Reality is that your manufacturer warranty is a good indicator of The engineered lifespan. Most companies figure a failure rate of under 10% during the warranty period. They intentionally design components to last longer than the warranty for 90% of the time. New out of the box you have a 10% chance...

The answer is in the fine print of the spec sheet for your machine. Most will be based on a 10 minute period but you have to read the fine print because some manufacturers use a shorter 1 or 5 minute period.

https://www.theunionbootpro.com/

Best boots I have bought. I have bought several styles through them. They own Carolina and keen. And several other brands. They own some sock companies I’ve been happy with them as well. They even have an insole company that I use exclusively in all my boots.

I think your experience is quite similar to either brand. It seems to be the new standard of quality no mater what you buy.

Once you commit to buying a hood above $150 US then your probably going to get a good lid. Especially if your buying from a local established business/supplier. Look for at least 4 sensors. That also seems to be a good dividing point.

ISO just means they have documented there procedures and process, and registered and been inspected to be in compliance with there procedures. Not any kind of standard for quality in a materials sense. Here is the AWS they reference. https://pubs.aws.org/Download_PDFS/A5.10-A5.10M-2017-ISO%2018273-2...

Rating for continuous duty is a good indicator. That’s the point they say it will work reliably. This is not a failure point, but the point it will start to either degrade of simply be less reliable. I’ve used a 17 tig rig (rated at 150 amp) at well over 200 amps. How long they last or remain usable...

I once worked in a shop that also used a lot of air for the shot blast. The two hoses were 4”. Lots of air demand. Because of that they also ran all air tools. About 100-150 guys. Air tools definitely took the abuse better. For instance when you lean into it on an 8” air grinder you just bog it down...

I think you’re doing the right thing by holding off. After 25 years of making a living under the hood of a car, I wouldn’t doubt that in the right situations especially during the summer time ( depending on your location) that everything under the hood could be in excess of 150 degrees Fahrenheit. ...

At an industrial level the cost of compressed air to electricity usage also plays in.

Sounds like the sensitivity setting on your helmet is too low. It may be permitting that change of brightness from your arc diminishing to turn off the shade. You can also set the DELAY on some helmets to remain shaded longer. Check those ideas out if your helmet has such adjustments. Yup or your h...

Engine temps can easily be above 150. On a 60F day my transmission temp is 140F. The whole point of your radiator cooling system cap is that it is spring loaded. This allows the pressure to be above atmospheric when it gets hot to keep the water from boiling. Boiling water at atmospheric pressure is...

I have been inside many a tank and boiler that I was welding on. Never thought twice about it. Besides high freq will get you in the dirt as easy as anywhere else.

Metal deposition rates go up but so does the power requirements and cost of the machine. Not necessarily a drawback, but not in everyone’s cost benefit price range or need.

Stock some coupons, say 4" x 4" x 1/8" in mild steel and aluminum. Require a demo with a lap joint in one metal and a butt joint in the other. They can choose which metal. You can put out samples. If they can reasonably duplicate your work, they can use the toys. Shoot anyone that ma...

Is it holes or worm tracks? Both are common with SS stick. Usually you have to start the arc in the weld track then pull back about a half inch, you need to burn off about a 1/4 inch of rod before you have enough gas coverage from the burning flux. Holes in the middle of the weld are often from to m...

If you have the ability to ramp down the amps with a foot or hand control then that will make the fix much simpler.

Any porosity I’ve had on 316 was either gas coverage or lack of back purge. I’ve had some vessels I worked on that I wasn’t able to back purge because of size, frustrating but manageable if you can keep your heat down. Takes massive patience, you need to be able to keep the back side from getting re...

Any voids or pin hole divots will be stress points. Cold edges on a weld, posible if your travel speed is off, can also create stress points were cracking will start.

I tend to rely on 308 for 304 to 304 and even 304 to 316. But I keep 312 around as well as 309. I know 310 is an option in this case as well, but I have no experience with that. I currently have a project on the bench that’s for a turbo dump regulator. The pipes are getting welded into steel on one ...

Grinding tungsten was a good video. I personally new most of it but it was a a good review with reasonable info. Well done.

I never could spell. Figured people would get it or not. Never cared if they did! I been spelling wrong for a bit now.

Pipe fitter or boiler maker, problem is most guys with the R stamp qualifications to do this know enough to not risk doing it on the cheap/ side because of liability. Pressure vessel work required paperwork, engineering, and third party inspection. It cost our company about 3k usd just to pull the p...

I’ve had good luck with speedglass and Lincon helmets.

Look for an auto glass with 4 sensors. Put it in the $150-$300 range and you will get a good helmet that will last a long time.

T Torch is connected to 'electrode' and ground clamp is 'work ' On another forum this comment might start a small war :lol: Thank God we're not there. LOL. I use either clamp or stinger for either job. Depending on what fits and weather or not I’m too lazy to walk back to the machine to swap leads.