Christopher McDonagh
Christopher McDonagh
Chris is a teacher of Literature at a school in New Berlin, Wisconsin. He is also our favorite irreplaceable freelance writer who can turn such a boring topic into something that people read with interest and pleasure.

Latest articles

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5 Best Plasma Cutters with Built-In Compressor for Better Portability
Weirdly enough, some well-marketed plasma cutters with built-in compressors don’t live up to their hype. However, a lot of people assume they are excellent options because of a few good marketing campaigns. Being one of those people can easily turn south, and that is a situation to be avoided. For a guarantee that ...
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6 Best Flux Core Welders for the Thickest of Metals
Flux core welders tend to offer better penetration making them ideal for attaching thicker metals. As such, a flux core welder is a major part of most welding shops. That said, not all flux core welders are built the same. The best flux core welders differ from others where the extra welding processes available, the ...
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How to Bevel a Pipe: Methods and Techniques Explained
Any experienced welder might know what pipe beveling is, but this doesn’t mean that a DIYer can’t try it too. If you want to weld two pieces of pipe together, what you need to do is bevel your pipe. Beveling is important in the process of joining pipes together, but there’s a lot to learn and consider to make sure you ...
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Welding Cast Iron to Steel: Can You Do That and How?
Steel has always been one of the more popular welding materials in the market since it’s so easy to work with. However, the same cannot be said of cast iron. It’s a lot more brittle and harder to work with, and hence welders typically avoid using it altogether. That said, welding cast iron to steel or other sheets of ...
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Riveting vs. Welding: Which Process Works Best?
All professionals use various types of tools, tricks, and methods to perform their duties. Metal dealers use welding machines and bolts to join different pieces of metals, while plumbers use pipe joints to connect pipes. Metal fabrication is a profession that requires several years of training and apprenticeship to ...
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Welding Polarity: Definition, Types, and How It Affects Welding
The inverter-type welding machine has developed new ways of working, achieving improved performance in several areas. One of the points in favor of inverter welding machines is the possibility of selecting the welding polarity. This means giving more "power" to the electrode holder or work clamp. Welding equipment ...
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How to Ground a Welder – Choose the Safest Way
You can’t learn welding without understanding the importance of grounding your welder before you start working. That’s because grounding is crucial in ensuring the safety and the success of your project. We know that the last thing you want to do is compromise your safety and weld quality when you can simply avoid ...
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Porosity in Welding: What Is It and How to Avoid It?
Porosity is something you’re bound to come across as a beginner welder and is one of the ten most common welding defects that you may encounter. Other examples of welding defects include incomplete penetration, undercut, overlap, incomplete fusion, and more. Just like these other welding defects, porosity can cause ...
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A Guide to Field Welding: Regulations and Requirements
While shop welding is the most common type of welding, field welding can be more challenging. Welding in the workshop gives you the freedom on welding equipment to use but, for instance, not all welders are suitable for field welding. In this post, we will tell you what field welding is, how it differs from shop ...
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8 Best MIG Welders Under 1000 – No Metal Can Resist!
Do you need a MIG welding machine at a great price? Whether you need a welding machine for simple projects at home or professional metalwork, a MIG welder is usually the top choice for many. But there are usually a lot of options to choose from, and they come at high prices, which is why you need to know the best ...