During my daily scouring of the web for welding related news and information, I came across an article that highlights what can happen when welding work is low-grade and inspectors utilize poor evaluation procedures.

Welding is a suspect in a tank collapse in Chesapeake Mike Saewitz, The Virgina-Pilot, 11/23/2008

In trying to unravel the mystery of the collapse of Allied Terminals Tank 201 in Chesapeake, experts say those investigating the failure will be trying to determine whether the liquid fertilizer corroded welds that held the massive tank together.

They also are likely to review major welding work that was done on the structure in late 2006.

Tank collapses are an extremely rare occurrence, experts say. But when any above ground liquid fertilizer tank has failed in recent years, investigators have determined that defective welding was the main cause, according to Environmental Protection Agency documents. CONTINUE READING ONLINE–>

The difficulties and complexities surrounding the art of gas tungsten arc welding can frustrate even the most expert welders and fabricators. While scouring the web for the latest industry news, I came across a how-to article on TIG torch assembly…hope you enjoy!

Tips for TIG torches: Simplifying torch assembly Jack Fulcer, Practical Welding Today, 11/11/2008

Proper installation of GTAW torches–whether air- or water cooled–is just one bullet on a long list of reasons that GTAW is so complex. The best way to simplify torch installation is to become familiar with the components and how to assemble them properly.

As if gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) weren’t already difficult to master, GTAW torches have numerous interchangeable parts and designs to further complicate matters. CONTINUE READING ABOUT TIG TORCH ASSEMBLY ONLINE –>

Or check out Jim Watson’s video tutorial on How to Build a Water Cooled TIG Torch:

Want to pursue welding as a hobby? Want to make some money on the side or start your own fabrication business, but are turned off by the high price tag and complexity of welding machines?

Well the crew over at Miller has just released a great machine that is both inexpensive and easy to use. Our own JoeWelder^TM, a.k.a. Jim Watson, says “The Diversion 165 is a great tool for the novice welder.” Jim goes on to say, “I recommend that machine as a starting point; to complete your TIG welding station I would add our New TIG welding safety bundle, a TIG Weld Prep Kit, Sharpie^TM Series Tungsten Grinder and a AK-2-Pro^TM Accessory Kit, — with that combination you can achieve high-quality welds on a variety of materials from steel to aluminum, stainless steel and titanium– right out of the box! I would also suggest a copy of Ron Covell’s TIG Welding Basics DVD.” All of these products are available in our industry leading welding accessory webstore. (more…)

I have always been an outlaw. When I was a chief mechanic on a winning World of Outlaw Sprint car team my huge silver belt buckle was inlaid with turquoise letters – O U T L A W .

Even when I started Arc-Zone.com I was a bit of an outlaw, and a bit of a pioneer. We were the first to sell welding accessories online– I started with an eBay store, then we moved to a customized webstore built on open source code. We sell direct to consumers, and we sell to distributors. We have some items manufactured for us, to our specifications. And we don’t just sell product in California, or even some pre-defined western region, we sell worldwide. That really confuses manufacturers that have a regulated, pre-defined distribution system– a system that is sometimes hard to break into. In other words, some of the vendors we have dealt with have not really known which box to put us in.

Whether you’re an outlaw or a pioneer, or a little bit of both, one thing you’ll need when you have a business is a lawyer. Now I know everybody throws down on lawyers – but like it or not, if you plan on starting a business, or you are in business now, you will eventually need one.

I was lucky to find a good law firm early– Branfman and Associates. Before I even launched the company I asked advice on trademark and domain name issues, learned where I needed to start with preliminary name searches, what the difference is between a ( TM) and ( R) in terms of trademark, and how to protect your intellectual property.

And they are not just your stuffed shirt attorneys either. We had lunch the other day, and I discovered that Mark has a custom chopper. “It’s pretty fun and loud as all get out,” Mark says… and it should be fun, it’s a 2003 Bourget Pro-Gets Classic. A highly engineered bike with no oil tank! The oil for the entire bike circulates through the frame. It’s an awesome idea that improves performance by adding more oil and utilizing the surface area of the frame to dissipate the heat, keeping the engine running cool and efficient.

I have been with Branfman for 10 years and they have helped me in many ways. The more your business grows, the more people (vendors, customers, employees etc.) you deal with — the more you will need a GOOD Lawyer, one you have a solid relationship with.

Recently we were jacked around by a vendor…. This company has a reputation in the industry for being jerks but when we were just starting out, trying to establish resources for quality product we put up with their shenanigans. We were trying to build a reputation for ourselves as a company that puts customers first. I’m not saying we haven’t made mistakes, but hopefully we’ve handled them with integrity. And so we put up with this vendor for longer than we should have, but we documented each incident along the long road.

Recently they not only cut us off (after we have spent thousands of dollars with them), they had some rinky dink lawyer of theirs send us a childish letter. When we didn’t respond, they got their big guns fancy Beverly Hills attorney involved and made all kinds of ridiculous accusations trying to scare us. The fact is, they are jealous of the reputation we have built, the customer loyalty and the solid relationships we now have with quality manufacturers and our position in the market.

Now if we hadn’t already had a good solid relationship with a reputable and knowledgeable law firm, we would have been in a panic. As it stands, we’re able to let the attorneys deal with it and we can get on with the business we are in– delivering precision welding products, value-added services and technical solutions to customers worldwide.

If you have a business, make sure you have a good attorney on your side. Start early and build a relationship with him/her so they get an understanding of who you are and what you are trying to do. A good lawyer can direct you away from potential landmines that can derail your business and waste time and money – and in business both are very valuable!

Document your business dealings – and most importantly – don’t let people push you around – Push back and if you’re prepared – push back hard, then move on to growing your business!

Hobart has released some new safety gear just in time for the holiday season…nothing wrong with looking good and staying safe at the same time!  Hobart is taking it back to the basics with this rugged, yet classic, line of safety apparel.

APPLETON, Wis., November 18, 2008–Hobart Welding Products introduces a variety of welding apparel, meeting the demand for quality protective gear at an affordable price. New items include leather and cloth welding jackets, a leather apron and welding sleeves. Ideal for the garage, shop or outdoor use, the new items are made from high-quality materials designed to keep sparks, heat and ultra-violet rays from harming exposed skin.
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One of the wonderful things about this industry is the amazing things that people do with metal. I ran across Guy McIntyre’s story out there on the internet. My favorite quote from the article is a little further down– in other words you’ll have to click to read the rest of the article, but I’ll share it with you: “I believe if I can’t make it I don’t need it.”

This guy uses any kind of metal he can get his hands on, from the hub of a snowmoblile trailer, to a rusted 55 gallon drum.

Salvaging the scrap heap

By Bea Lewis
CITIZEN.COM, Article Date: Sunday, November 16, 2008

Guy McIntyre of Tilton showcases his welding skills by creating animal sculptures as well as abstract art.

“It takes all my talents as a welder and fabricator to make something like that,” he says as he stands next to a giant blue heron he crafted out of aluminum. The wings are made of diamond plate creating the appearance of feathers.

“I’ve worked on planes, trains, automobiles, ships, bridges and high-story buildings,” he said.
CONTINUE READING ONLINE –>

What are you working on? Show Me The Metal™ !

Humboldt County resident utilizes welding and metal fabrication techniques to restore a vintage 1950s handmade trolley!

Bringing history to life
Sharon Letts, The Times-Standard, 11/11/2008

As a boy, Gerry Tomczak grew up with the clanging, rushing sounds of the “L” train, or elevated trains, in Chicago, but it wasn’t until he came to Humboldt County in 2002 that he was able to be a part of the history of this mode of travel.

”I joined the Timber Heritage Association — which at the time called itself the Northern Counties Logging Interpretive Association — and I volunteered to work at the steam-ups of the small gypsy locomotives at Fort Humboldt,” he said.

Tomczak, who resides in Eureka, served on the association’s board of directors, with a three-year stint as its vice president. He also played a part in getting the 1950 Arcata & Mad River Railroad #101 returned to Humboldt County from DeRidder, La., as well as overseeing work done on the machine — from restoration to getting the diesel operating.

Tomczak believes the past is an arrow that points to the future. ..CONTINUE READING ONLINE->

If any of you are currently using metal fabrication or welding techniques on a restoration project or have before in the past, feel free to share your stories with us!

Some of you may have noticed we have a new addition to the Arc-Zone.com team, and if you’ve called recently you may have spoken to Tim.

Tim knows a lot about welding– specifically the importance of a strong weld. Tim does some xteme BMX bike riding (pictured above). The kind of riding where a good, strong weld is important, and could mean the difference between some serious fun and a trip to the ER.

“I just came up short and snapped the frame,” says Tim. Fortunately Tim wasn’t hurt bad.

Tim says 90% of this kind of riding is in your mind, convincing your body to do what seems impossible. Having equipment that you can rely on makes that much easier. And the impact of breaking the headstock off of his BMX frame made it that much more profound.

“Once that happens it takes you a while to trust your frame again,” he says.

Tim ended up switching manufacturers after that. He now rides a Fit bike. With its 20 in. diameter wheels, and precision TIG welded 4130 chrome molly steel frame it’s perfect for the type of xtreme BMX riding Tim likes to do.

Tim brings more to the Arc-Zone team than a great story and some cool pics. Tim has an extensive background in Sales, Marketing and Customer Service. And a good dose of Midwestern work ethic.

“I grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, home of Miller beer and welders,” he proudly says.

And if you want to really see him in action, check out this YouTube video:

These are the kinds of initiatives we need to take if we are going to fill that projected welder shortage!

Learning incentives: Grants for student manufacturing, engineering camp
Manufacturing and engineering summer camps get a boost with two foundation grants
– Control Engineering, 11/4/2008
Rockford, IL –

Grants of $2,500 to $5,000 are available to not-for-profit organizations and educational institutions to offer overnight or day-camp experiences next summer to introduce young people to careers in manufacturing and engineering.

They are a collaborative effort between Fabricators & Manufacturers Association Foundation (FMAF) and Nuts, Bolts and Thingamajigs Foundation (NBTF), founded by actor John Ratzenberger, best known as Cliff on NBC’s “Cheers,” and a champion of U.S. manufacturing. The charitable organization is dedicated to introducing young people to the joys of tinkering, inspiring the next generation of skilled manual artists, engineers, and inventors. FMA Foundation, an educational, research, and charitable organization, promotes metal forming and fabricating technology in manufacturing…CONTINUE READING ONLINE –>

Do you know of any grants or scholarships, or company initiatives available to young people learning the trades?

Nothin’ like a nice steady rhythm to help you lay a bead, so we’ve created a couple soundtracks for you to weld by… ALL ROCK & METAL of course. Enjoy!