Marty Rice

With any luck, each of us may one day retire from a rewarding career and have time to reflect on that part of our lives. Welder, welding instructor, and longtime reader-favorite author Marty Rice is nearing this milestone. In this, his final article for thefabricator.com, he shares his reflections on welding then and now.

The importance of saving money and of being safe on the job are among the lessons welding instructor Marty Rice learned throughout his welding career. Among those who taught him these lessons was Charlie.

A young ironworker learns the value of job friendships, how to make work fun, and how devastating an on-the-job accident can be.

Q: I would like to know if a wire-feed welding machine can double as a modest-amperage DC shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) machine if I attach an electrode holder to the output. I have been told that aluminum welding works well and is convenient using SMAW and DC. I have the aluminum roller kit...

In this edition of Arc Welding 101, we discuss the best way to weld a motorcycle frame.

Q: I know how to arc weld. I took arc welding classes in high school and was certified in the state of California. Unfortunately, they never taught me about the settings and what electrodes were best for what jobs. For example, I’m rebuilding a motorcycle and I want to straighten a minor bend...

Marty Rice explains the keys to welding on car body panels and how to avoid blowing out the metal.

Q: I’m thinking about learning how to weld. I want a gas metal arc welding (GMAW) machine so I can box my 1955 GMC truck frame and install an independent front suspension. Where should I start? William S. A: Books, the Internet, videos, cable TV shows, and classes offer more information about...

We're debunking welding storage myths and tackling rod reconditioning temperatures.

Q: Can gas metal arc welding (GMAW) be used on motorcycles and hot rods? A: Yes, but it takes a lot more than just running a good bead. The popularity of cable TV fabrication shows with the likes of Jesse James, the Teutuls, and Boyd Coddington has generated a lot of questions about GMAW....

Q: In "TIG welding--An overview," you said you used 2 percent thoriated tungsten until you heard about the health risks. What are other options? Does cost vary significantly (not that cost should matter when it comes to health or safety)? My fabrication shop runs 14 gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW)...

Welding instructor Marty Rice shares tips for uphill MIG welding.

Check out our breakdown of the six easiest ways to motivate a welder.

Dive in to our best practices for welding aluminized steel.

Q: A carpenter friend of mine has taken some night-school welding courses and needs help getting certified in overhead welding. He uses steel beams to support the homes he builds and would like to weld them himself. How should he prepare for and take an overhead welding certification test?...