Journal
The welding journal.
Plain-English guides on costs, processes, metals, repair, safety and gates, written for Middle Tennessee.
Gates & FabricationFrom Sketch to Finished Part: How Custom Fabrication WorksThe steps a custom metal project goes through, and what to bring to the first conversation.
Safety & HiringWelding Safety: Sparks, Fire Watch and Hot WorkWhy welding starts fires more often than people expect and what responsible welders do about it.
Safety & HiringWhen Do You Need a Certified Welder?What welding certification means, which jobs require it and how to ask the right questions.
Repair & CarePreventing Rust on Gates, Railings and TrailersHow rust starts on steel and the preparation and coatings that keep it away for years.
Repair & CareCan Cast Iron Be Welded?Why cast iron cracks so easily, how it can be repaired and when it is not worth trying.
Repair & CareHow Is a Cracked Trailer Frame Repaired?What a proper trailer frame repair involves, and when a trailer is better replaced.
Safety & HiringHow to Prepare for a Mobile Welder’s VisitA short checklist that makes the repair faster, safer and cheaper.
Gates & FabricationWhy Do Gates Sag, and How Do You Fix One?The common reasons a gate drags or will not latch, and the fixes that last.
Processes & MetalsSteel, Stainless or Aluminum: How Welding DiffersWhy the same welder uses different prep, filler and heat for steel, stainless and aluminum, and what that means for…
Processes & MetalsMIG, TIG, Stick or Flux-Core? Which Welding Process Fits?The four common welding processes in plain English, with what each does best and where each struggles.
Processes & MetalsHow to Tell If a Weld Is GoodSimple things anyone can check on a weld, and when you need an expert, a test or an inspector.
Repair & CareRepair or Replace? A Simple Way to DecideHow welders decide whether a cracked or worn part is worth fixing, and what to ask before you pay for…Costs & PlanningMobile Welder or Shop? How to ChooseWhen the rig should come to you, when the part should go to the shop, and when the best answer…
Costs & PlanningHow Much Does Mobile Welding Cost in Nashville?Commonly published rates for mobile welding, what a service call includes and what moves the price of a repair.