Starting again

OK, I know you’ve got questions. What’s with the name change? Who or what is The WELDER? What happened to Practical Welding Today®?

Let me explain.

The story starts 21 years ago when Practical Welding Today debuted and asserted itself as a trustworthy publication that truly brought the real world to welders. It was a magazine for welders about real welding processes, problems, and solutions. It’s seen its share of highs and lows, but through it all has weathered the storm and was what every other welding magazine wasn’t—practical.

While it’s had a great run, we felt it was time to freshen things up a bit. We understand that for many people, welding is more than a profession. It’s a lifestyle. It’s a way to blow off steam. It’s an avenue to release creativity. It’s a point of pride. And while we are proud of our work over the last two decades, we also realize that we need to do a better job of focusing on the very people—you—who make welding great.

So, what’s changed? One of the first things we decided to change was the name. Now, before you get upset and accuse us of being John Mellencamp (or John Cougar, or John Cougar Mellencamp—wait, what’s his name again?), the decision to change our name on the outside is an effort to better reflect who we are on the inside.

Who are we? We intend to showcase the real people who make the products we use and work with every day. You’ll see more faces and read more success stories in this crisp, slightly edgy publication. Even though the focus is on the people, we still find value in providing you with educational content that will help you become better at your craft.

Here are some things that are brand-new:

• Welding Hacks. This new department dedicated to reader-generated tips and tricks will give you the ability to share shortcuts that make the job just a little easier. Visit www.thefabricator.com/weldingtip/form and fill out the form with your contact information and a description and photo of your best welding hack. If we publish your hack in print, we’ll send you a $100 gift card.
• Welders’ Gallery. Related to the Welding Hacks, the Welders’ Gallery allows you to post photos and videos of what you’re working on for others to see.
• Playing With Fire. Josh Welton, a welder, social media mogul, and blogger, addresses technical and social topics with character and expertise.

We know change is hard, but we hope you understand our motivations for changing and, in many ways, progressing and moving forward. We are excited to share our new name, our new appearance, and new stories for and about welders with you, starting with this issue. As always, if you have feedback, Welding Hacks, or story ideas to share, please contact me at amandac@thefabricator.com