WeldKing® Canada Welding Blog

WELDING KNOWLEDGE CENTER

MASTER THE ART & SCIENCE OF WELDING

Expert guides, troubleshooting resources, and professional techniques for MIG, TIG, Stick, and Plasma cutting. Your comprehensive resource for welding excellence.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Comprehensive guide to all welding resources. Click any category to filter articles.

MIG welding category
MIG WELDING GUIDES

Gas Metal Arc Welding techniques, equipment setup, and troubleshooting

18 articles
01
Wire Feed Speed Settings Guide

Optimize your MIG welding with proper wire feed speed calibration for different materials and thicknesses.

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02
MIG Gun Maintenance

Essential maintenance procedures to extend the life of your MIG welding gun and ensure consistent performance.

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03
Push vs Pull Technique

Master the differences between push and pull welding techniques for various joint configurations.

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04
Spool Gun for Aluminum

Complete guide to using spool guns for aluminum MIG welding and preventing wire feeding issues.

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05
Ground Clamp Placement

Strategic ground clamp positioning techniques for optimal arc stability and weld quality.

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06
Contact Tip Selection Guide

Choosing the right contact tip size and material for your specific MIG welding application.

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07
Spatter Control Techniques

Minimize welding spatter through proper parameter settings and anti-spatter solutions.

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08
MIG Liner Selection & Care

Understanding liner types, proper installation, and maintenance for smooth wire feeding.

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09
Shielding Gas Selection

Complete guide to choosing the right shielding gas mixture for different materials and applications.

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10
Advanced MIG Techniques

Professional welding patterns and techniques for superior penetration and bead appearance.

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11
Wire Types & Selection

Compare ER70S-6, ER70S-3, stainless, and aluminum wires for your specific welding needs.

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12
Bead Control & Appearance

Techniques for achieving consistent, professional-quality weld beads on every pass.

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13
Beginner Tips & Common Mistakes

Essential advice for new welders to build good habits and avoid typical beginner errors.

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14
Complete Troubleshooting Guide

Diagnose and fix common MIG welding problems including porosity, burn-through, and poor penetration.

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15
Automotive Welding Applications

Specialized techniques for automotive bodywork, frame repair, and exhaust system welding.

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16
Caster & Small Component Welding

Precision welding techniques for small parts, casters, and light-duty fabrication projects.

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17
Automation & Robotics

Introduction to automated MIG welding systems and robotic integration for production environments.

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18
Galvanized Steel Welding

Safe welding practices for galvanized steel, fume management, and preventing zinc contamination.

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TIG welding category
TIG WELDING GUIDES

Tungsten Inert Gas welding for precision and high-quality results

17 articles
01
Foot Pedal Control Mastery

Achieve precise amperage control with foot pedal techniques for consistent heat input.

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02
TIG Torch Maintenance

Keep your TIG torch in optimal condition with proper cleaning and component care.

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03
Back Purging & Gas Coverage

Protect the backside of stainless steel welds with proper backing gas techniques.

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04
Filler Rod Selection Guide

Choose the right filler material for steel, stainless, aluminum, and exotic metals.

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05
Aluminum TIG Settings

Optimal machine settings and AC balance configurations for aluminum welding.

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06
Thin Material Techniques

Specialized approaches for welding thin sheet metal without distortion or burn-through.

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07
Settings Reference Chart

Quick reference guide for amperage, gas flow, and tungsten selection by material thickness.

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08
Tungsten Electrode Sharpening

Proper grinding techniques and point geometries for different TIG applications.

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09
Torch Types & Selection

Air-cooled vs water-cooled torches, valve options, and neck angle considerations.

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10
Pulsed Current Techniques

Master pulsed TIG welding for superior control on thin and heat-sensitive materials.

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11
Tungsten Types Guide

Compare pure, thoriated, ceriated, and lanthanated tungsten electrodes.

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12
AC vs DC Welding

When to use alternating current versus direct current for different metals.

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13
TIG Troubleshooting Guide

Solutions for tungsten contamination, arc wandering, and inconsistent arc starts.

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14
Stainless Steel TIG

Achieve corrosion-resistant stainless welds with proper shielding and technique.

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15
Precision Welding Techniques

Micro-TIG and precision welding for delicate components and critical applications.

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16
Cast Iron & Casting Repair

Techniques for repairing cast iron parts and welding cast materials successfully.

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17
Pipe Welding Techniques

Position welding, root pass techniques, and certification requirements for pipe TIG.

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Stick welding category
STICK WELDING GUIDES

Shielded Metal Arc Welding for durability and outdoor applications

17 articles
01
Electrode Storage & Handling

Proper storage techniques to prevent moisture absorption and maintain electrode performance.

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02
Outdoor & Field Welding

Strategies for successful stick welding in windy and challenging outdoor conditions.

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03
Electrode Selection Guide

Understanding 6010, 6011, 6013, 7018, and specialty electrodes for different applications.

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04
Amperage Settings Chart

Recommended amperage ranges for each electrode type and material thickness.

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05
Vertical & Overhead Welding

Master out-of-position welding with proper technique and parameter adjustments.

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06
Machine Maintenance

Keep your stick welder running reliably with routine maintenance procedures.

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07
Electrode Angle Techniques

Optimize penetration and bead profile with proper work and travel angles.

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08
Multi-Pass Welding

Techniques for thick material joining using multiple weld passes and proper interpass temperature.

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09
Achieving Deep Penetration

Techniques for maximizing root penetration on thick and heavy-duty materials.

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10
Common Defects Prevention

Identify and prevent slag inclusions, porosity, and cracking in stick welds.

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11
Efficiency & Productivity

Tips for increasing deposition rates while maintaining weld quality.

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12
Troubleshooting Guide

Solutions for arc blow, sticking electrodes, and inconsistent arc performance.

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13
Pipe Welding with Stick

Open root techniques and positioning strategies for pipeline welding.

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14
Farm & Ranch Repairs

Practical stick welding applications for agricultural equipment maintenance.

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15
Underwater Welding Basics

Introduction to hyperbaric welding techniques and safety considerations.

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16
Structural Steel Welding

Code-compliant welding for structural steel construction and fabrication.

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17
Advanced Pipe Techniques

6G position welding and advanced pipe joining methods for certification.

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Plasma cutting category
PLASMA CUTTING GUIDES

Precision metal cutting technology and CNC applications

16 articles
01
Consumables Guide

Understanding electrodes, nozzles, and shields for optimal cutting performance.

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02
Air Pressure Settings

Optimize air pressure and flow rates for clean, dross-free cuts.

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03
Material Thickness Guide

Cutting capacity charts and speed recommendations by material thickness.

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04
CNC Plasma Basics

Introduction to computer-controlled plasma cutting systems and programming.

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05
Stainless Steel Cutting

Nitrogen and specialty gas cutting techniques for stainless steel.

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06
System Maintenance

Routine maintenance to extend consumable life and maintain cut quality.

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07
Troubleshooting Guide

Diagnose and fix common plasma cutting issues including poor edge quality.

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08
Aluminum Cutting

Specialized settings for cutting aluminum without warping or dross buildup.

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09
Equipment Buying Guide

Compare features and specifications when selecting a plasma cutting system.

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10
Safety Procedures

Essential safety practices for high-voltage plasma arc cutting operations.

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11
Carbon Steel Cutting

Air plasma techniques for efficient carbon and mild steel cutting.

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12
Cutting Fundamentals

Basic principles of plasma arc physics and cutting mechanism.

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13
Cutting Table Setup

Water table and downdraft system design for fume and noise control.

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14
Preventive Maintenance

Scheduled maintenance procedures for consistent high-quality cuts.

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15
Hole & Circle Cutting

Techniques for accurate hole cutting and plasma marking applications.

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16
Copper & Brass Cutting

High-current techniques for cutting conductive copper and brass alloys.

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Multi-process welding category
GENERAL WELDING RESOURCES

Safety, certifications, career guidance, and universal welding knowledge

20 articles
01
Safety Equipment Checklist

Complete PPE requirements and safety gear recommendations for all welding processes.

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02
Workstation Setup Guide

Design an efficient, safe welding workspace with proper ventilation and lighting.

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03
Certification Guide

Navigate AWS, ASME, and API certification processes for professional welders.

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04
Defects & Prevention

Identify and prevent porosity, cracks, undercut, and other common weld defects.

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05
Welding Positions Guide

Master flat, horizontal, vertical, and overhead welding positions.

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06
Career Pathways

Explore welding career options from fabrication to inspection and engineering.

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07
Welding Symbols Guide

Read and interpret AWS welding symbols on blueprints and engineering drawings.

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08
Welder Types Comparison

Compare transformer, inverter, and multi-process welding machines.

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09
Essential Supplies

Stock your shop with must-have consumables, tools, and accessories.

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10
Project Planning

From concept to completion: planning successful welding projects.

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11
Career Certification Paths

Detailed roadmap from entry-level to specialized welding certifications.

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12
Project Safety Planning

Risk assessment and safety protocols for complex welding projects.

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13
Advanced Welding Symbols

Complex joint designs, supplementary symbols, and special instructions.

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14
Equipment Maintenance

Comprehensive maintenance schedule for all welding equipment types.

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15
Quality Control Systems

Implement inspection and testing procedures for weld quality assurance.

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16
PPE Selection Guide

Selecting appropriate helmets, gloves, jackets, and respiratory protection.

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17
Welding Glossary A-Z

Comprehensive terminology reference for welding and fabrication terms.

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18
Skills Practice Drills

Structured practice exercises to improve welding technique and consistency.

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19
History of Welding

From forge welding to laser beams: the evolution of joining technology.

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20
Industry Standards

Overview of AWS, ASME, ISO, and other welding codes and standards.

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QUICK REFERENCE GUIDES

Fast-access resources for common welding questions

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