Articles written by Marty Rice

Marty Rice

Contributing Writer

High School Career Center in Texas

Marty Rice is a welding instructor at a high school career center in Texas. He is an honorary member of the Ironworkers Local 263.

Questions for the author can be e-mailed to vickib@thefabricator.com

Results: 38

	One man’s welding career and the characters he’s met along the way Welder and educator Marty Rice has led a colorful life in his welding career. He’s learned some lessons the hard way and met some interesting characters along the way. Publish date: May 22, 2013
	My last TIG article In this, his last TIG article, ever, welding instructor Marty Rice offers some advice for the home hobbyist about buying equipment and shielding gas. Publish date: November 14, 2012
	Learning MIG welding Welding instructor Marty Rice teaches his students to short-circuit MIG weld to create a unique coin holder, a project that provides plenty of opportunity for practice. Publish date: March 20, 2012
	What employers expect from welders In his inimitable style, Marty Rice shares his thoughts on the welding job market and what today’s employers want from their welders. He also gives examples of some deficiencies employers are seeing. Publish date: November 8, 2011
	What would-be MIG welders want to know: Where can I learn, and what equipment do I need? Welding instructor and reader-favorite author Marty Rice answers the two questions he’s most often asked by those interested in learning to MIG weld. Publish date: February 22, 2011
	Common technical mistakes new welders make and how to avoid them Did you hear the one about the welder who was tired of bending over to weld and made the fatal mistake of using a 55-gallon drum as a welding table? In this article, welding instructor Marty Rice discusses this mistake and describes some common technical mistakes new welders make, some more... Publish date: November 24, 2009
	Newbie mistakes made, experience gained All welders are newbies at some time in their careers. Following Marty Rice's advice for newbies can help you with more than your welding career. Learn from the man who's been there, done that, and has the scars to prove it. Publish date: September 29, 2009
	Learn your trade, pay your dues Welding jobs may not be as plentiful as they once were, but welding instructor Marty Rice believes a lot of welding work is "waiting to bust loose once the economy straightens out, and there's always work in welding, if you're willing to pack a suitcase." Rice has some advice for those embarking... Publish date: July 28, 2009
	Stick welding fundamentals With instruction, some mild steel, the right welding rods, and a cracker box, the hobbyist can begin stick welding, also known as shielded metal arc welding (SMAW). Novice welders can learn more about the process by reading this article and by visiting the links shown at the end. Publish date: May 26, 2009
	Think females can't weld? Think again During World War II, many females filled work force roles in traditionally male occupations. After the war, most left these jobs, but that doesn't mean women are any less able to fill them. Experience has taught welding instructor Marty Rice that females make danged good welders. Publish date: March 10, 2009
	We're all in this together: Fighting negativity Even in the best of times, negativity can rear its ugly head and create problems in the workplace. In today's turbulent economic climate, fighting negativity may seem an almost impossible task. However, it's more important now than ever to keep negativity at bay. This article explains why. Publish date: January 13, 2009
	Measuring up as a welder Among the skills employers look for in their welders is the ability to read a tape measure correctly. Surprisingly, not everyone can do so. Welding instructor Marty Rice shares an anecdote from his welding career that illustrates how critical it is for welders to master this skill. Publish date: November 25, 2008
	Welding hazards and how to prevent them Four of 1,000 welders lose their lives each year, and many more are seriously injured because they fail to follow safe welding practices. Welding hobbyists who follow the examples set on television are particularly susceptible to injury. In this article, Marty Rice reflects on moments in his... Publish date: September 30, 2008
	Becoming the best danged welder on the block "Welder wanted" signs abound in many areas of the U.S., and welding instructor Marty Rice believes there's never been a better time to pursue a welding career. How do you make your welding career the best it can be? Following certain guidelines can help. Publish date: July 29, 2008
	What do companies want from their workers? In his extensive career as a welder and welding instructor, Marty Rice has learned a thing or two about the qualities companies look for in their employees beyond skill proficiency. This anecdotal article discusses these qualities and their importance from Rice's perspective. Publish date: May 13, 2008
	Learning TIG Think you want to learn TIG welding, also known as GTAW? To master the craft and avoid injury, it's imperative that you receive proper instruction. TIG is not a process that lends itself to self-teaching. This overview compares TIG with other welding processes and outlines some important steps of... Publish date: March 11, 2008
	Why in the heck would you want to weld? Two years ago, welding expert and reader-favorite author Marty Rice took a hiatus from writing for thefabricator.com. Marty has returned, and in this, his first article for 2008, he discusses why he welds and offers insights that may help others decide if welding is a viable career choice. Publish date: January 15, 2008
	Examining the finer points of 6010, 6011, and 7018 Knowing which rods tend to do what in the field can save you time and make for better results when the job is through. Publish date: June 13, 2006
	Hanging it up In his farewell article for thefabricator.com, reader-favorite author and welding instructor Marty Rice reflects on his life, his welding career, writing for the Web site, and his appreciation for the readers who have contacted him throughout the years. He also expresses his view about the... Publish date: February 7, 2006
	The shocking truth about welding Welding instructor Marty Rice explains how welding power current works and how failing to follow safety practices can have shocking results. He also expands upon the information contained in " TIG welding—An overview " and discusses TIG qualities, applications, hazards, and the best... Publish date: December 13, 2005
	TIG welding - an overview Welding instructor Marty Rice explains the gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) process, more commonly known as tungsten inert gas (TIG) welding. Publish date: October 11, 2005
	The most important welding lesson Relating personal experiences, welding professional and instructor Marty Rice discusses welding hazards and stresses the importance of learning and following all welding safety practices. Publish date: July 12, 2005
	MIG welding tips and resources Publish date: April 11, 2005
	More about MIG welding Publish date: January 11, 2005
	A tribute to veterans Editor's Note: The U.S. remembers its armed forces' veterans twice each year— Memorial Day in May and Veterans Day in November. In this article, Marty Rice, a reader-favorite author on thefabricator.com, pays tribute to veterans and describes how one metal sculptor chose to represent an... Publish date: November 9, 2004
	MIG welding—The basics and then some Whether it's used in the shop, field, or the garage hobby shop, MIG is a great process. Publish date: July 13, 2004
	Gear up for welding Publish date: March 11, 2004
	The future of structural welding Publish date: January 13, 2004
	The history of welding according to Marty This is a welding history synopsis, as seen by me. If you are a history or English professor, you might want to stop reading at this point; it ain't gonna be pretty. Publish date: November 20, 2003
	Mastering the art of welding—it's all about proper technique Publish date: August 14, 2003
	SMAW Basics—How much do you know? Publish date: May 15, 2003
	There are welders, and there are dobbers I once worked for an ironworker general foreman named Wheeler. He was a great guy to work for because he was good with the men, and he knew his stuff. When he told you something was to be done, you knew there was a good reason for it, and that he had thought it out carefully. That's what it's... Publish date: March 13, 2003
	The X, Y, Z's of Management Owners, what do employees want? Employees, what do owners want? I know what I wanted when I was a shop and field hand, and I know what I expected when I was a boss. Now more than ever we need to strengthen the employee-management relationship. Publish date: January 16, 2003
	Sweltering heat, bone-chilling cold The weather affects welders no matter what climate they live in, and even more so out in the field. The key is to learn how to cope with extreme temperatures. Publish date: November 7, 2002
	FCAW pretty much can do it all FCAW not only is easy to teach and to use, it's one of the most flexible welding processes around. Publish date: September 26, 2002
	SMAW revisited—You can never know too much No matter how much you know about SMAW or any other type of welding, you always can learn more. Publish date: August 8, 2002
	Taking another look at SMAW safety It's never a good time to forget about safety. Take it from a guy who knows. Publish date: June 27, 2002
	Making structural repairs in the field Planning, gas, rigs, tips, location, and cutting all have significant effects on field welding jobs. Taking these into account may save you a lot of time and trouble when doing repair on structural members. Publish date: May 30, 2001