Recent content by AkFordGuy

Yes, you do. I've seen many unfortunate incidents come about as a result of grinding sparks. I've caught many t-shirts on fire from grinding sparks. Grinding sparks directed into Carhartt pants for extended periods of time eventually make the pants very "crusty". Grinding sparks stick in...

I'm going to preface this by saying I'm a career pressure vessel welder, and I have experience in many other facets of the welding industry as well; I am not pulling the following opinions and advice out of my ***. First off, .023" wire is garbage. It's so thin that it can't carry enough heat...

Innershield is far from the only process that produces spatter. It is not always possible to position yourself out of the rain of sparks. It IS always possible to wear the appropriate PPE to avoid getting burned by it.

Molten metal will still burn clean through it. So as long as the FR shirt doesn't actually get anything hot on it, it'll last indefinitely? That seems to be a foregone conclusion. No, not all welding causes spatter, nor has such a claim been made. If all you're doing is TIG, then a good long...

For the handful of people who've seen my post or two, they know that I'm a welder by trade. A pipe welder, to be specific. I know what spatter is. FR anything simply doesn't hold up. I've used Carhartt, Black Stallion, and other reputable brands. They make good clothing, but the fact of the...

Knurled drive rolls are not needed, though they do help. The Miller push-pull feeders use knurled drive rolls, the Cobras do not. They are the two big players in the aluminum fabrication world.

There is no such thing as a "push pull spool gun". You can either use a push-pull gun for aluminum, or a spool gun. In the professional fabrication world, push pull guns are the standard. Spool guns ****. Right now I'm working with a boat shop building custom aluminum boats, and that's all we...

If you don't have some scrap to practice on, chances are you're going to ruin them with aluminum wire just as quick as you will with TIG. Aluminum wire is worlds apart from steel.

I use 1/4" air hoses for all my nail guns. I like the Flexeel hoses. My framer is the tried and true Hitachi, I forget the model number, it's the good one, made in Japan. For trim work I have some newer Sencos that are nice.

Lots, and lots, and lots, and lots of misinformation here. Let me preface this by saying, I'm a career pipe welder, although I've also spent plenty of time in repair shops, and building aluminum boats. I like to think I know a thing or two about welding. First off, as someone else has already...