I try to apply this ideal of continuous improvement in all aspects of my life and I’m always open to learning new things.  So when the opportunity to take a workshop with master fabricator Ron Covell came along, I jumped on it!

The workshop took place at Hot Rods & Custom Stuff, a So Cal hot rod shop in Escondido, California not too far from the Arc-Zone.com headquarters.  They were working on a project dubbed “Mercedes-Bent,” a mashup between a classic 1961 Mercedes-Benz 190 SL roadster and a 2004 Mercedes SL600. The result was showcased at SEMA, and you can check out the pictures here:

http://www.hotrodscustomstuff.com/mercedes-bent.html

Ron is one of the best in the custom automotive industry with expertise in everything from TIG Welding to hammerforming.  He’s worked on some of most bitchin’ hot rods and dragsters, and writes a regular column for Street Rodder magazine.  Needless to say, I picked up quite a few tips for myself.

Need A Wheel?

Do you need a new wheel for your tungsten electrode grinder?
Find out how to tell when your tungsten grinding wheel is ready to be replaced over at JoeWelder.com.

And when you’re read to replace your tungsten grinding wheel, check out the top quality replacement diamond grinding wheels over at Arc-Zone.com– whether you have a Sharpie, Triad, Power Point, Turbo Sharp,Turbo-4, a Piranha, Neutra, Ultima TIG, Turbo Ace, Neutrix, DGP, or Sharpshooter tungsten electrode sharpener…  we’ve got your wheel in stock and ready to ship!

LA Times Scooped!

Did you know our editor scooped the LA Times, the New York Times and the Huffington post… you can read a brief article about the passing of Geraldine Doyle, the image of Rosie the Riveter, over at CarmenElectrode.com.

This past year has also seen an expansion of our webstore offerings.  This is in part thanks to you, our customers, for telling us what you need for your welding application.  We’ve added the Miller Safety line of products, from the new WeldX High Temperature Welding Safety apparel to Miller Welding Helmets and Respiratory Safety and Heat Stress safety equipment.

One of my favorite new products is the BSX GearPack/ Helmet Bag.  I wrote it about in the last email, but just a reminder–  it would make an excellent gift for yourself or any welder in your life!  It’s a great way to store and carry your equipment from the shop to the field. And this bag is rugged, well made and looks stylish.

Our line-up of TIG / GTAW torches has been ramped up as well.  Now alongside the Weldcraft torches, we’ve added the complete line of CK TIG Torches and replacement parts. Now you can get the two most popular TIG brands with unparalleled service and technical support. No one on the planet has more product on the shelf, and the industry experts that can help you TIG like a Pro!

We’ve also expanded our MIG / GMAW offerings, including MIG Guns and replacement parts and Automatic and Semi-Automatic Nozzle Cleaning Stations.

And when you need to connect all this equipment to your current set up, be sure to check out the Connectors section.  From argon couplers to color-coded cable-to-cable connectors, we’ll hook you up!

In October we launched our Diamond Grinding Wheel Core Exchange program. If you missed the story in our October e-newsletter you can read about the challenges in bringing this all together right here at WeldLikeAPro.com (where we archive all our newsletters). We’re now offering top quality, made-in-the-USA replacement diamond grinding wheels for nearly every tungsten grinding machine on the market. And the best part? Your used wheel may qualify for our Core Exchange Program. In other words, your spent wheel could be worth cold hard cash.

Anyone that knows me knows how much I love this industry. I’ve always said that the welding industry is a good business to be in because no matter what is happening in the world economy, you can find somone that needs something fabricated. We have had another record-breaking year, and we look forward to 2011 and we wish you all the same.

Best Regards,

Jim Watson, President & CEO
Arc-Zone.com, Inc. (R)

At Arc-Zone, we know a lot about our wheels…  and we learned the hard way!  Not too long ago we thought we found an opportunity to introduce a low-impact, recyclable replacement diamond grinding wheel for our comprehensive line of tungsten grinding machines.  We found a local (US) manufacturer, and thought we were in business!

WeldX: Safe, Comfortable and Extreme Flame Resistant Welding Apparel– NEW from Miller

The newest product from Miller Safety is now available at Arc-Zone.com.  The WeldX line includes a classic black jacket, cape sleeves, welder sleeves, a bib and apron, all in a lightweight yet rugged material desiged to perform in the toughest welding environments.

COMING SOON TO ARC-ZONE ONLINE

Welding for the Navy and for Future Rosies

ArcTime™ Hybrid Tungsten Electrodes

We keep hearing from more and more fabricators about how great our ArcTime™  tungsten is–  one customer even scored a free sample from one of our competitors and ran some tests– head to head.  Ramon over at Headway Performance said the ArcTime delivered a better weld– hands down!  And while we don’t give out free samples, we do offer a Money Back Gurantee backed by our industry-leading No Hassle Return Policy.  So if you’re looking for a long-lasting tungsten electrode with excellent ignition properties and low burn-off rates, order your ArcTime today!

When I was a kid working with my Dad and Grandfather in their shops, they’d say something like ”A Clean Shop is a Safe Shop.”  Like any kid I’d roll my eyes but as an adult, I now know how true it is.

As fabricators, we work with all kinds of things that can potentially harm us:  flames, fumes, electricity, molten metal, hot surfaces, chemicals, cables and cords, not to mention sharp objects!

There’s a ton of safety items out there to protect us, and at Arc-Zone.com we use only the highest quality, modern gear.  In fact, we’ve just added Miller’s line of  Safety Apparel and Equipment:  Classic looking Arc Amor Apparel, Top-Of-The-Line Miller Helmets with replacement parts (in stock and ready to ship!), PAPR systems (for respiratory safety) that work with Miller Helmets, and Heat Stress equipment so you can keep your cool.  We even carry a full line of replacement parts for the respiratory safety and heat stress equipment.

At Arc-Zone we KNOW safety is important.  On our site you’ll find links to Operations Guides (using the equipment properly is the first step to safe operation) and MSDS sheets, and in this newsletter you’ll find a list of resources, including Safety Sheets from the American Welding Society and Safety Tips from the major manufacturers.

Don’t forget to let us know if you have a special request, something you don’t see on our website, or information you need to get your hands on.  a kit you’d like customized and give us a call–  TollFree at 800.944.2243 (US) or 1.760.931.1500 (worldwide).

Sincerely,

Jim Watson, President & Founder
Arc-Zone.com, Inc.

Breathe Easy (and Weld Safely!) with Miller

Miller’s Arc Armor™ PAPR (Powered Air Purifying Respirator) features a blower that is 1.3 lbs. lighter than the leading competitor and incorporates a Miller-exclusive belt/shoulder strap design for maximum comfort. The Arc Armor PAPR features a lithium ion battery with no memory retention from frequent charging, dual air speeds for maximum comfort in varied work environments and audible and vibrating alarms for use in noisy workplaces. The PAPR comes with a Miller Elite™ Series auto-darkening helmet (non-auto-darkening lens model also available) and is certified by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH, 42 CFR Part 84), which covers requirements for respiratory protective devices. Miller’s PAPR has an assigned protection factor of 25.  FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE PAPR SYSTEM–>

With the internet, it’s easy to stay on top of the latest safety information, not to mention regulations.  This list of resources should get you started:

• Safety and Health Fact Sheets
• Safety in Welding Cutting and Allied Processes Handbook ( no charge for this PDF download)

Want fries with that Plasma Welding Torch?

The other day a customer called from gasoline alley in Indianapolis. “Any way you can hook me up with a Double Double?” 

No, that’s not a welding term, it’s one the best burgers you’ll ever have– In-N-Out– a Southern California legend. By focusing on top quality, fresh ingredients and made-to-order burgers cooked the way you want, they’ve managed to take “fast food” to a whole ‘nother level. 

That’s what we do at Arc-Zone.com– we deliver best-in-class welding supplies to customers worldwide– but sending a Double Double– even UPS Red– wasn’t practical. However, our Customer Care Team went to lunch at In-N-Out and just for fun picked up some decals and a hat and we sent it along with the order. Our customer called the next day and said, “I am so impressed with your products, the packaging, reference materials, and decals! I’m setting up Arc-Zone as my preferred welding supply vendor!” 

Now I’m not saying we’ll send In-N-Out hats with every order, but please let us know if you have a special request, something you don’t see on our website, or a kit you’d like customized and give us a call– tollfree at 800.944.2243 (US) or 1.760.931.1500 (worldwide). We’ll even hold the pickles, and get you exactly what you need to Weld Like A Pro! 

Sincerely, 

Jim Watson, President & Founder
Arc-Zone.com, Inc. 

NEW: Welding Postitioners!  

Need a Pump for your Water Cooler? 

Arc-Zone sells new and professional refurbished top quality, genuine Procon (R) pumps for your welding water cooler.  Our pumps come with all the parts you need to hook to install it in your cooler….  for more information about coolant pumps, check out the video. 

SAVE an additional $25 on your purchase with our Core Rebate Program.  Just send in your used Procon pump!

JoeWelder at the local AWS Meeting

How involved are you in your local AWS chapter?

Jim Watson recently attended an AWS meeting and met some incredible students!

READ ABOUT IT –>

CarmenElectrode.com: Karine Maynard

Our Newest Rosie

Karine Maynard lives in central Kentucky and works as a blacksmith making ornamental & architectural ironwork, mostly custom jobs, like railings and balconies…..

Read more –>

New Tungsten Electrode Grinders Online, On Sale  and Ready to Ship!

We’ve just added the Super Turbo Heavy Duty Tungsten Grinding Machine and the Turbo Ace Semi-Automated Tungsten Grinding Machine to our line up. Both of these machines are manufactured to exacting standards in Japan, and can handle tungsten electrodes up to 3/16″ diameter.

Introductory Offer: 10% Discount
Save 10% off list price on these grinders, and replacement parts from now through the end of the year.  Use the discount code TURBO-09 when you place your order.

Distributor Opportunities Available!  Additional discounts apply for qualified distributors–  Call Arc-Zone at 800-944-2243 to participate!

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Gift Ideas for Welders 

At Arc-Zone, we have in our store several items that would be a great gift for a welder, even for those on a tight budget. 

(HINT:  use the Tell a Friend button, to let someone know what you’d like) 

 

Books and DVDs on How to Weld and even some nice coffee table display books

 

Welding Apparel, Decals and Posters –  look stylish and stay safe in the weld shop and in the field!

 

And if you’ve been really good, maybe you’ll get our most popular tungsten grinding tool, the Sharpie(tm) Hand Held.

 

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JoeWelder.com:  ArcTime™

Product Spotlight

ArcTime™ Brand Hybrid, One Tungsten Blend For All Materials
 

Fabricators from around the world are using ArcTime(tm) Hybrid tungsten electrodesto improve weld-quality, lower tungsten inventory costs and minimize weld defects.  What started as “cult  product” with a few specialty manufacturers of yatch towers, aerospace parts, mountain bikes and race cars has grown into our most popular tungsten electrode product.

 

This State-of-the-Art, Non-Radioactive Tungsten Electrode Formula works for all metals and is compatible with all welding machines.

 

 

Just last month I took my family to the Del Mar National Horse Show, one of the premier horse show events in the country– and conveniently located 20 minutes from Arc-Zone’s So Cal headquarters.  While the horse show itself was pretty awesome, what really got me excited was the new roof they installed over the open air stadium.  Metal!  Read all about it and check out some pictures on JoeWelder.com.

On behalf of the team here at Arc-Zone, I wanted to say thank you for your business this past year.  Give us a call if you have any questions about any of the products we’ve mentioned below, or if you need some help figuring out what you need.

Sincerely,

Jim Watson, President & Founder
Arc-Zone.com, Inc.

Gift Ideas for Welders

At Arc-Zone, we have in our store several items that would be a great gift for a welder, even for those on a tight budget.

ArcTime™ Brand Hybrid, One Tungsten Blend For All Materials

Sincerely,

Jim Watson, President & Founder
Arc-Zone.com, Inc.

Turbo 4 Tungsten Grinder

This highly engineered tungsten grinder is now exclusively available at Arc-Zone.com.  Manufactured in Japan the Turbo 4 is a Medium-Duty high-performance tungsten grinder is the best in its class  Its compact, semi-portable design allows you to grind tungsten electrodes from .040″ to 1/8″ diameter while the enclosed chamber protects the operator– and your weld shop– from grinding dust and debris.

At JoeWelder.com:  Product Spotlight:  Gas Saver PRO Kits

The Gas Saver Pro Kits(TM) are a convenient and cost effective way to get all the components needed to convert your TIG torch to the benefits of a CK Gas Saver front end.  It saves time and money by organizing all the parts in one kit with a lid card and part numbers for easy replacement.

Customers tell us all the time that the gas saver pro kits improve their  TIG welding performance, improve weld visibility, and offer better shield gas coverage and lower gas consumption.

Master Fabricator Mario Lozano from TSR Fabrication (and expert guest on Jesse James’s Monster Garage TV show) stopped by to pick up a remote control for his TIG Welder. He uses his pedal for a variety of applications for his high end custom fabricated header systems and turbo intercoolers- each one welded by hand and on a turntable. Mario chose the Arc-Zone Hot Foot™ brand high-performance foot control “they are durable, comfortable foot pedals with a nice foot bed and extra long cord.”

Read about Mario’s latest visit over at JoeWelder.com. Check out Arc-Zone’s Hot Foot™ brand foot controls and other remote amperage control options.

Plasma Arc Welding Torch Accessories

Did you know the Plasma Arc Welding experts at Arc-Zone.com have put together accessory kits for your plasma arc welding operations… Minimize downtime and have the highest quality replacement parts on hand so you’ll be up and running in no time!

If you do get into a bind, don’t forget, Arc-Zone.com stocks the most comprehensive line of replacement parts for plasma arc welding applications–Count on us to deliver the parts you need!

At CarmenElectrode.com

Tips for taking care of your TIG Torch

At JoeWelder.com

Info on the 2009 FABTECH / AWS welding show