You may have dropped by the Arc-Zone.com eBay store and seen this message:

We’re revamping our entire eBay store. We’ll be taking advantage of new tools offered by eBay and hope to be up and running before the end of next week.

In the meantime, don’t forget, you can purchase top quality welding accessories from our super secure Arc-Zone.com webstore. In fact, we’re adding more and more items each day… from CK TIG Torches to MIG replacement parts and even posters, Weld Like a PRO (TM) decals and stylish welding apparel… if you haven’t scoped out our online welding webstore lately, you’re missing out!

Believe it or not, now is a good time to expand your business and get ready for the economic stimulus package that will include investment in infrastructure.

So if you need to upgrade your welding shop, or just want to see what’s new and hot so you can plan for the future… the new Lincoln Electric Product Catalog is here! The 170-page book presents Lincoln’s complete line of equipment including welders, wire feeders, plasma cutting systems, robotic solutions, fume extraction systems, welding guns and torches as well as welding consumables.

The 2009 edition features:

• Updated graphics and celebrity endorsements
• Expanded Automated Solutions section
• New Submerged Arc and Automatic Equipment section

Request your copy today at Lincoln Electric’s website.

If you’re into automotive fabrication and want to improve your skills, then take a look into Lincoln’s Motorsports Welding School, which hosted an Advanced Motorsports Welding seminar this past December.  In attendance were some of the best team fabricators in the racing industry, representing NASCAR, IndyCar, NHRA (National Hot Rod Association), USAC (United States Auto Club), World of Outlaws and several others.  Lincoln’s comprehensive welding knowledge benefits the industry by helping teams, sanctions and manufacturers make their cars more competitive and safer to drive.

Welding schools like Lincoln’s did not exist in 1979, when Arc-Zone.com owner and founder Jim Watson was a member of the World of Outlaws Sprint Race Car Team.  Though based in Los Angeles, California, the team raced in 22 states and Canada. Jim was the Chief Mechanic for the team, which competed under the name James Gang #15. The car was a kit car that Jim assembled and it was accompanied by a transport trailer that Jim and the team also built.

The James Gang #15 Team pioneered the large custom transporter; until the completion and arrival of the team’s transporter, competitors used small open trailers.  The transporter that Jim and his team constructed was completely enclosed, contained a fully functional workshop, and contained all the necessary spare parts required to run the entire 80 race series.  The transporter that Jim and his team built was truly years ahead of its time and the application of welding was instrumental in its construction, as well as the construction of the team’s sprint car. (more…)

The crew over at Miller Electric Mfg. Co., are kicking off the new year by introducing its 2009 Full-Line catalog. 

 
APPLETON, Wis., Jan. 5, 2008–On the occasion of its 80th anniversary, Miller Electric Mfg. Co.’s 2009 full-line welding and cutting equipment catalog celebrates the individuals and companies that embody the spirit of The Power of Blue.

Miller’s free, full-color, 96-page catalog provides specifications on Miller MIG welders, TIG welders, Stick welders, plasma cutters, welding generators, welding helmets and safety gear, including eight new major pieces of equipment.  The catalog also provides helpful product selection charts, and it describes the additional benefits available through Miller’s online welding communities, which are also free. (more…)

Last month we here at Arc-Zone published the first article in a series of posts we are doing called Metal of the Month.  The purpose of the series is to highlight different metals, provide readers with information about the properties of each metal, and offer our audience some general tips on how to weld with each metal successfully.  This month we are going to discuss the metal Chromoly.

4130 steel-an alloy steel, is commonly referred to as chromoly, an alloy which contains chromium and molybdenum among other elements.  The number ‘4130′ is a code that the American Iron & Steel Institute (AISI 4-digit code system) uses to define the approximate chemical composition of the steel.  The ‘41′ indicates a low alloy steel containing chromium and molybdenum, while the ‘30′ indicates a carbon content of 0.3%.  The American Iron & Steel Institute naming system is one of the most widely accepted systems. 

PROPERTIES AND COMMON USES:

Chromoly is stronger than normal steel, weight for weight, and is commonly used to make high-end bicycle frames, roll cages for race cars, and for fuselages on small aircraft.  Chromoly’s high strength-to-weight ratio and high tensile strength makes it an ideal choice for these particular applications.  In addition, 4130 is utilized in a variety of applications because of its weldability, formability, ductility and toughness.  Overall it is considerably stronger and more durable than standard 1020 steel.  While this particular grade of steel does contain chromium, it is not in enough quantities to provide the corrosion resistance found in stainless steel. 

Regarding the manufacturing of high-end bicycle frames, chromoly is typically used to make bikes lighter rather than stronger.  This means that manufacturers use less of the steel so the strength is the same, but the weight is reduced.  However, the stiffness of the steel is approximately the same, so with less of it to be stiff, the chromoly bike frame ends up more flexible than the standard steel one.     
(more…)

“You dream it and I weld it“.  That’s the motto of Jesse Hornberger, welder-and-sculptor-at-large.  He welds mainly in steel, and many of the ideas for his sculptures have come from things that friends and family have suggested to him over the years.  Examples can be seen HERE ->

Artist turns dreams into steel sculptures (with photo gallery and video)

BY LISA ROOSE-CHURCH • DAILY PRESS & ARGUS • SEPTEMBER 7, 2009

You dream it and Jesse Hornberger can weld it.

That’s the motto of the 22-year-old Oceola Township man as he combines his welding degree and artistic talent to create steel sculptures that are the centerpiece of any room. His talent has led him to the Grove Gallery Co-op in East Lansing, where he is the gallery’s featured artist for September.  (photo gallery)

There is a reception to recognize Hornberger from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday at the co-op, 325 Grove St., Suite A, East Lansing. Wine, cheese and desserts will be served.

“It was kind of a hobby,” Hornberger said about his art. “I started doing sculpting in high school.  My first major piece was an eagle, and that’s on display at the gallery.  My senior year I made a big sculpture that’s at the courtyard at the (Howell High School) Freshman Campus.”

The inspiration behind that sculpture, which is about 8 feet tall, was a doodle drawing Hornberger made one day.

“A lot of my inspiration comes from my family and things they want to see,” he said.  ”My motto is, ‘You dream it and I weld it.’  I’m trying to test out my motto.”

CONTINUE READING ONLINE ->

One of our best customers, a highly successful midwest manufacturer recently called. They needed an expedited shipment of our ArcTime™ Brand Hybrid Formula, “Multi-Use” Non-radioactive Tungsten Electrodes. (They have tested all available materials from a variety of suppliers/manufacturers and found ArcTime™ works best for their welding application but that’s another post)

We were sold out — It was late in the day and we did not have the raw tungsten material packaged and ready for sale (in our trademarked plastic tubes with product info hang tag and moisture-absorbing wood stick). Our sales manager Tim Drover said, no problem. The customer puts the tungsten in a vending machine.

I was sure that Tim was mistaken. That he had gotten a crank call…. why would you put tungsten electrodes in a vending machine?

Turns out our customer uses a CribMaster Vending Machine. This innovative solution to inventory control allows the manufacturing engineer to track which TIG welders use which tungsten and how much they use. It is becoming a highly effective management, quality control and cost saving tool.

Someone still has to place the orders, however, which may bode well for the tool crib manager. Otherwise, I can just imagine him (or her) down at the local bar telling his buddies how his job was outsourced by a vending machine….