How to Cut Rebar: 6 Methods Compared, Step by Step and Safely
How to cut rebar with a grinder, rebar cutter, chop saw, recip saw or torch. Compare methods, follow a clean step-by-step cut, and cap ends to meet OSHA rules.
Fabrication & Installation
Flux Core Welding: How It Works, Polarity, Wire Types and Technique
Flux core welding explained: self-shielded vs gas-shielded wire, why DCEN polarity matters, reading E71T-11 labels, drag angle, stickout and use on structural steel.
How to Cut Sheet Metal: The Right Tool for Every Thickness
How to cut sheet metal with snips, shears, nibblers, saws or plasma: which tool suits each thickness, step-by-step technique and how to protect cut edges.
7018 Welding Rod: Uses, Amperage Chart and How to Store It
7018 welding rod explained: what E7018 H4R means, uses, amperage chart for 3/32 to 1/4 inch rods, weld strength, and how to store and redry low-hydrogen rods.
Types of Welding: 7 Processes Explained and When Each Is Used
The 7 main types of welding explained: stick, MIG, flux-cored, TIG, submerged arc, gas and spot welding, with a comparison table and which are used on steel.
MIG vs TIG Welding: Differences, Pros and Which One to Use
MIG vs TIG welding compared: how each process works, shielding gas, speed, thickness, cost and skill, and which fits steel fabrication, stainless or aluminum.
Welding Stainless Steel: Filler Metals, Heat Control and Common Mistakes
How to weld stainless steel: which filler to use (308L, 316L, 309L), why it warps, avoiding sensitization and contamination, and fume safety for TIG and MIG.
Post to Beam Connection: Notch, Post Cap or Bolts? (Deck Code Rules)
Post to beam connection rules for decks: notch a 6×6 or use a post cap, two 1/2 in through-bolts, no side-bolted beams. Based on AWC DCA 6 and the IRC.
Beam to Beam Connection: How Steel Beams Frame Into Girders
How a steel beam frames into a girder: shear tabs, clip angles, coped flanges, a W12x26 into W18x50 example and the OSHA two-bolt erection rule explained.
How to Sister a Joist: When It Works and How to Do It Right
How to sister a joist: when sistering fixes a cracked or sagging floor joist, lumber vs LVL vs steel channel, code notch limits and the mistakes to avoid.