Aluminum has garnered a reputation for being difficult to weld, especially when using gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW). Mastering the process isn’t as daunting as you might think. All you really need for successful aluminum GTAW is an understanding of the metal’s unique properties and the welding preparation techniques and tools you’ll need to address those properties.

National unemployment rates for Iraq- and Afghanistan-era veterans are high and the state of Michigan is toward the top of list of states with the highest number of unemployed veterans. The Merrill Institute of Welding is working to combat that by providing unemployed veterans with welding, fabricating, and leadership skills.

Choosing a filler metal with the right mechanical and chemical properties for your application is critical. Correct properties not only ensure the proper weld strength, but may also help prevent costly complications. In applications that endure rapid or cyclic loading, experience extreme service temperatures, or are subject to other stressors that threaten the integrity of the weld, using a filler metal that provides the proper impact toughness is especially important.

Mississippi metal artist Stephanie Dwyer never knew she was an artist until she relocated from Washington and began building bottle trees. Today her bottle trees can be found all over the U.S., which has led to opportunities in custom metal art fabrication.