Welding Supplies Blog

When looking through the catalog of Miller’s MIG machines, it might feel a bit overwhelming trying to pick the perfect machine for you. With so many great welders, how can you really choose? Many f...

Dialing in your welding settings can often feel like shooting at a target with a blindfold on while riding a merry-go-round. There are a million ways to miss, and you won’t always know how far off ...

As one of the best workhorses of the Millermatic line, the Millermatic 252 is more than capable of welding aluminum. However, to get good results, you definitely need to know the right way to appro...

The Millermatic 252 is the workhorse of Miller’s lineup. It’s tough, simple and incredibly powerful. In fact, it has the highest power output in its class at 250 amps at 28 VDC. This makes it capab...

As one of the most beloved MIG machines ever created, the Millermatic 211 has made itself a lasting legacy within the welding community ― so much so that many people often wonder about the history ...

The Millermatic 211 might quite possibly be the best-selling MIG machine of all time. It’s essentially the fine wine of welding equipment: It was revolutionary when it first came out about a decade...

Thinking about getting yourself a Lincoln MIG welder? Or maybe you’ve already purchased one and are stoked to lay some beads. Knowing the right way to set up your machine can save you a massive amo...

So, the big Miller box you've been waiting for has finally arrived at your doorstep. Now that the Millermatic 211 is in your hands, how do you set it up? Don't worry; we're here to help you get eve...

How ironic is it that metal can withstand incredible pressures and high impacts like no other type of material, but its weakness is air and moisture. If your MIG weld is exposed to these elements, ...

Within the world of welding, there are a massive amount of options as far as which process you can use – everything from cold welding in the vacuum of space to laser welding. But by far, the main t...

Although cast iron has been around for over 2,500 years, its widespread adoption in Europe during the 1500s was revolutionary. For the first time in history, metal items could be quickly and easily...

Having a mobile welding solution can be a huge opportunity. Not being held down by the power grid allows you to take jobs anywhere. Is there a 250-volt socket at the job? Doesn’t matter, you’ve got...

The amount of misinformation there is about auto darkening helmets is staggering considering how simple they are to use. This article is here to set the record straight, explaining exactly how mode...

Sometimes, you can just tell a product was made by someone who didn’t actually think about using the item. The infamous example is scissors that come in a package that requires scissors to open. Mi...

Howard had been welding for more than a decade. But tonight, he was at home, watching a movie with his wife on the couch. In the movie, a background character picked up a welding torch and struck a...

“Plasma cutting” and “good plasma cutting” are two entirely different things. “Plasma cutting” is almost as simple as not pointing the nozzle at your face and pulling the trigger. But plasma cuttin...

Flagships: Some people think they’re just cursed. The Titanic was the flagship meant to change how we traveled the seas. The Hindenberg was a flagship meant to change how we traveled the skies. So ...

As the flowers bloom and the weather warms up, it's the perfect time to get creative with your welding projects. Whether you're a seasoned welder or just starting out, there are plenty of exciting ...

Think of the ultimate example of power, strength and unmoving force. What comes to mind? Maybe a bulldozer with rocket jets? Or a rhinoceros that can shoot lasers out of its eyes? What about… water...

Any of you financially savvy welders know there’s no such thing as a free lunch. So how can Welding Supplies from IOC just give away free gear and discounts with their rewards program? How does tha...

How about them job titles? It feels like half the positions you hear are heavily exaggerated these days. And to be honest, it might have always been that way. In the 1400s, the king had a special s...

Look, we totally agree: Price increases suck. Inflation makes costs go up, resulting in almost all welding manufacturers generally increasing prices on machines and equipment at the beginning of ea...

24 hours of Darkness. It’s what they call a "Polar Night." The only UV light you’ve seen in the last day has been from your welding arc. From a survivability standpoint, humans have almost no busin...

It might come as news to those just getting started in the industry, but the welding process doesn't end once you've fused two pieces of metal together. It also starts long before firing up your ma...

Published November 2023.The Sprinter is now planned to be released to the public in February 2024. There’s “brand new” and then there’s “just born, still has the umbilical cord, right out of the ov...

There’s no doubt about it: We saw a couple of reindeer carb-loading the other day, Santa ordering a bunch of coal, and some of the best deals of the year on welding equipment; the holidays are offi...

Why gifts?Really think about it. You give your friend an item, they give something of similar value back. If you’re a cynic, you might ask, “What’s the point? Why not just everyone buy their own th...

If the old Bobcat series was the best thing since sliced bread, then the next-generation Bobcat 265 is the best thing since happy hour. Miller’s Bobcat series has always been a legend—and now that ...

When it comes to welding a project yourself versus simply buying it pre-made, it’s often surprisingly cheaper to buy rather than DIY (check out our post on the topic here). However, fences and gate...

All dressed up with nowhere to go. That’s a phrase you usually don’t hear in the welding world, despite how often it applies. You see, you might be decked out in top-of-the-line gear, with the skil...

You could read every single guide on the internet about MIG welding but still have no idea how to turn the machine on. That’s because very few articles cover the exact steps you should take. The un...

Nowadays, everything can be connected to your smartphone. It can run your Netflix, your AC, your house lights—heck, some smartphones can even talk to your mom on her birthday while you sit back and...

Transport yourself back almost 30 years ago. It’s the 80s and early 90s. MTV still plays music videos; gas is a dollar per gallon and auto-darkening helmets are becoming accessible to the average A...

So, you need to cut some metal. Maybe you’re fitting some joints together on your latest welding project. Or that piece of sheet metal is just a few inches too long. No matter the reason, welding o...

For most welders who work out in the field, a welder/generator is the heart of their equipment. Why isn’t it the brain, especially with how smart these machines have gotten? Well, that’s because so...

Whoever says size matters has never seen two things: a Tasmanian Devil amped up on Red Bull mixed with beaver steroids—and the ESAB Miniarc Rogue ES 180i. The good things that come in this small pa...

“Sports tires are sick,” the mechanic said. “They’re the ones I’d go with.” My stupid 17-year-old self was just dumb enough to take his word for it. Within two months, our streets were covered in i...

In a previous month, we covered portability while welding out in the field. However, there are many of you that weld in a workshop or your garage. This doesn’t mean portability isn’t important to y...

The $1.4 billion stealth bomber pulled out onto the runway of Guam’s airforce base. The wet, humid air was foreign to the silent behemoth, which had largely been developed in the dry deserts of the...

Power requirements have never been demonstrated better than 1989’s Christmas Vacation. As Clark Griswald excitedly goes to plug in his elaborate Christmas lights display, his joy turns to dread as ...

Have you ever gone camping? For some people, it’s a nightmare. You’re cold, hungry and have to sleep on rocks—then a raccoon tries to snuggle with you halfway through the night. You end up having a...

A crack like a gunshot rang out as the baseball connected with the bat. Moving as a blur, the ball sped through the air, going higher and higher. The batter watched it out of the corner of his eye ...

“Shake the house”—that was the original term for “spring cleaning” over 3,000 years ago. As the first spring cleaners, the ancient Persians believed that clearing out their houses after winter prev...

“A fire pit! A FIRE PIT?!” We can hear you skeptics yelling at the top of your lungs. “Cavemen have been making fire pits for hundreds of thousands of years, how hard could it be?!” While your most...

MIG welding is one of the most user-friendly welding processes for someone looking to get into metal work. Although it’s often described as “a metal hot glue gun,” MIG is still an incredibly deep p...

Close your eyes. Imagine a grizzled man wearing a thick apron. In his hand, he holds a thick tree branch, which he jabs at a piece of metal, trying to produce an arc. For your average person, that’...

The holidays hopefully mean a little bit of extra cash for you… or a lot of extra fruit cake. Investing in your welding equipment is one of the smartest things you can do when heading into a new ye...

For the first time in the last couple years, the holidays aren’t crippled with serious supply chain issues. This presents one of the biggest opportunities to find the perfect welding gift. With man...