Now That’s What I Call Welding: Volume 16

Welding is all about joining metals or other materials together, so we’ll spotlight songs about ‘togetherness’ for this month’s Now That’s What I Call Welding: Volume 14 Playlist. As molten joints coalesce before your eyes, you can rock out to these tunes, all focused on the concept of fusing parts (or hearts) together. Grab your welding glasses and let’s get started!

1. The Beatles – Come Together
2. The Turtles – Happy Together
3. INXS – Never Tear Us Apart
4. Sugarland – Stuck Like Glue
5. Al Green – Let’s Stay Together
6. The Youngbloods – Get Together
7. Sting – We’ll Be Together
8. The Strokes – Alone Together
9. Canned Heat – Let’s Work Together
10. Bob Marley & The Wailers – One Love
11. The Rolling Stones – Let’s Spend The Night Together
12. Mariah Carey – We Belong Together
13. Captain & Tennille – Love Will Keep Us Together
14. Cast of Grease – We Go Together
15. Blink 182 – Stay Together for the Kids

If you’re taking things apart, you can always play “We Are Never Getting Back Together” by Taylor Swift!
Well, we hope you enjoyed these songs about togetherness as much as we did. Join us next month for another playlist that will make your welding day go by a little faster.

Wonderful Welding Holiday Gifts

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and Christmas will be here before you know it. So what welding wonders are you wishing to find under the Christmas tree? Whether you need a new MIG welding machine or you’re dreaming of a welding helmet, you’ll find the best gifts for every welder on your Christmas shopping list at U.S. Welding & Safety Supply Co. Here are some of our most popular welding gifts for the holiday season.

1. Welding can be a loud job, but somebody has to do it. Protect their hearing with a pair of Howard Leight Earmuffs.
2. Stuff stockings full of the latest MIG welding accessories. From Lincoln contact tips to Miller Fastip Diffusers, we have the latest MIG welding accessories.
3. Christmas is the perfect time to surprise the welder in your life with a brand new welding kit. Choose from a variety of welding kits from some of your favorite brands, including Victor, Uniweld, and Harris Welding.
4. What man doesn’t love power tools? From grinders to drills, chop saws and band saws, we have the latest power tools for every macho man!
5. Replace the broken parts on his existing welder with parts from our selection of replacement parts. Choose from a large variety of replacement parts.

Having trouble finding the perfect gift for the welder on your holiday shopping list? Give us a call at 305-593-9488, and we’ll help you find exactly what you’re searching for. Happy holidays from your friends at U.S. Welding & Safety Supply Co.!

Loading Up The Welding Gun Arsenal

Every welder needs a welding gun arsenal to complete his or her various jobs. Different welding guns each have their own specific uses. We carry a wide range of welding gun and torch options so you can easily find the tools you need. Not sure what the differences are between welding guns? This handy guide will show you the differences.

• MIG Guns: MIG guns reduce muscle fatigue while welding, which in turn boosts productivity. By providing comfort and an easy grip, MIG guns are favorites throughout the welding industry.

• Flux Cored Welding Guns: Made for semi-automatic or automatic arc welding, flux cored welding guns are perfectly suited to this unique brand of welding.

• TIG Torches: TIG torches provide maneuverability and versatility, allowing you to weld anywhere more safely.  Stability and comfort are hallmarks of these torches that are available in air-cooled or water-cooled models, depending on your welding work.

• Aluminum Guns: For working on aluminum, a number of options exist for maximum control, safety, and welding comfort. With push pull welding guns and welding spool guns, you can complete any aluminum welding task with ease.

• Submerge Gun: Submerged arc welding guns provide stability and toughness for difficult welding jobs.

• Plasma Gun: For unmatched cutting speed, precision, and welding capacity, plasma guns provide some of the most high-powered welding action in the business.

• Fume Extraction Guns: Maintain a clean welding environment by extracting fumes from the welding site with fume extraction guns.

Whether you’re looking for a new welding gun or the accessories to get yours back in working condition, we have all of the supplies you need to make your welding a success.

USWeldingSupply.com - A Name to Trust

Workers, shop owners, and hobbyists trust USWeldingSupply.com for their welding tools and accessories. Our convenient website offers top-notch products from manufacturers that you can trust; but that is just one reason why so many choose us. Welders trust us because:

• We sell high-quality Lincoln, Hobart and Miller equipment at affordable prices.
• Our company carries a huge variety of products that range from stick welders to beveling machines.
• We stock numerous safety devices, including earplugs, helmets, and respirators.
• Our prices and selection don't come at the expense of quality, accuracy, or customer service.
• Most of our welding tools include free shipping within the continental United States. We also offer international delivery options.
• Our warehouse maintains a large inventory and ships products from Doral, FL, delivering every item ordered as quickly as possible.
• If you want to order equipment or accessories in bulk, we can provide significant wholesale discounts.
• Our website uses 256-bit encryption to maximize security. This keeps your payment and contact information safe.
• We accept PayPal®, MasterCard®, Discover®, Visa®, and American Express® for payments, and we gladly accept orders via telephone.
• The staff can provide helpful advice and answer all of your questions about welding equipment, and speak both English and Spanish.

Essentially, USWeldingSupply.com offers everything you need at the prices you can afford. To learn more about our selection of welding tools and accessories, browse our website or call us at (305) 593-9488.

Choosing and Using a Welding Fume Extractor

In any metal shop, the need to manage welding fumes is paramount. Regulations from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration demand it, and the use of a welding fume extractor occupies an honored place in their list of recommended welding practices.

Choosing a Welding Fume Extractor
To achieve the greatest degree of success, it's vital to choose the fume extraction system most appropriate for your situation. The three major types include:

• Source-Capture Fume Extractors - These devices stop the flow of toxins at their point of origin.
• Low-Vacuum, High-Volume Fume Extractors - Large ductwork arrangements enable appliances to move large quantities of air with relatively low vacuum pressure.
• High-Vacuum, Low-Volume Fume Extractors - A provision of nozzles or similar small attachments permits them to remove toxic vapors closer to the actual weld.

Using the Welding Fume Extractor
The most appropriate fume extractor will be of little benefit if not used correctly. Best practices mandate that welders:

• Position the extractor's arm at the correct angle.
• Assume the proper body position.
• Avoid over-welding.

The shop, for its part, must:

• Restrict cross-ventilation.
• Keep the fume extractor properly maintained.
• Educate workers on best welding practices.

Welding fumes are hazardous by nature. By assisting in their removal, the appropriate welding fume extractor plays a vital role in supporting the health and safety of workers in any metal shop.

Helpful Fire Prevention Tips

October is National Fire Prevention Week. As many business owners and professional welders know, by following a few simple tips, welding-related fires workplace fires can be avoided. To help, and to honor the occasion, here are a few reminders and helpful tips to keep workers, companies, and projects safe.

1. Remove Combustible Materials - Combustible materials should be removed from the work area. Generally, this includes the following:

• Leaves
• Brush
• Twigs
• Wood
• Clothing items

Structural partitions and roofs should also be avoided. Fire retardants can be placed on top of materials that simply can't be moved.

2. Watch for Flammable Vapors
   • Volatile liquids from nearby tanks and pipes can explode when mixed with air. The work area should be completely free of these dangerous chemicals before welding begins. Sawdust from nearby wooden beams is combustible under certain conditions, as well. As such, it should be eliminated as fully as possible.

3. Use Properly Maintained Equipment
   • All electrical devices should be installed correctly and should have the appropriate circuit protection. Welding blankets and curtains can be utilized when needed. All cylinders containing gasoline should be several feet from the welding area. Hoses should be kept away from the following:
     • Sparks
     • Heat
     • Flames
     • Slag

Hoses and cylinders that are maintained properly will remain viable for many years.
Ultimately, it is the workers responsibility to remove combustible materials, watch for flammable vapors, and ensure well-maintained equipment is used. Fires can be avoided. All it takes is you!

The Art of Welding

Typically, when you think of a welder, your thoughts conjure a picture of hardworking men and women doing the important job of creating goods that are the backbone of this country; vehicles, piping and machinery,  just to name a few. However, there are a growing number of welders that have nothing to do with creating commercial goods and everything to do with art.

Everything from sculptures and jewelry to DIY décor are created using the technique of welding. Sculpture artists can weld truly unique and one-of-a-kind creations soldering discarded metals that were destined for the scrap yard. Today, lots of home decor, for both inside and out, has been popularized using recycled metals. A bottle bush using recycled bottles would look lovely in your garden. Are you a horse lover? A flower made from old horseshoes would be a perfect wall decoration for you home.

Metal art sculptures may be modern or contemporary and can bring new life to forgotten discards. From coffee tables and fire pits, to a rooster made from an old spade shovel and a spoon flower for your walkway, sculptures are revitalizing what would otherwise be trash.

Let’s not forget the beauty that is welded jewelry. Heirloom quality jewelry can be crafted and designed in such a way that is not possible with traditional jewelry making. Often times, welded jewelry can be crafted and designed to your exact specifications. For sure, no two pieces will ever be alike.

Whether you’re an artist or a welder by trade, you’ll find the best selection of welding tools and supplies to handle any job at USWeldingSupply.com.