe Supply Co. Inc., Warren Long, Briggs & Stratton Corp.
Data Verification Specialist Rhonda Fletcher Storage & Processors James Mosman, Odessa College
Senior Fulfillment Specialist Anna Peacock Brian Havlovic, Kawasaki Motors Mfg. Corp. USA Allen Parsons, Austal
Web Content Manager Vicki Bell Jason Hillenbrand, Amada America Inc. Daniel Turner, Yuba College
Multimedia Specialist Sherry Young
Senior Web Manager Mike Owens Statement of Policy
As a publication of the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association International, The WELDER recognizes the need and
importance of disseminating information about modern metal welding and joining techniques, machinery, tooling, and
The WELDER advertising sales management concepts for the metalworking professional. The policy of the publisher and this journal is to be nonpartisan,
Associate Publisher Jim Gorzek, jimg@thefabricator.com favoring no one product or company. The representations of facts and opinions expressed in the articles are those of the
Senior Account Representatives author and are not necessarily endorsed by the publisher and this journal. By including information on new products, new
literature, news of the industry, articles, etc., this impartiality is strived for and extends to the mention of trade names. Unless
CT, DE, KY, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, TN, VA, VT, WV product identification makes the reference unavoidable, the generic name is used. We acknowledge that on occasion there
Sean Smith, seans@thefabricator.com may be oversights and errors; the editors regret such oversights and re-emphasize their policy to be impartial at all times. The
GA, MD, OH, and International publishers reserve the right to refuse advertising they deem inappropriate for publication in The WELDER, including ads for
Mike Lacny, mikel@thefabricator.com classes of products and services not considered of significant interest to the readership. Standard Rate & Data Service lists our
AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, FL, ID, KS, LA, MO, MS, MT, ND, advertising rates in Section 156. Consult SRDS or our current rate card for full rates and data.
NM, NV, OK, OR, SD, TX, UT, WA, WY Publications of FMA Communications Inc. maintain a policy of keeping editorial and advertising separate to ensure editorial
Phil Arndt, phila@thefabricator.com integrity that most benefits our readership. Editorial content, including feature articles and press releases, is determined
IA, IN, MI, MN, NE, WI, and Canada solely by the publisher. Editorial content cannot be purchased, nor can it be used as a benefit of advertising dollars spent.
Amy Hudson, amyh@thefabricator.com Editorial is free-of-charge, subject to space availability, and open to all interested parties that submit items meeting our
editorial style and format as determined by the publisher.
IL, NC, SC
Michael Scott, michaels@thefabricator.com Note: Some photographs printed in this publication may be taken with safety equipment removed for photographic purposes.
However, in actual operation, it is recommended that correct safety procedures and equipment be utilized.
Classified Advertising
John Mathews, johnm@thefabricator.com FMA’s Certified Education Centers
Director of Accounting Bob Young FMA Certified Education Centers (CEC) are community and technical colleges, trade schools, and universities that specialize
Accounts Receivable Mary Simons in training adults for careers in the metal forming, fabricating, processing, and machining sectors. They offer coursework
for local students year-round and serve as host locations for many types of FMA professional development programs as
requested. A council of representative members convene six times a year to plan and execute special programs on worker
Contact The WELDER training for educators and human resource managers from companies of all sizes.
2135 Point Blvd., Elgin, IL 60123 To learn more about FMA’s CEC program and view a list of the current member schools,
Phone: 815-399-8700 • Fax: 847-844-1270 visit www.fmanet.org/involvement/certified- education-centers/.
E-mail: info@thefabricator.com
To discover how your local community or technical college can become a member,
call 888-394-4362 or send an e-mail to info@fmanet.org.
A PUBLICATION OF BUSINESS PUBLICATIONS

FMA COMMUNICATIONS INC. AUDIT OF CIRCULATION

INDUSTRY NEWS
The Refrigeration Venturedyne Ltd. acquires Lakewood Fab Tech

School begins classes Pewaukee, Wis.-based Venturedyne Ltd., a in designing stainless steel equipment,
for new welding holding company for manufacturing, sales, offering processes including laser cutting,
specialist program and service companies, has purchased metal forming, deburring and finishing,
The Refrigeration School Inc. Lakewood Fab Tech of Holland, Mich. CNC machining, welding and passivation,
(RSI), an HVAC/R school in Lakewood manufactures machines, sub- and assembly.
Phoenix, has started classes assemblies, and parts for food processing, The 27-employee company has been
for its new welding specialist material handling, and automated assem- dissolved and combined with Venturedyne
program in collaboration with bly at its 50,000-sq.-ft. facility. It specializes Ltd.’s Thermotron Industries
Tulsa Welding School (TWS). 8463 Modular TIG Welder Mar 2018 2/15/18 7:45 PM Page 1
ModularTheTIG K
The program can accommo-
ITS
date 120 students.
The program focuses on
welding safety, torch cutting
processes, proper arc welding
equipment setup, important
welding control techniques,
right torch,
fundamental welding process-
es, and basic welding metal-
right now.
lurgy. Using curriculum from The Modular TIG Kit from Astaras
Tulsa Welding School, classes carries 2 torch bodies, 2 elements,
are primarily lab-based and and 5 torch heads that assemble
prepare students for entry-lev- in 20 different combinations for
el positions in structural, pipe exactly the torch you need to
and pipeline, and thin-alloy get right to the weld joint.
welding. Choose from three Kits:
For more information, visit
150 and 200 Amp air-
www.refrigerationschool.com/
cooled, and 250 Amp
programs/welding-specialist/.
water-cooled. No more wasting time
looking for a specialty torch. Give Astaras a call or
ESAB completes
acquisition of Sandvik
go to www.astaras.com.
welding business
ESAB Welding & Cutting
Products, Annapolis Junction,
Md., has completed the ac- www.astaras.com
Astaras, Inc.
quisition of the Sandvik weld- 6901 Bryan Dairy Road, Suite 160
ing operations, including pro- Largo, Florida 33777
duction units in Scranton, Pa., PH: 727- 546 - 9600
FX: 727- 546 - 9699
and Sandviken, Sweden; the
technical sales and product What is the Weld joint accessibility.
management organization; as Modular advantage?
well as multiyear strategic col-
laboration on R&D for future
product developments.
Sandvik is a developer
and manufacturer of stainless
steels and special alloys. Three kits, each with 20 possible torch combinations.
ESAB’s portfolio includes Never get caught looking for a specialty torch.
stainless steel, nickel, and
high-alloy welding filler met-
als; strip cladding electrodes;
and fluxes.
The Welder — March 2018 4.625" x 7.25"
The WELDER March/April 2018 9

INDUSTRY NEWS
College of the Canyons named AWS-accredited

testing center for robotic arc welding
The Hobart Institute of Welding Technology College of the
offers our comprehensive Welding Inspector Canyons, Santa
courses through the year. Upcoming start dates: Clarita, Calif., has
Preparation for AWS® Certified Welding been designated
Inspector/Educator (CWI®/CWE®) Exam by the American
May 7: Jun 18: Jul 16: Aug 13: Sep 17: Oct 15: Nov 5: Dec 3 Welding Society
Preparation for Recertification of AWS® CWI® as an accredited
May 14: Jun 25: Jul 23: Aug 20: Sep 24: Oct 22: Nov 12: Dec 10 testing center for
Preparation for AWS® CWI® Code Endorsement certified robotic
May 10: June 21: Jul 19: Aug 16: Sep 20: Oct 18: Nov 8: Dec 6 arc welding (CRAW). It is one of seven colleges in the
Arc Welding Inspection nation and the only one in California to have gained this
Jun 4: Sep 10: Sep 10: Oct 29 status.
Liquid Penetrant & Magnetic Particle Inspection CRAW certification demonstrates that an individual
May 21: Aug 6: Nov 5 possesses the technical knowledge required to perform
Fundamentals of Visual Inspection robotic arc welding in an efficient, economical, and safe
May 30: Sep 5 manner. Individuals seeking CRAW certification can
937-332-9500
choose to become a certified technician (CRAW-T) or a
certified operator (CRAW-O).
or visit us at www.welding.org
The college’s first CRAW certification test administra-
for more information.
®
® tion is expected to take place in fall 2018.
© 2017 Hobart Institute of Welding
Technology, Troy, Ohio For more information, visit www.canyons.edu/
State of Ohio Reg. No. 70-12-0064HT departments/weld/pages/default.aspx.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Partsmaster supports welding program for AZZ Inc. acquires Rogers Brothers Co.
Georgia inmates AZZ Inc., a Fort Worth, Tex- in galvanizing of small parts,
County Correctional as-based provider of metal including fasteners, wash-
Institution. coatings services, welding ers, and castings. It also can
The welding systems, specialty electrical galvanize light- to medium-
program will be led equipment, and highly engi- weight structure members
by professors from neered services to the power and tubular fabrications.
Lanier Technical generation, transmission, Going forward, the facility
College and will give distribution, and industrial will operate as AZZ Galvaniz-
qualifying inmates markets, has acquired all ing—Rockford.
the opportunity to the assets and outstanding The acquisition increases
learn a trade with the shares of Rogers Brothers AZZ’s network of hot-dip
hopes of securing Co., a privately held provider galvanizing plants to 45 sites
Representatives of Dallas- employment in the weld- of galvanizing services based in the U.S. and Canada.
based MRO products ing industry. Partsmaster in Rockford, Ill.
supplier Partsmaster, a supplied hand tools, electric The operations include ULT opens U.S. branch
division of NCH Corp., grinders, wire stick elec- a 13,000-sq.-ft. plant and ULT, a Germany-based
recently attended a trodes, welding helmets, 30,000 sq. ft. of office vendor of air treatment and
ribbon-cutting ceremony cutoff wheels, welding warehouse, along with three fume extraction technology,
and dedication of the gloves and jackets, carts, kettles, galvanizing centri- has opened a subsidiary,
state-funded rehabilitation and safety equipment, as fuges, and other equipment ULT LLC, in Milwaukee.
and welding program well as safety training and used for hot-dip galvanizing. The U.S. branch is head-
benefiting the Jackson industry knowledge. Rogers Brothers specializes ed by Wolfgang Köhler.
Chesapeake Yachts
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Associated Equipment Spectralytics opens facility dedicated to new product development

acquires American polymer prototypes.
Weldquip The 15,000-sq.-ft. facility
Associated Equipment Co. includes laser cutting, weld-
has purchased American ing, and ablation machines
Weldquip, Sharon Center, at multiple wavelengths
Ohio, a manufacturer and speeds; a Class 10,000
of GMAW guns, robotic clean room; more than 100
torches, and related stocked materials; and the
accessories. capacity to handle commer-
Associated Equipment cial, high-volume produc-
Co. is the parent company tion. Processes include laser
of Pearland, Texas-based machining of components in
Profax, a manufacturer of tube, sheet, wire, subcom-
torches for GMAW, GTAW, ponent, and other raw stock
FCAW, SAW, and arc goug- Spectralytics, a Cretex Medi- in Maple Plain, Minn. The shapes; inspection capa-
ing, as well as positioning cal company, a laser cutting new facility is dedicated to bilities; and postprocessing
equipment and other weld- and processing contract helping customers develop services such as marking,
ing products. Operations, manufacturer serving the concepts, validate designs, annealing, chemical clean-
sales, and management global medical device design for manufacturing, passivation, texturing,
for American Weldquip will industry, has opened a ability, and build quick-turn electropolishing, assembly,
remain in Ohio. product development center biocompatible metal and and heat shrinking.

INDUSTRY NEWS
Plasmait moves to new facility FutureWeld merges Hypertherm celebrates

with Frontier 50 years in business
The lines are used Techni-Kote Industries Hypertherm, a Hanover,
for heat treatment
Phoenix-based FutureWeld N.H.-based manufacturer of
trials on various
Co. Inc., an aerospace industrial cutting systems
ferrous and nonferrous
metal finisher, and Frontier and software, is celebrating
materials in a wide
Techni-Kote Industries LLC, a 50 years in business. Events
temperature range, as
provider of chemical process- this year will include the
well as demonstrations
ing services to the aerospace unearthing of a long-buried
of surface cleaning,
industry, Chino Valley, Ariz., time capsule and celebra-
surface activation,
have agreed to merge and tions at all its global locations
and coating on client
form Frontier Group Inc. with company founder Dick
Plasmait, a supplier of materials.
The new company offers Couch.
plasma heat and surface Demonstrations of the
services including anodizing, Couch and Professor Bob
treatment machinery for PlasmaPreplate process are
chemical film, painting, pas- Dean started the company
wire, tube, and strip prod- performed in line with a hot-
sivation, phosphate, NDT, in 1968 in a small, two-car
ucts, has moved to a new dip tin bath for acid-free and
and welding. garage, where they discov-
facility in Lannach, Austria. flux-free hot-dip tinning of
The new company will ered that radially injecting
It includes a large shop copper, steel, and aluminum
remain in both locations, with water into a plasma cutting
floor space with a crane and alloys. Demonstration lines
more than 70 employees and nozzle would form a narrow
offices, as well as four heat also are available for rent,
40,000 sq. ft. of capacity and arc, making it possible to cut
and surface treatment lines which allows clients to test
two complete anodizing and metal accurately and quickly
used for client demonstra- plasma treatment machinery
other chemical processing while nearly eliminating heavy
tions and trials. at their own facilities.
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COVER STORY
A little
Joe Ly
dream
own m
shop.
have p
highs,
lows, a
twists
followe
adven
been h
Welder_MA18_Final.indd 14 3/6/18 11:21 AM

COVER STORY
The trials, tribulations, and

thrills of being your own boss
5 lessons a welder learned
after a year on his own
By Amanda Carlson
It’s a cold, crisp day in Alto, Mich., with plenty of sunshine bouncing off the snow-lined
streets. A gravel drive curves and extends into a canopy of leafless trees for about a half
mile until you reach a single-story home. A small detached garage sits to the right of the
home, an all-terrain vehicle parked just shy of the entry way. That small garage is where
Lynch’s Metal Fabrication calls home.
A walk inside reveals a clean, well-lit shop with metal fabricating equipment lining
the perimeter. A CNC plasma table sits near the back-left wall next to a shiny metal
welding table, and on the opposite wall is a manual press brake with a piece of sheet
that has the word “Family” written in script. It’s simple a shop, but it’s enough. For now.
Joe Lynch is leaning over his saw, with his four-year-old son Hudson looking on,
complete with shop dust streaked across his nose. Roughly 13 months ago, Lynch found
himself tired, frustrated, and almost two decades into a career that was neither reward-
ing nor fulfilling. No joy or satisfaction came with the work; just a steady paycheck.
While the 35-year-old wanted his three young children to believe that they could be
anything in life as long as they worked hard, he felt like a fraud.
Something needed to change.
What happened next is what many dream of doing but never find the guts to try.
Lynch quit his full-time job, purchased a plasma table, and, with his wife’s blessing,
jumped head first into the world of metal fabricating.
Since then, Lynch has discovered that being a one-man metal fabricating job shop
has its perks, but it’s hard as hell. There are no days off, there’s no one else to blame if
things go wrong, and there is no way to predict the ebbs and flows of business. As dif-
ficult as the last year of his life has been, he’s honestly never been happier.
This is his story.
WHERE HE CAME FROM

Lynch got into metalworking as a teenager in high school, where he took machine shop
classes and fixed race cars in his spare time. The hands-on learning always interested
A little over a year ago, him. The book learning? Well, not so much. He grew up in Grand Rapids, Mich., and
Joe Lynch realized his was raised by a single mom who worked two full-time jobs to make ends meet. It was
dream of opening his she who taught him what hard work truly meant.
own metal fabricating
shop. Nothing could ever
After high school, Lynch went to work for a die shop in high school and then a small
have prepared him for the machine shop after he graduated. Business at the machine shop dipped after the terror-
highs, the excruciating ist attack on Sept. 11, 2001, prompting him to take a job as a truck driver at a large food
lows, and the unexpected service company. He never intended for that job to be a career, but there’s something to
twists and turns that
followed. Every day is an be said for a steady paycheck and benefits, especially after he got married and started
adventure, and he’s never a family.
been happier. But as time passed, his feelings of restlessness and frustration grew.

COVER STORY
It was Lynch’s dream to make

metalworking a full-time career,
so one day he took the leap.
He added, “Right then and
there, I made that commitment
to the job and to my family that
I will be successful at it, no
matter what it takes.”
“What am I showing my kids? When I would get home from work at night, I just
wanted to be left alone. I was telling my kids they can be anything they want to be, and
then here I am essentially delivering groceries. I’m not knocking that, because it did a
lot of good for me, but delivering groceries was not my dream. It wasn’t what I wanted.”
Whenever he did metalworking jobs on the side, it was truly the only time he felt
happy at work. One day, after a particularly hard day at work, Lynch had enough. He
bought a small CNC plasma table, drove it home, and told his wife Amanda that he
wanted to do metal fabricating full time.
“It was my dream to do metalworking for a long time, but I realized I’d never do it
unless I just jumped. Right then and there I made that commitment to the job and to my
family that I will be successful at it, no matter what it
takes. You can kick me, punch me, whatever you want,
LYNCH HAS DISCOVERED THAT BEING A
and I will keep going.”
His wife gave her blessing, and he sent in his notice ONE-MAN METAL FABRICATING JOB SHOP
to his job. HAS ITS PERKS, BUT IT’S HARD AS HELL.
THERE ARE NO DAYS OFF, THERE’S NO ONE
NAVIGATING THE HIGHS AND THE LOWS
ELSE TO BLAME IF THINGS GO WRONG,
What followed that decision was a series of high and
lows, and unexpected challenges. AND THERE IS NO WAY TO PREDICT THE
First, the highs. EBBS AND FLOWS OF BUSINESS.
Waking up every morning and putting in a full day’s
work no longer felt like a chore. Sure, the work was
hard, but he loved doing it and felt much more accomplished at the end of the day.
Having complete autonomy in every aspect of business was certainly a challenge. After
all, if a piece of equipment broke down, if he messed up or wasn’t totally happy with the
job that he did, he alone was responsible. It was still worth it.
“I can’t stress enough how much I hated my day job. I felt like life was passing me
by, and I knew I was put on this earth to do something more. It’s certainly easier in many
ways to work for someone else than it is to work for yourself. You have issues every

single day and you have to fix it, but I wouldn’t have
it any other way.”
The first several months of 2017, business flour-
ished. Lynch had plenty of work rolling in, he was
turning a profit, and he was happy.
“Right off the bat I was swamped. I had all of
these big customers and I thought, ‘If this is how
it is, this is cake!’ In one month I made $10,000.
Things in the beginning went above and beyond my
expectations,” Lynch explained.
He got connected with a guy who set him up
with jobs for three big clients: making a 30-tap beer
dispenser for a Buffalo Wild Wings in Flint, Mich.,
and fabricating components for Detroit professional
sport venues Comerica Park and Ford Field.
But just as quickly as the highs came, they went,
followed by the lows. Starting in August, absolutely
nothing came through the doors. For the life of him,
he couldn’t win a bid. Bills were piling up and so
was the stress, and with that came self-doubt and
the feeling that he had made a mistake.
“I don’t know how many times I went to my wife
and cried my eyes out to her and said, ‘What the
hell did I do?’ I was making great money at my old
job. In those moments where I consider going back
to my old job, my wife reminds me why we did this
in the first place.”
LESSONS LEARNED (AND STILL LEARNING)

One year in business certainly does not make Lynch
an expert, but the array of experiences he’s had in a
relatively short period of time has been illuminating
and more educational than the 15 years he spent
in his past career. Here are some of the lessons he’s One year in business certainly does not make Lynch an expert,
learned along the way. but the array of experiences he’s had in a relatively short
No. 1: Beggers can’t be choosers. Being cre- period of time has been illuminating and more educational than
the 15 years he spent in his past career.
ative, working with his hands, and thinking critically
are the things Lynch loves about metalworking.
Unfortunately, not every job that comes his way is
going to afford him that luxury. And when you need
work, you’ll do just about anything.
“There was this one job where all I’d have to “They were in a pinch. I had the horse trailer
do was cut out circles on my plasma table. I’m not hooked to the truck, it’s full of hay, my kids are in the
trying to sound negative or like I’m above the work, car. I said, ‘I’ll be there in 20 minutes.’ I got there,
but I like to use my brain. Cutting out circles on my they told me they needed 415 hangers for a powder
plasma is not using my brain. I want to be chal- coater by the following week. I said I’d do it.”
lenged. I didn’t even want to bid the job, but I did They returned home, called his wife’s mother to
because I needed the work.” watch the kids, and got to work. Joe welded wash-
Ironically, he didn’t win the bid—he lost it by $10. ers to a flat piece of steel, and Amanda filed them
No. 2: When a customer calls, you’d better down. They worked all night.
answer. The phone rang while Lynch and his family No. 3: Every decision you make will affect your
were out running errands on a rare Saturday off. It business. Want to sleep in, maybe take a vacation
was a customer who had a job that required a fairly day? Sure, go ahead. You can do those things when
quick turnaround. you’re in charge. But how will that affect business?

COVER STORY
Lynch’s personality is perfect for self-employment.

He doesn’t enjoy sitting around, and he doesn’t
believe in having free time. He likes being busy.
“This business is my life. I don’t go out with my
friends anymore, and that’s OK. I don’t do a lot of
the things I used to do in my free time. My feeling is,
if I have four or five free hours, it can be better spent
in my shop doing something productive. I don’t
have time to waste anymore. I don’t have weekends
anymore, and neither does my wife. We work pretty
much every Saturday and Sunday because we be-
lieve in this business and we know it will take off.”
It sounds a little hard core, and maybe it is. But
he has goals that he wants to achieve, both short-
term and long-term. Lynch is in his shop by 5 a.m.
every morning. If business is slow, he’s making cold
calls or pursuing bids. In the evenings, he updates
social media, trying to post when traffic on the site is
at its peak.
No. 4: Be confident and never stop work-
ing. The slow periods of time and the anxiety that
accommodates them certainly caused Lynch to
second-guess his decision to go into business for
himself. He learned that the best way to get out of
those moments is to work, to take risks, to make
calls, and to put himself out there. Sure, there were
a lot of ‘Nos’ that came his way as a result, but there
were also a few ‘Yes’ moments.
“You have to have faith that what you’re doing
is right. You have to have confidence in yourself
that it’s going to work out. And you can’t have that
confidence if you don’t do the work. How do you
stay even keel? Work. That’s the best thing I can say.
There’s no such thing as luck.”
No. 5: Ask yourself, ”Do I really want this?”
In his first year in business, Lynch asked himself this
question plenty of times. Was it worth leaving a
steady job with vacation days, a retirement plan, and
benefits for the roller coaster world of small business
ownership?
“No lie, it’s all about getting punched in the face
Waking up every morning and putting
and finding a way to keep going. This is what I want,
in a full day’s work no longer feels
like a chore. Sure, the work is hard, and I believe that this is going to take off, so that’s
but he loves doing it and feels much my only option. My advice to anyone considering
more accomplished at the end of the doing what I did is to ask yourself if you really want it.
day. Having complete autonomy in
“Everybody thinks it’s going to be so damned
every aspect of business is certainly
a challenge, but it’s well worth it. easy, and it’s not. This is the hardest thing I’ve ever
done. This is not something that just goes away or
gets better, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
THE
Editor Amanda Carlson can be reached at

amandac@thefabricator.com.
Lynch’s Metal Fabrication, www.lynchsmetalfab.com

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PIPE WELDING
By Eric Lundin
Clamping jig aids Editor’s Note: This article was originally published
in the Jan./Feb. 2018 issue of The Tube & Pipe
Journal®.
in mitering, coping, In a rigidly ordered world, one dominated by pre-

dictability and consistency, many tubular projects are
welding at precise straightforward. For any given assembly, the bill of

materials usually lists 90-degree angles and consis-
tent lengths. Whether cutting or coping, the prep
locations and angles work and the welding go like clockwork.

However, even in this world, some projects aren’t
straightforward. Designs based on curves, whether
they are tight-radius bends or gently sweeping arcs,
usually leave fabricators scratching their heads. Mi-
Fixturing system makes ter cutting or coping components, and bracing them
guesswork obsolete to an assembly for tacking, can be vexing under the

best of circumstances. Sure, most fabrication shops
have no small assortment of vises, jigs, clamps, and
straps, but cobbling something together leaves a lot
be desired. Often a fabricator thinks he’s on Success
St., only later to realize that he’s actually stuck at the
intersection of Mistake Ave. and
Rework Blvd.
MARK, CUT, CLAMP,

WELD, DISTORT
A career fabricator and presi-
dent of Meridian Stainless Inc.,
Tim Uecker has spent 20 years
focusing on two broad catego-
ries of custom fabrication work:
custom marine hardware and a
combination of ornamental and
architectural work for commer-
cial, institutional, and residential
customers. Although the company
works mostly with plate and sheet,
it also does quite a bit of tube and
pipe work.
“We make a lot of handrails
and decorative work for yachts,”
Uecker said. “We can’t do any
welding on the yacht because the
spatter would ruin the deck, so
we do the work in the shop.” The
challenges start when measur-
ing a yacht’s dimensions, mainly
because right angles play a small
role in marine applications. From
bow to stern and port side to

PIPE WELDING
starboard, decks are pitched so they shed water. “We tried various combinations of vises and
Making a handrail requires extreme care in measur- clamps, but that’s not easy because the tubes are
ing dimensions and angles. Most of the intersections round,” Uecker said. “The material is stainless steel,
between the supports and the handrail are a few so we can’t use magnets. We use TIG [tungsten inert
degrees from 90 in two axes. gas] welding to join the tubes, and that requires
Making the handrail itself usually isn’t too difficult two hands, so we don’t have a free hand to hold the
because the rail follows the contours of the deck. tube in place.” Even when a fabricator does find a
However, making the vertical supports and clamp- suitable way to do all of that, the tube isn’t likely
ing them to the rail for welding bring one challenge to come out straight. The heat from the welding
after another. Although the company built up a processes is enough to impart a bit of camber to an
solid body of skill in cutting, coping, and welding to otherwise straight tube, so fabricators learn to use
make handrail assemblies, each new project used to spacers and clamp the tube tight, bending it slightly
generate the same old set of apprehensions: How in one direction before the weld heat bends it in the
can I brace these pieces firmly so I can mark lines other direction, resulting in a straight tube.
for coping or miter cutting? Will I get the angle “Boat building is steeped in tradition, and one
just right, or will I have to grind a bit? Will the heat of those traditions is learning on the job,” Uecker
from the grinder burn off the line I marked before I said. “These days we have a lot of people with little
am finished? When I get to the welding stage, how experience, and few with a lot of experience, but
much gap will I have to fill? Finally, how much will most of those with a lot of experience are retiring.
the welding heat distort the tube? Unless you have a mentor or a reliable system, it can
The Angle-Rite® Clamping System consists of two main components, a primary clamp and a secondary clamp.
Fixturing and weld prep require seven steps (steps 2 and 3 are shown in the second image):
Step 4
Set the angle of intersection.
Step 2
Affix the secondary clamp to the adjoining tube
or pipe.
Step 1
Affix the main clamp to the main tube or Step 3
pipe. Pin the two clamps together.
Step 5 Step 6
If using the angle and length guage, the tube Remove the bottom half of the secondary
is ready for cutting or coping. If not, mark an clamp and attach the clamp to the abrasive
index line on the workpiece and then advance notcher to make a saddle.
the tube for cutting or coping.
Step 7
Affix the secondary clamp and tube to
the primary clamp and tube. The tube
assembly is now ready for welding.

PIPE WELDING
take many years to become proficient at cutting and support piece. He then connects the two clamps
fitting pipe.” together and orients the support tube to the correct
Like many fabrication shop owners, Uecker was angle and locks it in place. After the angle is set, the
well aware that most of the mentors were close user leaves this setting alone.
to retirement age, or had retired already, so he 3. The secondary clamp has an index marked in
searched without success for a fixturing system that degrees; the user scribes or marks an index line at 0
would help the less-experienced welders become degrees. The user then advances the tube enough
more proficient. to accommodate cutting or coping to the desired
length. The angle and length gauges assist with this
THE MOTHER OF INVENTION step, so no additional marking is required. In other
Necessity is the mother of invention, and eventu- words, the tube stays locked in the clamp until it is
ally Uecker realized that he’d need to make his own welded. The user doesn’t need to make any adjust-
system. The concept wasn’t difficult; he needed ments to the tube from this point forward. This is the
something like an industrial-strength protractor that key to how the system works.
he could affix to the tube. Executing it would be a 4. After cutting to length and doing the neces-
challenge, but eventually he came up with a system sary end prep, the user joins the secondary clamp to
that does just that: the primary clamp. The tube joint now is properly fit
1. The operator affixes the primary clamp to the and aligned for welding.
main tubular member. In the case of a hand railing
assembly, this is the horizontal tube.
2. The operator attaches the secondary clamp,
SAY BON VOYAGE TO WELD STRESS
which resembles a protractor, to the intersecting
DISTORTION
tube. In the case of a hand rail, this is the vertical The final step is to compensate for weld stress
distortion—the main benefit of system. In the case
of a hand rail, the horizontal tube would bend as the
weld solidifies and cools. The clamp compensates
for bending forces by cambering the horizontal tube
in the opposite direction and securing it in place.
When the weld is finished, the handrail is straight or
it has the intended contour. Although predicting the
amount of distortion initially takes a bit of practice,
the system makes it easy to dial in the necessary
amount of compensation.
“Welders are always shooting for the perfect
amount of compensation, whether the workpiece is
straight or curved, and this system helps them do
that,” Uecker said. The user turns a knob to advance
a pressure pad that contacts the tube and keeps
right on advancing it, bending the tube just a bit. It
takes a couple of practice welds to learn how much
to compensate—it depends on factors such as the
®
alloy, the wall thickness, and how much heat and

weld metal are applied during the welding process—
but after that, it’s repeatable, Uecker said.
An animation that shows the sequence can be
viewed at www.anglerite.com.
THE
Eric Lundin can be reached at

ericl@thefabricator.com.
Meridian Stainless Inc., www.meridianstainless.com

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FILLER METALS
Out-of-position
welding
Keys to success
By Blaine Guy
While the welding industry

acknowledges that flat/horizontal,
in-position welding is preferred,
sometimes out-of-position welding
is necessary. When you are weld-
ing a very large piece that cannot
be moved or the workpiece is fixed
in place, your only options may be
vertical and overhead welding.
Out-of-position welding is
used in many industries, including
shipbuilding, offshore, structural,
pipeline, and in general fabrica-
tion when moving the piece isn’t
practical.
Following are several keys to
success for welding out of position,
including choosing the right weld-
ing process and filler metals and
using optimal parameters for the
application.
CHALLENGES, COMMON
MISTAKES
Vertical and overhead welding
are inherently more difficult than
in-position welding because you’re
working against gravity. The liquid
weld pool has a natural tendency to
sag or drip, which makes it harder
Vertical and overhead welding are inherently more to produce quality welds.
difficult than flat/horizontal, in-position welding The way to address this di-
because you’re working against gravity. To weld
lemma, at least with most welding
successfully out of position, it is important to
choose the right welding process and filler metals processes, is to weld slower and
and use optimal parameters for the application. with lower welding parameters or

FILLER METALS
heat input, which reduces weld pool fluidity. How-

ever, doing so causes productivity levels to dip.
Welders oftentimes make these mistakes when
welding out of position:
• Using a welding process that is not optimal for
the application
• Failing to adjust welding parameters from in-
position to out-of-position, resulting in higher heat
inputs than necessary
• Assuming the same techniques and consum-
ables you use for in-position welding also work for
out-of-position welding
You can’t always use the same techniques and
parameters as you would on flat and horizontal
welding and expect the same success with out-of-
position welding. In addition to welding slower and
with less heat input, it may also be necessary to
manipulate the weld pool to produce an acceptable
bead. You can do this by using a weave technique
with most processes.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT PROCESS

Some welding processes make it easier for you
to weld out of position, while others can be more
difficult. Consider some key criteria for making the
selection.
Productivity Requirements. If the application
calls for you to climb up and down scaffolding just
to complete two or three small welds at a time, the
productivity of the welding process itself likely isn’t
an important factor. Compare those types of ap-
plications to high-volume production environments
where productivity is critical to the overall operation.
When welding productivity is important, look for a Figure 1. SMAW electrodes are classified by positional
process that delivers faster results. capabilities, so look for an all-position classification for
vertical and overhead welding.
Environment. Are you welding outdoors or in a
shop? Gas-shielded processes typically work better
indoors, while welding processes that don’t require
shielding gas are better-suited to outdoor work such
as structural and pipeline welding. and flexibility for outdoor applications. Many weld-
Skill Level. Some processes have a wider pa- ers also are familiar with SMAW and often have the
rameter range and can be more forgiving of welder necessary equipment on hand.
technique and consistency and, therefore, more However, because SMAW is a slower process, it’s
forgiving for out-of-position welding. It may be help- best-suited for out-of-position applications where
ful for less experienced welders to choose a process welding productivity isn’t as critical, such as those
that makes it easier to produce good welds out of with fewer welds to complete. Also, keep in mind
position. that there is a built-in stop/start at the end of every
To determine which process meets the needs of electrode when using SMAW.
a specific application, consider the advantages and Electrodes for this process are classified by
limitations of each. positional capabilities, so look for an all-position
classification for vertical or overhead welding (see
SHIELDED METAL ARC WELDING Figure 1). Choosing a smaller-diameter electrode
Because it does not require shielding gas, shielded allows you to use lower amperages to help control
metal arc welding (SMAW) offers great portability the heat in out-of-position welding.

FILLER METALS
How AWS Classifies Low-alloy Flux-cored

(Tubular) Wires, FCAW Process (AWS A5.29)
Figure 2. For both gas-shielded and self-shielded flux-cored

welding, the filler metal is classified by position. Be sure to
choose a wire that is designated for vertical and overhead
welding.
The challenges of out-of-position SMAW can be Gas-shielded FCAW is often the preferred option
minimized by using a lower-amperage setting and for indoor out-of-position applications. It produces
manipulating the arc with a weave technique, which very little spatter, delivers high deposition rates, and
helps make the weld bead wider and flatter. requires less precleaning of the material compared
to gas metal arc welding (GMAW).
FLUX-CORED ARC WELDING The slag systems in all-position FCAW filler met-
The two types of flux-cored arc welding (FCAW) als allow for much higher heat inputs and deposition
processes are gas-shielded and self-shielded. With rates compared with other processes. It’s possible to
both types, the filler metal is classified by position, more than double deposition rates for out-of-posi-
so look for a wire that is designated for vertical and tion welding with FCAW compared to GMAW. Also,
overhead welding (see Figure 2). excellent bead quality is possible in FCAW with no
Flux-cored wire is the easiest to use for out- manipulation.
of-position welding because it’s very forgiving of For these reasons, FCAW wires are considered
variations in welder more forgiving and easier to use for vertical and over-
technique. This is head welding—even for less-experienced welders.
VERTICAL AND OVERHEAD WELDING
especially true for gas- The FCAW processes are well-suited to applica-
ARE INHERENTLY MORE DIFFICULT shielded flux-cored tions that require a lot of welding, especially out-of-
THAN IN-POSITION WELDING wire. position welding. In many applications, it’s possible
BECAUSE YOU’RE WORKING AGAINST Because it does to use the same welding parameters for in-position
not require a shield- welding as for out-of-position welding because
GRAVITY. THE LIQUID WELD POOL HAS
ing gas, self-shielded FCAW allows for a wide parameter window. This
A NATURAL TENDENCY TO SAG OR flux-cored wire is saves time and helps improve productivity.
DRIP, WHICH MAKES IT HARDER TO well-suited for outdoor
PRODUCE QUALITY WELDS. applications as an GAS METAL ARC WELDING
alternative to SMAW. The GMAW process has two options for filler metals:
This wire is less portable than SMAW because of the solid wire and metal-cored wire. These filler metals
addition of a wire feeder, but it offers much greater aren’t classified based on their position capabilities.
productivity. The higher deposition rates mean more Out-of-position welding with this process must
filler metal is being deposited into the weld. In use short-circuit transfer or pulsed GMAW to achieve
addition, stopping and starting are not required as a lower heat input and produce acceptable welds.
frequently in the wire process compared to SMAW. Be aware that the lower heat input will decrease the

FILLER METALS
productivity and deposition rates of the process. to technique and heat input.
Vertical-down welding often is used to avoid the Lower heat is again critical during out-of-position
productivity losses of vertical-up, but vertical-down GTAW. A weave technique can be used, but it is not
is very prone to lack of fusion and not acceptable for as critical as it is with GMAW or SMAW.
many applications. Fabricators would not make a welding process
Out-of-position GMAW often requires you to change to GTAW to improve out-of-position weld-
spend more time dialing in the machine, and it usu- ing, but those who are already using GTAW can
ally requires a weave technique to produce a good successfully use the process for these welds.
weld appearance. The lower heat input needed for
out-of-position GMAW can also result in lack of CHOOSING THE RIGHT PROCESS AND
fusion in the weld. FILLER METALS
When comparing GMAW to gas-shielded FCAW, It’s more difficult to control the various factors in
the flux-cored process is more productive and toler- out-of-position welding—from heat input and travel
ant of parameter variations. GMAW can be—and speed to weld pool manipulation. Achieving success
often is—used to make acceptable welds out of when welding out of position is all about choosing
position. However, if a lot of welding is required, this the right process for the job and knowing the proper
may not be the best option. parameters and techniques. And as with any weld-
ing application, continued practice always helps to
GAS TUNGSTEN ARC WELDING gain the best results.
THE
Like GMAW, gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) is
also an all-position welding process; the filler metals Blaine Guy is welding engineer/CWI at Hobart
are not classified based on position capabilities. Brothers, 101 Trade Square E, Troy, OH 45373,
Successful out-of-position GTAW requires attention 937-332-4000, www.hobartbrothers.com.
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WELDING SUPPLY
4 ways welding
distributors can
help weld shops
How to take full advantage of
the resources they offer
Welding distributors can do more for you than just

sell you equipment and consumables. Many offer
programs that help your shop optimize performance,
increase efficiency, and better compete in your market.
(Photo courtesy of Airgas, Radnor, Pa.)

WELDING SUPPLY
By Craig Guillot
A local welding supply distributor is more than just a place to buy gas
bottles, welding power sources, and consumables. From process analyses
and safety audits to hands-on training and equipment demonstrations,
many distributors can offer expertise and a foundation to grow your weld-
ing operation.
Spending some time in the shop or getting to know your rep better
could greatly benefit your operations. Being upfront about your issues or
desire for process improvements can go a long way as distributors have a
lot of expertise and ways to help you do your job more efficiently.
THEY PROVIDE ADVICE, ANALYSIS

NO. 1 FOR EFFICIENT OPERATION
Like most consumers, welding equipment buyers often look to the web
for the latest deals and to stay up-to-date on trends and new technolo-
gies. While electrodes and gas tungsten arc welding rods can be bought
online with next-day shipment and are the same no matter where they’re
purchased, Rob Tessier, national director of advanced fabrication at
Airgas, said a local distributor can be more than just a source of supplies.
“Realistically, you can buy consumables anywhere. But our goal is not
just to sell something; it’s to make sure that whatever you have, you can
maximize the efficiencies of your equipment,” Tessier said.
In addition to selling supplies and equipment, Airgas offers programs
that help your shop optimize performance, increase efficiency, and better
compete in your market, he added. Airgas has conducted more than 200
surveys and can help your company understand its place in the local mar-
ket and what your purchasing trends may indicate about your operations.
The gas supplier offers a welding efficiency analysis that can help you
learn more best practices and see how your usage of consumables com-
pares to peer benchmarks. Viewing metrics like actual time spent welding
and gas and gas metal arc welding consumables usage can help your
shop identify opportunities for improvement.
Airgas has a team of more than 80 engineers who analyze such data.
For example, an analysis may uncover that your welding operation is us-
ing more contact tips than it should for a company its size in the market.
This could be an indication of electrical discontinuity within the welding
system that causes the voltage and amperages at the contact tip to vary.
These efficiency analyses, performed for free, could help you reduce
gas and consumables usage, increasing output by more than 20 percent
with no capital investment.
“When we start looking at specific ratios that tie to welding, it can help
us help our customer look at the root cause of these issues and how they
can improve their performance,” Tessier said.
In an increasingly competitive environment, many distributors are
seeking ways to actively engage their customers beyond the point of sale.
Chuck Dean, sales manager at Atlas Welding Supply in Tuscaloosa, Ala.,
said Atlas has positioned itself not just as a distributor and seller of prod-
ucts but as a trusted source for expertise and advice.
“As times have changed, and with the advent of the internet, it has
become more important for us to become more than just a supplier of X
widget or Y gas. We’ve got to focus on the experience, and we can help
them save money,” Dean said.

WELDING SUPPLY
YOU GET EXPERTISE, SUPPORT

NO. 2
BEYOND THE EQUIPMENT PURCHASE
It can help to let your distributor know problems you’re
facing. In one example, Atlas learned a customer
was seeking ways to save money on abrasives. A rep
helped the customer reduce their use of abrasives
by moving from a short-arc with a 75 argon/25 CO2
to a spray application with a different gas mixture. It
eventually greatly reduced their cleanup time and their
spatter and abrasive use.
“We had proven documentation that we were saving
this per feet of weld, and they were using a quarter of
abrasives they were a month ago. These are the kinds
of things a [supplier] can help with,” Dean added.
Red Ball Oxygen serves a four-state area in the
South with nearly 20 locations. While the company sells
everything from gases and cylinders to power sources
and hand tools, Joel Armstrong, sales and welding en-
gineer, said the distributor also helps its customers with
Distributors are an excellent resource things like process improve-
for you to learn more about new
ments and safety audits.
technologies and try products and DISTRIBUTORS ARE AN EXCELLENT
equipment before buying. (Photo “We offer a lot of differ-
courtesy of Mississippi Welders RESOURCE FOR YOU TO LEARN MORE ent things. We don’t just
Supply Co. Inc., Winona, Minn.) ship a piece of equipment
ABOUT NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND TRY
and say ‘here you go.’ We
PRODUCTS AND EQUIPMENT BEFORE can do the install and train
BUYING. AND THIS OFTEN EXTENDS your workers on it. We like
to go the extra mile and
BEYOND SIMPLY GLANCING AT
focus on customer service,”
EQUIPMENT IN THE SHOWROOM. Armstrong said.
Although many welding
supply houses offer the expertise and services, buyers
don’t always take full advantage of the opportuni-
ties. Red Ball recently started proactively engaging its
key account customers with value-added reviews that
analyze purchases, operations, and ways to improve
efficiency.
Distributors also can provide niche knowledge or
advice to small welding operations that might lack
expertise in some areas. Mississippi Welders Supply Co.
Inc. in Winona, Minn., can assist with automation and
fire protection and training, said Bruce Nuttall, sales
manager.
“We even have a cryogenics engineer that can
come in and advise a customer on the best way to do
whatever process they need to,” Nuttall said.
YOU CAN TEST BEFORE

NO. 3
YOU INVEST
Many distributors can help customers with
Distributors are an excellent resource for you to learn
things like process improvements and safety
audits. (Photo courtesy of Mississippi Welders more about new technologies and try products and
Supply Co. Inc., Winona, Minn.) equipment before buying. And this often extends be-
yond simply glancing at equipment in the showroom.

WELDING SUPPLY
Dean said Atlas requires its sales reps to conduct focus on moving welding students and current weld-
a certain number of demonstrations every week. ers into specialties.
THE
Demos can be for new power sources or magnetic
drills and grinders, with an introduction and demon- Craig Guillot, a freelance writer, can be reached at
stration by the rep followed by the opportunity for craig@craigguillot@gmail.com.
hands-on use. Airgas, www.airgas.com
“If the customer is qualified, we’ll even let them
try it out for a day or two,” Dean added. Atlas Welding Supply, www.atlaswsco.com
Airgas not only informs and educates customers Mississippi Welders Supply Co. Inc., www.mwsco.com
on new technologies, it also encourages test-
piloting equipment before buying. Through Airgas Red Ball Oxygen, wwwredballoxygen.com
subsidiary Red-D-Arc Welderentals, you can
test-drive machinery for a few months to see
Modular Fixturing Specialists | World-Class Showroom & Validation Center | Est. 1990
how it aligns with your operations. As more
ENHANCE
welding shops look to automation, they can
now try things like positioners, oscillating
pipe welders, and custom turnkey packages
to see how they might work in their opera-
tions. YOUR
WORKFLOW
“Quite frankly, rather than buying some-
thing that might cost $150,000, we recom-
mend you rent it for a short period of time.
Make sure that that equipment will do what
you expect,” Tessier said
“Capital investments are scary. The easiest
way to help people avoid that fear is to allow
them to test-drive equipment,” he said.
Whether you are welding by hand or using an advanced robotic cell, we

THEY SUPPORT THE NEXT tailor precision modular fixturing solutions to streamline your productivity.
NO. 4 GENERATION
Our engineers are experts in fixture design. No matter the size or scope of
Finally, many distributors play a strong role your workholding project, our team will quickly have you up and running
in educating and cultivating talent within with the latest in modular fixturing technology.
their markets. The American Welding Society
recently estimated there will be a shortage
of nearly 400,000 welders by 2024. Atlas has
Robotic welder shown with Bluco
a strong relationship with trade schools in welding table and tooling. Our
Tuscaloosa, Ala., that includes material dona- welding tables are hardened to
protect the system from spatter
tions, discounts, and events. build-up and corrosion.
At the beginning of each school year,
students get discounted prices on tools and
basic welding equipment. The company also
hosts events at local union shops for students
and instructors with hands-on demonstra-
tions and seminars.
“We’re very involved with vocational train-
ing here, and Tuscaloosa has a great program
that starts as early as middle school,” said
Dean.
Tessier said Airgas offers free online train-
ing related to products, processes, and safety
procedures and can help consult on recruit- View our complete line of solutions at bluco.com or
ment and retention strategies. One trend in call 800-535-0135 to speak with an Application Engineer today.
advanced fabrication has been a stronger

WELDING SUPPLY
A glimpse inside the

welding distributor
6 questions with Evan Bennear,
sales manager at Dale Oxygen Inc.
By Amanda Carlson
Evan Bennear is aware of the vital role welding distributors

play in the welding industry. As sales manager at Dale Oxygen
Inc., Johnstown, Pa., an independent distributor founded by
his grandfather in 1939, he understands the value of a true
partnership between customer and distributor.
The WELDER® sat down with Bennear recently to discuss
some of those issues.
TW: What are some challenges that welding distributors

face currently?
Currently we are facing changing landscapes in the global
marketplace, which certainly affect independent distributors on
a more localized level. For example, the Praxair/Linde merger
that is ongoing could shake up the U.S. market; it’s already
starting to do that in some ways. And once that’s finalized the
landscape is going to look different, again, because of another
global merger. These changes affect gas and welding distribu-
tors of all shapes and sizes. Typically, on the back end, these
disruptions tend to benefit the independent distributors due to
stability and consistency.
Online sales for hard goods continue to be a growing
threat, too. The conversation always boils down to price versus
service. It’s very easy for customers to make purchases online,
but our model is to provide services that goes beyond the sale.

WELDING SUPPLY

WELDING SUPPLY
SKILLED LABOR IS ESSENTIAL FOR OUR TW: What are some of the obvious ways that
welding distributors can help their welding
CUSTOMERS TO STAY RELEVANT AND customers?
COMPETITIVE AND TO GROW THEIR Welding distributors can help weld shops of all sizes
by staying up-to-date with the latest and greatest
BUSINESSES. SHOPS THAT FOCUS HEAVILY technology and equipment. I can’t stress enough
ON WELDING OR ANY OTHER SKILLED how important it is for distributors to educate
themselves continually to ensure they can talk to
TRADE IN HIGH DEMAND—THEIR SUCCESS customers about the changes that are taking place
IS VITAL TO THE VIABILITY OF MY BUSINESS. in equipment and processes. It’s so important to
have the ability to present new information and
technology to your customers, whether they buy
from you or not. Welding has become so advanced
TW: For many years now the welding industry
that independent welding distributors need to be
has been focused on increasing the number of
right there with it. Distributors must continue to train
skilled welders. What affect has this issue had on
and learn and invest in education to stay relevant
welding distributors?
and always be a reliable partner for our customers.
Skilled labor is essential for our customers to stay
relevant and competitive and to grow their busi-
nesses. Shops that focus heavily on welding or any TW: What are some lesser-known ways welding
other skilled trade in high demand—their success distributors can help their welding customers?
is vital to the viability of my business. If my welding Dale Oxygen offers seminars, whether it’s technical
customers aren’t successful and growing because or safety training for customers; provides cost-
they can’t find qualified and skilled operators, that’s reduction strategies; and helps manufacturers figure
ultimately going to affect my welding distributorship out how to weld parts quicker, cleaner, and safer. We
because their businesses activity is a direct paral- also spend time with our customers on their shop
lel to my organization. The skills gap has been a floor to learn their current practices and procedures,
significant challenge for quite a while now, and it will and from there we can evaluate and present poten-
continue to be for many years. tial ways to improve their operations. Sometimes
Every year I see more businesses gravitate toward we’ll see customers who have been using the same
advanced welding and cutting equipment, espe- welding process or the same wire/gas combinations
cially automation—manufacturing equipment that is forever. If there is equipment or processes to imple-
preprogrammed and operable by a wider range of ment efficiencies, we’ll present that to them.
operators.
TW: What is the most important quality weld
TW: In what ways have welding distributors shops should look for in a welding distributor?
evolved over the years to better serve their The key is forming a partnership with a distributor.
customers? Our most successful business relationships are not
Welding, in general, is an old process, but it’s con- the ones we’ve picked up because we are trying to
stantly changing thanks to technological advance- be the least expensive supplier. Our best relation-
ments. Like smart phone technology, welding and ships take time to develop. Welding shops and
cutting equipment continues to reinvent itself. Our manufacturers need distributors who are genuinely
welding customers are looking at these technolo- interested in their success, understand their busi-
gies to help them keep their businesses profitable ness, and ultimately understand what they need to
and competitive. Independent welding distributors run a better and more profitable operation.
THE
need to stay on top of these technologies, become

Editor Amanda Carlson can be reached at
familiar with them, and have the knowledge to pres-
amandac@thefabricator.com
ent this information to customers so they can make
the best decisions for their business. Dale Oxygen Inc., www.daleoxygen.com

WELDING DISTRIBUTOR ADVERTORIAL
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Airgas.com
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ARTIST’S GALLERY
Learning to weld
in a shipyard
Unique opportunity allows Charleston, S.C., artist
to hone welding, metal sculpting talent
Wanting to transition from two-dimensional art to three-dimensional, Matt Wilson mustered the courage
to apply for a welding job at Detyens Shipyards Inc. in Charleston. He was hired not as a production
welder, but instead as the shipyard’s resident artist. It was there he learned to weld and honed his craft.

ARTIST’S GALLERY
Social media has been a powerful tool for Wilson’s brand.

Since a whirlwind finish to 2017 when photos of his sculptures
went viral on social media, he has spent the first few months of
2018 rebuilding his inventory. He also accepted 15 commission
projects and will complete those over the next two years.
When he’s not making ships, Wilson is fabricating birds (his

favorite) or making commissioned sculptures using upcycled
materials like flatware, for example. It’s what he considers to
be his real gig, and the shipyard doesn’t mind.
By Amanda Carlson That honesty paid off. Instead of hiring Wilson

as a welder, Stewart hired him as the shipyard’s
resident artist. The company gave him a small shop
Charleston, S.C., artist Matt Wilson needed a space and paired him with someone who helped
change. him pick out the equipment he’d need and taught
After spending time studying painting and draw- him how to use it.
ing at Winthrop University, Wilson left school to try While learning how to use the equipment, Wilson
something different, something that would ease the spent the first year as resident artist photographing
burnout he was feeling toward art. the ships that came in for overhaul and creating a
He’d always wanted to work in metal and three drawing based on the photo. The drawings were
dimensions, but he just didn’t have the money for then presented to the ship owner after overhaul was
equipment or the expertise to run it. That’s when complete.
an idea hit to interview at Detyens Shipyards Inc. in In that time Wilson learned how to weld, grind,
Charleston. He’d learn to weld, earn a living, and and use other metalworking tools in between draw-
who knows what could come from that? ing ships. After a year he was comfortable enough
He interviewed, met some of the right people, to begin fabricating metal scale models of ships that
and ended up being introduced to D. Loy Stewart, came in for overhaul.
the shipyard board chairman. It’s been 10 years, and in that time he’s honed his
“I told him that I wanted to get a job welding so metalworking skills enough to be able to fabricate
that I could learn how to do it to make sculptures,” sculptures that he wants to build. It’s the merging of
Wilson said. two worlds that not a lot of artists have the freedom

ARTIST’S GALLERY
to do. Wilson realizes that and is incredibly grateful to knowledgeable shipyard employees if I ever had
for the chance he was given. questions on how to do things. It took about five
“Loy Stewart gave me an opportunity to become years before I felt like I started getting a handle on
an artist on my own. He gave me a shop and access things.”
When he’s not making ships, Wilson is fabricat-
ing birds (his favorite) or making commissioned
WHEN HE’S NOT MAKING SHIPS, sculptures using upcycled materials under his brand,
Airtight Artwork. It’s what he considers to be his real
WILSON IS FABRICATING BIRDS gig, and the shipyard doesn’t mind.
“As long as I keep up with my ships, I have a
(HIS FAVORITE) OR MAKING shop here and I can use it to make whatever I want.”
COMMISSIONED SCULPTURES USING FINDING SUCCESS IN THE STRUGGLE
UPCYCLED MATERIALS UNDER HIS Learning to weld, whether it be for the ships or his
own personal work, wasn’t easy.
BRAND, AIRTIGHT ARTWORK. IT’S WHAT “I was just burning through everything. I had no
idea what I was doing. So when I started making
HE CONSIDERS TO BE HIS REAL GIG, sculptures, I thought all my welds were really ugly.”
He admits he became very good at grinding in
AND THE SHIPYARD DOESN’T MIND.
that time, but was still disappointed in how distract-
ing the welds were on his pieces.

ARTIST’S GALLERY
“That’s when I honed my style to hide the welds. Almost immediately emails and messages
Even now you don’t see a lot of welds because I like flooded Wilson’s Etsy page, Facebook page,
to layer and hide them.” Instagram account, and personal website. Roughly
The most commonly used material for his per- 2,500 emails arrived in the span of 10 days. It was
sonal work is flatware that he finds at thrift stores. madness and overwhelming.
He started with it originally because he received a “We sold out of everything. We took 15 commis-
bag of flatware from his mother. It was metal, after sions and I just spaced them out over two years; that
all, and the material was free. way if something else comes up, I can find time to
“I solidified my art in the flatware just in case the do it. It changed everything.”
shipyard gig didn’t work out for me. That’s the honest Wilson’s spent most of 2018 so far rebuilding
reason. It’s cheap, and I can find it all of the time.” his inventory, and he is booked with commissioned
So why birds? Simple. He likes them. He’s pays projects through December 2019.
attention to birds and gets excited when he sees It’s been a wild ride that’s been somewhat nontra-
one he’s never seen before. ditional, but he wouldn’t have it any other way.
THE
Fans of his work seem to love his bird sculptures
as well. In fact, in late 2017 the website Bored Panda
asked for permission to publish photos of his work. Editor Amanda Carlson can be reached at
From there two other websites, My Modern Met and amandac@thefabricator.com.
Colossal, published posts about his work as well. Matt Wilson, www.airtightartwork.com
The posts went viral, with 13 million views.
CSU-201407-PWT 1_2pg horiz_Layout 1 6/19/14 4:08 PM Page 1
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WELDING HACKS
Simple ideas make life as a welder a lot easier
A MULTITOOL FOR SMALL SPACES

I made this multitool several years ago to save some space
in my altogether-too-small shop.
The triangle piece rotates on an old car wheel hub that
was free because the bearings were worn. However, as it
rotates only a third- turn at a time, it makes no difference.
The steel for the frame was donated by a local machine
shop that I do business with, and I purchased the casters,
which can be locked when in place and in use, from another
local company.
A small crank on the back turns a bolt into a hole to
keep the table up that is in use. There is also a stop pin so
the whole thing can turn only once around, as it has built-in
wiring for the tools. The wiring is sealed with silicon to keep
out the dust, and there is
a port on the front with a
cover so you reach into the
wiring or remove the bolts to
change tools.
The light, which is the only
thing other than the tools
that is store-bought, is a
gooseneck so that I can posi-
tion it where necessary.
It is customizable, and I
have mounted some different
tools on it since my needs
have changed. I’ve found
this to be a handy item for a
welding shop where space is
limited.
George Stamm
Chippewa Falls, Wis.

A HELPING (THIRD)
HAND
I was inspired by a video I saw
on the Welding Tips and Tricks
website.
I chamfered the face and
drilled a hole using a lathe.
The tip and two legs are Allen
wrenches from a scrap pile we
accumulated during the demo-
lition of our plant. I used silicon
bronze to weld it together.
I use it as a third hand to
hold small and awkward parts
together while I tack them.
Also, it can act as a ground if
I have to weld on a piece that
can’t be grounded to the table.
David Coxton
Ann Arbor, Mich.
Share with us your advice, idea, welding hack, tip, or trick. If we publish your trick, you’ll win a $100 gift card.
To submit a tip, trick, or hack, please send clear photographs or detailed drawings and a complete explanation of your idea. With each
entry include your name, address, and telephone number. Send your ideas to Amanda Carlson, FMA Communications Inc., 2135 Point
Blvd., Elgin, IL 60123, amandac@thefabricator.com.

PLAYING WITH FIRE
Hungry men and women, sparked by

the same fire, won’t stop evolving
By Josh Welton
Sometime in the middle of the 20th century, four-year

universities became a necessity. With the GI Bill after World War
II and the global technology race from the 1960s and onward,
the U.S. government spent wads of Uncle Sam’s money on grants
and scholarships to funnel kids into higher education. Our goals
evolved. Instead of the college experience being a true education
on an array of subjects, from the mechanical to the physiological
to the philosophical, “higher learn-
ing” turned into teaching us the
basics we missed in high school so
we could then focus our attention
on that one thing we want to be for
the rest of our life. An accountant, a
doctor, an engineer.
To latch on to a field and strive
for a position in that field is not a
bad thing, at least at face value.
There’s something noble about a
12-year-old kid playing with LEGO®s,
deciding if he or she wants to be
an engineer, and then pursuing that
goal with all of their energy. Many of
us, however, are not wired this way.
When I was in high school I wanted
to be an architect. And a psycholo-
gist. And a philosopher. And a ninja.
But I wasn’t really goal-oriented; I
just wanted to live. I wanted to experience life. My plan was to go
to a traditionally conservative college for two years while studying
psychology before transferring to a traditionally liberal school for

two years to study architecture. As an 18-year-old, I
didn’t realize yet that this just was not how the world
worked.
Americans have turned into specialists. Not only
that, but we were asked to choose our specialty
as teenagers. “So, I know you’re not an adult yet,
buuuut ... what do you want to be for the rest of
your life?” Not only were we asked to choose a
career, but also our identity. That’s a heavy burden
for a kid, and not one most are equipped to handle.
Especially when you get deep into your major and
figure out you hate it. Colleges don’t make it cheap
or easy to change course, which can put the student
between a rock and a hard place.
As I was thinking on this, a memory from a past
road trip swirled around my brain. I was in Maryland
for work when we had a long weekend off. I visited
my brother, his wife, and their dog in Rhode Island.
I drove east to North Adams and checked out the
Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, then
south to Stockbridge and the Norman Rockwell Mu-
seum. Both museums blew away my expectations.
On my way back to Aberdeen I stopped at my friend
Drew’s place.
I met Drew through Instagram (his name there is
now @d.i.m.e.s) and always admired his work. When
he invited me to swing by, I jumped at the chance
to talk shop with him. Even though we’d just met
face to face for the first time, it was more like two
old friends connecting with the common bonds of of course, welding. Coming from the other direction
cars, TIG welding, art, and secret squirrel military are engineers, drivers, chefs, and designers who are
fabrication work. We talked about the Instagram attracted to the light. We’ve been given a door to
welding circle fostered by so many talented and knowledge and techniques through social media
hard-working kids, and how it has changed over the and online classes that was previously very difficult
last couple of years. to open outside of going to school, joining a trade,
I thought one of his observations was particularly or working extensively in the field. Online shopping
interesting. “Everyone is doing something different and near-instant delivery have turned the procure-
now,” as in, so many of the Instagrammers who built ment of tools and equipment into a painless and
the welding community around beautiful beads kind typically affordable process. Taking a class or course
of branched off into different fields. Individuals would on nearly anything is instantly accessible through the
find or forge a niche and fill it, becoming blacksmiths, World Wide Web.
bladesmiths, furniture makers, photographers, and There is, however, a hazard in gaining a cursory
sculptors. Drew himself began creating one-off TIG knowledge of a subject, enough so that it merits a
torch rigs, and others also began catering to our mention. I think the English poet Alexander Pope
industry by making custom modular hand rests, torch said it best:
holders, welding carts, PPE, and even consumables. A little learning is a dangerous thing;
There are a few consultants, salesmen, and others drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
now either running or owning their own shops, focus- there shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
ing more on the business end of things. Hungry men and drinking largely sobers us again.
and women who won’t stop evolving, all sparked by
the same fire. I’ve watched that play out in my field when some-
Most of us didn’t stop welding; we just added one takes a beginning TIG course, then becomes
more titles under our name. On top of melting metal intoxicated by this new skill and mistakenly thinks
I’ve been teaching and writing about cars, life, and, they’re God’s gift to welding. You see it online, where

PLAYING WITH FIRE
activities or diving into different professions. We just

need to be aware that when we jump in the pool,
we’re not swimming in the deep end right away.
We are finding that some skills, techniques, and
practices transcend trades or art forms, and that can
accelerate the learning curve. It could be physical,
like how the hand/eye/foot coordination of a drum-
mer is relatable to that of a TIG welder. It could be
mental, as self-editing and paring down writing is a
very similar exercise to revising a design or omitting
superfluous bits of a sculpture. Research indicates
that world-class musicians, athletes, and welders
develop muscle memory and create pathways
through the brain in analogous ways. So while it’s
important to cultivate a realistic idea of where we
stand in relation to those with much more experi-
ence in a field we’re still growing in, many concepts
could feel familiar.
All of us have different motivations to broaden
our horizons: to ease boredom, to make money, to
accept a challenge, to fill a void, to gain understand-
ing, to influence minds. Maybe all of the above. I
people with shallow understanding are loudly opin- don’t think the why matters; ultimately, having more
ionated about very complex subjects, going so far as people exposed to more ideas will be better for
to write authoritatively on them. We’re all entitled to mankind. Ignorance isn’t bliss, it’s a leash holding us
our opinions, but not at the expense of truth or fact. back. In this day and age, the excuses for sticking
One of the more difficult aspects of starting over with a career we don’t enjoy are quickly disappear-
in a new field, especially if you’ve been successful in ing. The weight of an expensive college tuition and
past endeavors, is coming to grips with the ideas of the heavy burden of debt that often follows are no
humility and failure. We don’t know what we don’t longer a necessity, or even the best option. Try new
know, and that should be sobering. That being things. Don’t be afraid to fail. Don’t be afraid to
said, none of this should stop us from pursuing new succeed. Be anything.
THE

Increase productivity. Control costs.
Improve your overall welding efficiency.
From weld size to shielding gas mix, and joint design to actual welding time, Airgas, an Air Liquide company,
helps you find the most efficient ways to get higher-quality welds while increasing productivity and controlling
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Consider having access to our 80+ welding process specialists and 70 service technicians as your go-to
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Welder_MA18_Final.indd
welding ad full page.indd 451 3/6/18 3:24:59
1:48 PM
General 2/19/2018 PM
ALUMINUM WORKSHOP
Frank G. Armao is an aluminum welding consultant,

440-479-0239, frankarmao2@gmail.com.
He is a member of the AWS D1 Committee,
chairman of the AWS D1 Aluminum Subcommittee,
and member of the Aluminum Association
Committee on Welding and Joining.
Still experiencing porosity?

Explore these uncommon causes
In the past couple of columns we discussed during drawing. It is up to the wire manu-
the most common causes of weld porosity in facturer to be sure that all of this lubricant is
aluminum. Hopefully, you all remember them. removed before it is spooled. Like gas suppli-
Just in case you don’t, they are: ers, all of the major wire manufacturers do a
• Insufficient preweld cleaning. You must really good job of this. If you are experiencing
remove all oils, greases, lubricants, and so porosity, try changing the wire spool to rule
forth from the weld area before you weld. out the possibility of a bad spool of wire.
• Airflow in the weld area. If air is moving • Oil and/or water in the shop air sup-
fast enough for you to feel, that is too much. ply. Almost all shop air supplies contain
Close all doors and windows and turn off all oil and/or water residue. If it gets onto the
fans within the weld area. weld area, it can cause porosity. Make sure
• Gas-nozzle-to-work distance that is too there is a good filter on the shop air supply
long. Keep it as short as possible. near the weld area. Also, be careful about
What if you are certain you’ve got these what direction the exhaust from air tools is
variables under control but you still have po- pointed. I once was in a good shop that was
rosity? What now? Take a look at the follow- having porosity problems. The fabricator was
ing potential causes of porosity that are not using a pneumatically powered wire brush to
as commonplace, but do still occur. clean the weld between passes. The problem
• Leaky water-cooled welding gun. Leaks turned out to be that the air tool exhaust was
can occur with a gun that is worn out. More directed right into the weld groove. Since the
often leaks occur because the gun has been shop air contained a lot of water and oil, the
dropped or otherwise abused. Don’t assume tool wasn’t cleaning the weld; it was contami-
that the gun is leaktight just because you nating it.
don’t see water dripping out the end. Even • Gas fittings in poor condition. Be sure
a leak too small for you to notice will cause that all gas fittings are tight and that gas
porosity. To be sure, consider using a different hoses have no cracks or splits in them.
gun. • Water leaks caused by improper
• Poor shielding gas quality. It is possible equipment, setup. If you are using a water-
for the argon shielding gas to contain water cooled gun, be sure to use a water cooler.
or other contaminants. It doesn’t happen Never run the water supply to the gun direct-
often because the major gas suppliers are ly from a city water outlet and then to a drain.
very strict about gas quality. However, try a Why? Because in warm weather the water will
different bottle of gas just to be sure. be colder than it is when using a recirculating
• Surface contaminants on the welding water cooler, which can cause damp, humid
wire. Aluminum wire must be lubricated dur- air to condense inside the gun hoses, result-
ing the manufacturing process, or it will break ing in a water leak.
THE

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CONSUMABLES CORNER
Nino Mascalco is application Rob Koltz is application Steve Sigler is application

engineering manager, ESAB engineer, ESAB Welding & engineer, ESAB Welding &
Welding & Cutting Products, Cutting Products, Cutting Products,
636-485-2253, www.esabna.com 636-485-2253, www.esabna.com 636-485-2253, www.esabna.com
Tips for welding thin materials

We’re an independent welding supply and distributor company. We frequently field an
array of questions from our broad customer base. While we have straightforward answers
for most questions, we seem to have difficulty finding common ground on the topic of
welding thin materials. What are some best practices for welding thin materials that we
can share with our customers?
Thin material manufacturing is a large part of arc, offers a wide range of operating parameters,
industry in the U.S. This includes various shapes and generates low spatter.
of tubing, angles, and flat sheets, typically 24 When welding in SCT mode, you should
gauge up to about 3⁄16-inch thick and usually use either a slight drag or a neutral gun angle
manufactured from stainless steel, carbon steel, relative to the direction of travel, which should
galvanized, or aluminum. produce a low amount of spatter. For pulsed
To determine the best welding process, welding, push or drag the weld puddle to deter-
shielding gas, and electrode to use, start by mine which produces the best bead appearance.
reviewing the application. What is the base Please note that you shouldn’t back-step into the
material type, thickness, condition or cleanliness, puddle, as this negates the pulse feature.
welding position, available welding equipment, Flux-cored arc welding (FCAW) is another op-
and welder skill? Keep in mind the need for tion, although it is not ideal because it produces
proper personal protective equipment, which is a protective slag layer that needs to be removed
very important when welding stainless or galva- after welding. It has lower deposition efficiency
nized steels. rates compared to GMAW and produces greater
When welding thin material, the goal is levels of smoke and weld spatter. Again, using a
to minimize distortion and spatter, prevent small-diameter electrode will help keep the heat
burnthrough, and produce a sound weld with input down. This process is most beneficial for
adequate fusion. job-site welding, where you can use a self-shield-
For plain carbon steel applications, you have ed, flux-cored wire. No external shielding gas is
many options. For the thinnest material up to required, and a majority the wires run in direct-
about 14 ga., try using the gas metal arc weld- current electrode negative, meaning most of the
ing (GMAW) process in short-circuiting transfer heat is generated in the filler metal wire and not
(SCT) mode with a 0.023-in.- diameter E70-S2, the base material. GMAW, on the other hand, is
S3, or S6 classification filler metal and 75 percent direct-current electrode positive which generates
argon/25 percent CO2 shielding gas. On 14-ga. most of the heat in the base material.
through 3⁄16-in.- material, consider using a 0.030- The gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) process
in. dia. filler metal. works great for low-volume or high-quality weld-
Another potential option is to use pulsed ing applications. The benefits of this process
GMAW with a high argon-content shielding gas, include high-quality welds, no spatter, and the
such as 95 percent argon/5 percent CO2 or ar- best fusion possible. In some cases a filler metal
gon/oxygen. Equipment capable of performing isn’t necessary; the joint fit-up will determine
pulsed GMAW is generally more expensive but this. Keep in mind, this process does require a
provides highly appealing benefits. Pulsed weld- greater degree of operator skill. To help mini-
ing allows for increased control over the welding mize distortion, use a small tungsten electrode,

CONSUMABLES CORNER
such as 3⁄32 in. dia., and grind it to a fine point in the with at least 50 percent helium and an argon bal-
direction parallel to the length of the tungsten. It is ance work very well but are also very expensive. If
best to use 100 percent argon for a shielding gas. that is a concern, you can use 100 percent argon.
For some applications, you may need to use For GTAW, use 100 percent argon and a small-diam-
m shielded metal arc welding on the joints. Be sure to eter, 2 percent cerium tungsten electrode.
choose a small-diameter electrode, use low amper- Galvanized welding will follow some of the same
age, and maintain a fast travel speed to produce an guidelines as welding carbon steel, except when
all-around good weld in the flat and horizontal posi- dealing with the zinc layer on the surface, which is
tions. If you can weld only in the vertical position, not conducive to the welding process and typi-
increase your welding amperage by approximately cally produces welds with porosity and poor bead
25 percent and weld in the vertical-down progres- appearance. If you are using GMAW, choose a
sion. This requires some practice, but it can produce shielding gas with a high CO2 content, such as the
a reasonably sound weld. The more commonly used 75 percent argon/25 percent CO2 blend. Carbon
method is to weld in the vertical-up position, but dioxide is an active gas, meaning it assists in the
this isn’t ideal for thin materials. cleaning action of the weld puddle and can help
Stainless steel will use similar welding techniques prevent porosity. Additionally, using slightly higher
and strategies as carbon steel. The preferred meth- voltage and slower travel speeds can give adequate
od is pulsed GMAW, but if SCT is the only available time for the welding puddle to de-gas and for the
option, increase the inductance of the power source weld toes to tie in more smoothly.
(if possible) to increase weld puddle control. Another option is to use a smaller-diameter flux-
The main difference is matching the proper filler cored wire such as a dual-shield type. This wire uses
metal to the base material. When welding 304 stain- an inner flux to produce a protective slag layer, and
less steel, use a 308 filler metal; for 316 stainless, a shielding gas to clean and protect the solidifying
use a 316 filler metal; and for welding stainless steel weld puddle. Since this process has two methods of
to carbon steel, use a 309 filler metal. The appropri- cleaning, it may produce the best bead appearance
ate shielding gas mixtures for stainless steel GMAW and weld quality even though it has lower deposi-
are high in argon content, such as 98 percent tion efficiencies.
argon/2 percent oxygen or CO. Tri-mixes and even While we didn’t cover every application, scenario,
quad-mixes that use other gases like nitrogen or he- or base material, this information should give you a
lium are available, but they aren’t cheap. Make sure good starting point.
THE
you review your application and determine what

is necessary. FCAW on stainless
and carbon steel requires either
100 percent CO2 or a 75 percent
argon/25 percent CO2 blend.
When welding aluminum,
preweld joint preparation is very
important. All welding processes
benefit from a clean weld joint,
but aluminum is unique in that
it has a heavy oxide layer that
has a higher melting point than
the base material. Preparing the
joint by wire brushing or grinding
off the oxide layer and using a
solvent to clean it will make the
welding easier and produce a
cleaner weld.
The commonly used aluminum
grades typically require either an
ER4043/ER4047 or ER5356 filler
metal. Make sure you match your
filler metal to the base material.
For GMAW, shielding gas blends

JOIN US FOR THIS FREE WEBINAR PRODUCT NEWS
Brought to you by thefabricator.com
MORE BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE,

REPORTING AND ANALYTICS—
IN-DEPTH AND HANDS-ON
Presented by:
Date: Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Time: 1 pm (CST) SEAM WELDING UNIT EMPLOYS LINEAR
RAILS WITH BEARING BLOCKS
This is a follow-on webcast to “Business MITUSA Inc. has introduced a seam welding unit that
uses linear rails with bearing blocks to move as the seam
Intelligence, Reporting and Analytics— is made on the tube or pipe. According to the company,
A Primer for Non-I.T. People,” which was this design gives the track a strong hold and allows free
presented on January 18, 2018. The April travel of the carriage. This additional strength contrib-
utes to more accuracy during the welding process and
webcast will present live, hands-on exercises allows the welding power source to be mounted on the
to further explore the concepts presented in carriage.
the first webcast. The track is machined to a 0.005-in. straightness
tolerance so that the seam can appear as close to
Areas covered: straight as possible. The unit base is extra-wide to ac-
· Assembling your data commodate a hydraulic scissor lift. Parts can be loaded
and unloaded without any obstacles in the way, and no
Excel VLOOKUP
cranes or chains are required to guide tube and pipe
· Descriptive Analytics into position for seam welding.
Excel Pivot Tables To access the air bag for replacement, the opera-
tor moves an end plate. With the help of a gripper, the
Excel Add-in
operator pulls out the old air bag, attaches the new bag
Excel Un-Pivot to the old one, fishes out the old air bag from the other
Data Visualization Techniques side, and feeds the new air bag into place. The opera-
tor then glues and clamps the air bag ends and puts the
· Diagnostic Analytics
end plates back into place. The procedure takes an hour
Data Warehouse-based Analytics or less, the company reports.
MITUSA Inc., www.mitusaproducts.com
ELIZABETH CAIN ROBOTIC BULK FEED SYSTEM ADDED

Product Marketing Manager TO NOZZLE CONDITIONER
Epicor Software Corporation American Weldquip has introduced a simplified Quip-
Mist nozzle conditioner and antispatter bulk feed solu-
tion. The system eliminates the need for the operator to
The speaker will be Elizabeth Cain, Product Marketing Manager at go into a robotic cell to change antispatter fluid.
Epicor Software Corporation, whose college degree—B.A. in English— The bulk feed system mounts on the outside of the
is not even remotely related to I.T. Yet her past responsibilities at welding cell. It can be hung on the cell wall screen,
Epicor have included company-wide reporting and analysis of bolted to a solid wall, or hung on the top of the cell
customer and product data and leadership of an internal Epicor BI
wall rail.
users group. Prior to that she led ERP and BI initiatives at a small
aerospace manufacturer. She will share with you some insights she The 5-gal. supply allows extended time between
learned along the way, such as which key Excel functions you should refills. Changeover of refills takes seconds, the company
learn, and options to take your data gathering and analysis efforts to reports.
the next level.
American Weldquip, www.weldquip.com
Register today for this free webinar!

Visit www.thefabricator.com/webcast 50 March/April 2018
EpicorHTMarch18FAB.indd 1 2/21/18 9:22 AM

PRODUCT NEWS
WELD PADS OFFER INCREASED

SAFETY, COMFORT
Grand Canyon Alloys offers fire-resistant weld pads to
LIGHTWEIGHT WELDING GUN SUITABLE help increase safety and comfort for welders in harsh
FOR HEAVY-DUTY WELDING WORK environments.
The Bodyguard weld pad is constructed of high-tech
The newest Magnum® PRO aluminum pistol-grip, push/
material rated at 1,800 degrees F with a 3,000-degrees-F
pull gun is available from Lincoln Electric®. Its push/pull
melting temperature. Not adversely affected by welding
wire feeding technology reduces friction to help ensure
sparks or corrosive chemicals, the exterior withstands
smooth feeding and minimize wire damage. A quick-
contact with concrete, blacktop, asphalt, and metal
change liner and removable drive-roll cover provide
grates. It wipes clean in seconds. The filler is an anti-
access to wire and drive rolls.
static, closed-cell, nonflammable material that provides
The lightweight, ergonomic handle is suitable for
ergonomic support for operators in stressful positions.
heavy-duty work, and the pistol grip fits in either hand.
The Miniguard weld pad is smaller for use in tight
A recessed adjustment dial is located at the rear of the
areas. It offers the same materials and construction as
handle to prevent unintentional variations during welding.
the Bodyguard.
Lincoln Electric, www.lincolnelectric.com
Grand Canyon Alloys, www.grandcanyonalloys.com

PRODUCT NEWS
ng
brati
Cele ver
o rs!
a
35 ye
SAAR-HARTMETALL’S SMA 30-P PNEUMATIC BEVELING
TOOL USES INSERTS WITH EIGHT CUTTING EDGES
Saar-Hartmetall USA has announced the availability of its
redesigned SMA 30-P hand-held, pneumatic beveling tool, which features
• Airtight - Threaded cap with long-lasting
neoprene seal. a new, simplified design that allows for quick changing of the milling head.
• Reusable - Constructed of high-impact
The new milling head uses dice-shaped inserts that now have eight cutting
polyethylene. edges instead of the typical four.
• Additional colors available - Call for The lightweight beveling tool can produce straight bevels up to 3⁄8 in. at
details. 30, 45, and 60 degrees and radii bevels of 1⁄8 or 0.16 in.
• Storage Racks - Also now available for Saar-Hartmetall USA, www.saarusa.com
36" & 1 meter cannisters.
• Hi-Temp Models - Steel-lined, heat
resistant to 450°.
• Quality Guaranteed
• Chloride-Free
• Quality & Excellence since 1981
MANUAL PLASMA CUTTER COMES WITH ONE- AND

THREE-PHASE OPTIONS
Thermal Dynamics®, an ESAB brand, has announced that its Cutmaster® 60i
hand-held air plasma cutting system now is available in one- or three-phase
primary input power options.
Both versions connect automatically with primary power from 208 to 480
V and 50 or 60 Hz. They weigh 37 lbs. and provide a rated output of 60
amps (7.6 kW of cutting power) at 50 percent duty cycle.
The system includes the new SL60QD™ 1Torch. QD stands for quick dis-
connect, which enables selective replacement of the torch handle assembly
or torch leads.
ESAB Welding & Cutting Products, www.esabna.com

PRODUCT NEWS
DO MORE
HEAVY-DUTY MECHANIZED
WITH JUST
WELDING CARRIAGE ACHIEVES
HIGH STABILITY
The Wel-Handy Multi II is a light,
ONE DRILL
The HMD2MT is the all new #2 Morse Taper mag drill built for
compact, all-wheel-drive mechanized the fabricator who wants one machine to cover it all. With
welding carriage. Strong magnetic force forward & reverse, high torque two speed motor, 7" stroke,
enhances traction, and a low center of safety features, pilot light & a variety of accessories including
the all new tapping kit, you’ll do more with less and love it!
gravity allows the heavy-duty welding
carriage to achieve high pulling power
and stability. #2 MORSE TAPER
According to the company, the weld- MAG DRILL
ing carriage offers reduced gas and wire
costs and improved working conditions
for operators. 800-426-7818 SERVICE • INTEGRITY • RELIABILITY HOUGEN.COM
Koike, www.koike.com Hou-742-Welder-qtr.indd 1 2/21/18 8:45 AM

PRODUCT NEWS
ABRASIVE PRODUCTS LINE EXPANDED

Osborn has introduced a second wave to its line GRINDER SUITABLE FOR SMALL SHOPS
of abrasive products. The line expansion includes Designed for use in small shops, Palmgren’s 6 by
additional depressed-center grinding discs, cutoff 12 Bench Surface Grinder has many of the same
discs, and flap discs. features found on larger units.
New additions include pipeline grinding discs in The grinder’s Meehanite® cast-iron construction
advanced aluminum oxide and zirconia and a line of helps reduce vibrations while maintaining rigidity
HD flap discs that remove material quickly and leave and accuracy. Its precision steel balls produce an
a clean finish in the same step, the company reports. extremely smooth table operation along the ways,
The new line of abrasives is designed to cover says the company. Features include a swarf guard,
fast cutting, heavy stock removal, long service life, easy-to-read dials, and an optional heavy-duty steel
application material versatility, and smooth finish. floor stand.
Osborn, www.osbornabrasives.com Palmgren, www.palmgren.com
Meet Your Welding

Cobot Colleague
Expensive welding robot cells
have met their match
Low-volume/high-mix fabrication shops
finally have an option to large, expensive
robotic welding cells. Cobot-assisted
welding systems put a flexible,
cost-effective UR cobot into your
existing manual welding booth.
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Request a demo
We’ll come to you - book a free demo now and see how
UR cobots can handle your welding and fabricating tasks:
urrobots.com/fabdemo
UR_USA_Welding_Ad_PRINT.indd 1 01/03/2018 17.45

PRODUCT NEWS
GMAW TORCH COMPATIBLE WITH

TRIMMABLE FLAP DISCS HELP WELDING MACHINES FEATURING
REDUCE DISC CHANGES EURO TORCH CONNECTOR
POLIFAN® PSF Z-Trim flap discs from Pferd feature a EWM offers the UM series universal GMAW torches. They are
lightweight composite backing that can be trimmed compatible with all welding machines featuring a Euro torch
to reduce disc changes on a variety of steels and connector. The torch trigger helps ensure safe, simple opera-
stainless steels. The composite backer and flap ar- tion with its effective pressure point, states the company, and
rangement help reduce vibration and noise levels. torch trigger protection prevents unintentional ignition.
Produced with a high density of zirconia-coated The torch is available in seven performance classes for
material, they help improve surface finish and deliv- light or moderately tough jobs. Gas- and water-cooled units
er contamination-free grinding for surface grinding, are offered, with the most powerful model allowing welding
weld grinding, blending, chamfering, and deburring. currents up to 500 amps.
Pferd Inc., www.pferdusa.com EWM AG, www.ewm-group.com
“V-WAC” GAGE PIPE PIT GAGE
Metric
or
English
The G.A.L. PIPE PIT GAGE will

give long life in the field or factory.
• Range is 0 to 1/2” in 1/64 & .020
increments.
• Arm can be locked in place at any
dimension.
• All Stainless Steel
• Gage will fit in shirt pocket
and comes in a pocket protector.
• Has handy formulas on front and
decimal equivalents on back
• Available in Metric or English
P.O. BOX 218 • STEVENSVILLE, MICHIGAN 49127

PHONE: 269/465-5750 • FAX: 269/465-6385
Email: info@galgage.com • Web: www.galgage.com

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ADVERTISERS INDEX
A.C.T. Dust Collectors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Hobart Institute of Welding Technology . . . . . . . 10

www.actdustcollectors.com www.welding.org
ALM Positioners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Hougen Mfg. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53

www.almmh.com www.hougen.com
Airgas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35,45 Kentek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

www.airgas.com www.kenteklaserstore.com
Arcos Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59 K.I.W.O.T.O., Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

269-944-1552
www.arcos.us
Laser Mechanisms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Astaras . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 www.lasermech.com
727-299-0888
ND Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Bluco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 www.ndindustries.com
www.bluco.com
OTC Daihen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
CS Unitec . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 www.daihen-usa.com
www.csunitec.com
Osborn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
CERBACO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 www.osborn.com
keithmcclean@cerbaco.com
Oxylance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Diamond Ground Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51,53 www.oxylance.com
www.diamondground.com
Plasma Cam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
ESAB Welding & Cutting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60 www.plasmacam.com
www.esab.com
RPB Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Fabricators & Manufacturers www.rpbsafety.com
Associaton, Intl. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19,50
www.fmanet.org Select - Arc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
1-800-341-5215
FABTECH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
®
www.fabtechexpo.com Tri Tool . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

www.tritool.com
G A L Gage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
www.galgage.com Ult Ag . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
www.ult.de
Heck Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Universal Robots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

www.heckind.net www.universal-robots.com
The WELDER (ISSN 2576-0939) is published bimonthly by FMA Communications Inc., 2135 Point Blvd., Elgin, Illinois 60123.
The WELDER is circulated free upon request to those who qualify and who are involved in welding and joining; subscription to all
others is $45.00 per year. International subscription is $75.00 per year. Periodical postage paid at Elgin, Illinois, and additional
mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send change of address to The WELDER, 2135 Point Blvd., Elgin, Illinois 60123. Printed in the
U.S.A. Copyright 2018 by FMA Communications Inc. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher
is prohibited. The WELDER is a trademark of FMA Communications Inc. All rights reserved.

JIM’S COVER PASS
Jim Mosman, AWS CWI/CWE, is chair of the

industrial technology department at Odessa
College, Odessa, Texas, and member of The
WELDER Editorial Advisory Committee.
jimscoverpass.thewelder@gmail.com
Tips to pass a 4G SMAW 7018 test

I’m currently practicing for my 4G shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) 7018 test,
but I’m having some issues. I’m running 120 amps and using stringers to fill in the
1-inch plate with a 45-degree groove, and I’m having problems keeping my work
even all the way to the cover pass. It’s not level, and my cover pass sinks in some
spots and is high in other spots. This is happening throughout the whole process.
Can you help me?
Felipe Orona Jr.
When I have to weld in a 4G position, I like 10 amps plus or minus, depending on the
to think of it as just another flat or 1G weld, length of your welding leads. Using a steady
just upside down. Electrode angles—using a travel speed will allow you to correct the high
short arc length, a constant travel speed, and and low spots. With the E7018 electrode,
even amperage—should be similar to what maintaining a short arc length and steady
you would use for a 1G. However, we tend travel speeds are the keys in any position.
to let our minds overthink the situation and One other thing I might recommend:
make unnecessary changes. About half-way through a 1-in. plate test, step
Find a position that is comfortable and back and let the weld cool for a couple of
allows you to see the puddle rather than the minutes. This will give you time to relax your
arc. Make a dry run and be certain that you eyes and body before completing those last
can reach the full length of the weld coupon. few passes. Make sure all of the fill passes are
Keep a piece of scrap metal handy to check flush with the coupon before applying that
your amperages for each pass. Always run cover pass. Finally, get yourself some leather
stringer beads when welding overhead, as sleeves or a jacket. I have more than my share
you have more control over the weld puddle. of burn scars on my non-dominant arm from
Keep your beads within the weld joint until 4G weld tests.
you put on the cover pass. If you are running Keep practicing, stay safe, and best wishes
120 amps, I am guessing that means you are on your next weld test!
THE
using 1⁄8-in. electrodes. That should be within

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The Highs, Lows of A New Metal Fabricating Business

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THE REAL WORLD FOR WELDING PROFESSIONALS March/April 2018

Formerly Practical Welding Today

The highs, lows

An official publication of the

Welder_MA18_Final.indd 1 3/12/18 1:44 PM

NEXT GENERATION STAINLESS

SelectAlloy Made in America_1_31_18.indd

March/April 2018 / Vol. 1 No. 4

4 March/April 2018 The WELDER

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Happy National Welding Month

6 March/April 2018 The WELDER

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PO Box 19818 • Colorado City, CO 81019-0818

Welder_MA18_Final.indd 7 3/6/18 1:20 PM

10th Annual Safety Conference Hands-on Workshop: Metal Fabrication

30-2 Boston GOLF4MFG NBT Open

31-1 Oak Brook, Ill.

A PUBLICATION OF BUSINESS PUBLICATIONS

8 March/April 2018 The WELDER

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The Refrigeration Venturedyne Ltd. acquires Lakewood Fab Tech

The Welder — March 2018 4.625" x 7.25"

The WELDER March/April 2018 9

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College of the Canyons named AWS-accredited

• Sure Cut system offers HAND OPERATED POWER FEED

10 March/April 2018 The WELDER

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Get the full story...

ChesapeakeAd_Fab112017.indd 1 11/17/2017 3:35:29 PM

The WELDER March/April 2018 11

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Associated Equipment Spectralytics opens facility dedicated to new product development

12 March/April 2018 The WELDER

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Plasmait moves to new facility FutureWeld merges Hypertherm celebrates

Joining Performance with

Our versatile, mechanized

Portable Machine Tools - Pipeline Equipment

800-968-2605 • 916-288-6100 • www.tritool.com

The WELDER March/April 2018 13

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14 March/April 2018 The WELDER

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The trials, tribulations, and

WHERE HE CAME FROM

The WELDER March/April 2018 15

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It was Lynch’s dream to make

16 March/April 2018 The WELDER

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LESSONS LEARNED (AND STILL LEARNING)

The WELDER March/April 2018 17

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Lynch’s personality is perfect for self-employment.

Editor Amanda Carlson can be reached at

Lynch’s Metal Fabrication, www.lynchsmetalfab.com

18 March/April 2018 The WELDER

Welder_MA18_Final.indd 18 3/6/18 11:23 AM

ALAW returns to Plymouth, Michigan on June 4-6, 2018.

Plan on attending to learn about the most advanced

photo courtesy of TRUMPF