How strong are your welds? episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 20, 2026 · 21 MIN

How strong are your welds?

from AutoExpert · host John Cadogan

Most DIYers over-weld their projects, and all that additional heat tends to warp the job - sometimes catastrophically. It's better if a balance is drawn so that adequate strength is achieved without excess distortion.In this video, I give you some rules of thumb and perspective into how strong your welds are likely to be, so you can draw that balance better.WARNING: If you want to build jack stands, gantries, cranes, platforms - or anything else where 'failure' = 'death/injury': go to university, become an engineer, and get trained as a welder. If you don't want to do that, just build fun, practical stuff, such as work benches and rocket stoves (the world's still your oyster, and you probably won't die).

Most DIYers over-weld their projects, and all that additional heat tends to warp the job - sometimes catastrophically. It's better if a balance is drawn so that adequate strength is achieved without excess distortion.In this video, I give you some rules of thumb and perspective into how strong your welds are likely to be, so you can draw that balance better.WARNING: If you want to build jack stands, gantries, cranes, platforms - or anything else where 'failure' = 'death/injury': go to university, become an engineer, and get trained as a welder. If you don't want to do that, just build fun, practical stuff, such as work benches and rocket stoves (the world's still your oyster, and you probably won't die).

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How strong are your welds?

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Most DIYers over-weld their projects, and all that additional heat tends to warp the job - sometimes catastrophically. It's better if a balance is drawn so that adequate strength is achieved without excess distortion.In this video, I give you some...

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