Arc Junkies

Handheld laser welding is changing the welding industry, but how much of the hype is backed by actual testing, and where does this technology fit into the future of fabrication?

In this special edition of Weld Wednesdays with AWS, recorded live at FABTECH 2026 in Las Vegas, I'm joined by Rex Alexandre from the Handheld Laser Institute. Rex is a former SpaceX welding engineer who helped develop laser welding applications for the aerospace industry before launching his own company focused on research, training, and advancing handheld laser technology.

We get into the technical side of handheld laser welding, including the process variables that affect penetration, weld quality, and repeatability. Rex explains why laser power isn't the only thing that matters, how beam spot size and wire feed speed influence the process, and why joint fit-up can make or break a successful laser weld.

We also discuss some of the biggest concerns surrounding this technology, particularly laser safety, proper eye protection, controlled welding areas, and the importance of understanding what you're buying before investing in equipment.

One of the most interesting parts of our conversation is Rex's work with structural applications. His team has successfully performed mechanical testing on 3/8-inch A36 plate welded using handheld laser equipment, opening up some interesting possibilities beyond traditional sheet metal applications.

We also cover the current state of welding codes and standards, including AWS and ASME, the challenges of qualifying handheld laser welding procedures, and what the industry needs to do to make this technology more accessible.

Whether you're a welder, welding inspector, educator, engineer, or shop owner considering adding laser welding to your operation, this episode offers a practical look at what the technology can and cannot do.

Weld Wednesdays with AWS is brought to you by the American Welding Society.

Stay safe out there, and until next time… make every weld better than your last.

For more information on how you can get involved with AWS Click Here

What should a student know before walking into welding school on day one? In this episode of Weld Wednesday with AWS, I sit down with Josh Wolfe, welding instructor at Laurel Oaks in Wilmington, Ohio, and host of the Speaking of Skilled Trades podcast, for an honest conversation about what it really takes to succeed in welding education. We talk about why safety rules in a welding lab are different from the arbitrary rules students may be used to, how quickly one careless decision can change a life, and why PPE and safe habits have to become automatic. Josh and I also discuss the importance of attitude, grit, accepting direct feedback, and using every available minute in the booth. Nobody looks back and wishes they had burned less rod.

For more information on AWS Click Here

Josh Wolfe on Instagram: @wolfe_cte

Speaking of Skilled Trades podcast: Listen on Spotify

Arc Junkies Podcast: https://arcjunkies.com

Weld Wednesday with AWS: https://www.aws.org/podcasts

Arc Junkies Instagram: @ArcJunkiesPodcast

Daryl Peterson is a SCWI and the District Director for District 5 of the American Welding Society. This week we hop in the way back machine to revisit a very controversial topic in the welding Industry. We often hear about welders claiming to be "Certified" and then getting called out on social media as being "Qualifed" not Certified. Well, Daryl has done some deep digging through the different codes and standards and has come up with an answer that will hopefully settle this debate. For more information on the AWS and their programs, check out their website AWS.org

In this episode of Weld Wednesday with AWS, host Jason Becker sits down with Anthony Nighswander, founder of APT Manufacturing and one of the top FANUC integrators in the country. Anthony breaks down the real difference between traditional industrial robots and collaborative robots (cobots), why welders — not controls engineers — make the best cobot programmers, and how schools can bring automation into their programs without blowing up an already-packed curriculum. They also dig into FANUC's education grant structure (up to $400,000 in matching software value), what a robotic welding cell actually costs, the difference between a certificate and a certification, and how to build an apprenticeship pipeline that keeps students employed and industry staffed.

For more information on how you can get involved with AWS Click Here

AWS Automating the Future of Fabrication Webinar Click Here to Register

Sean "Dabs" Flottman — welder, fabricator, educator, and bracelet-shipping hustle machine — joins Jason on this month's Weld Wednesday with AWS to tackle one of the most debated topics in the trade: the six-figure welding salary. Is it a myth? Is it achievable? And more importantly, what does it actually take? Dabs brings nearly 30 years of experience to the table, starting at $6.30 an hour and working his way through sheet metal, fabrication, and eventually into welding education at a trade school. He and Jason break down the ingredients required to reach $100K — from the top-10% mindset and willingness to travel, to union packages, financial discipline, and surrounding yourself with the right people. They also dig into what nobody talks about: how to keep that money once you make it, why chasing happiness beats chasing dollars, and what welding school students are doing (and not doing) to set themselves up for success from day one.

For more information on how to get involved with the American Welding Society Click Here

Think fresh-out-of-welding-school means starting at the bottom? Landon Earlywine (19) and Jackson Settler (18) are about to change your mind. Six months after graduating from the Kentucky Welding Institute, these two are working 60-hour weeks doing TIG stainless pipe fab for data center infrastructure up in Logansport, Indiana — earning $38/hr plus $120/day per diem. In less than seven months, they've pulled in $95,000 combined, started Roth IRAs, bought reliable trucks with big down payments, and are on track to blow past $150K in their first year. Jason sits down with both of them to find out how they got here — from a high school ag teacher who flashed some money at them sophomore year, to grinding the third shift at KWI, earning their golden arm certifications, and landing a stainless schedule 10 TIG test in Indianapolis the morning after getting the call. They talk about the real curriculum at KWI beyond the booth — financial management, CCO rigging, CPR, and OSHA 30 — and what actually separates the students who land good jobs from the ones who don't. Plus: a totaled '92 Sonoma, a story about driving from Kentucky to Texas at 82 mph at 6 AM, a job box that survived a crash, and why they're not going anywhere until they hit the $100K wall at school.

Topics covered:

• TIG stainless pipe fab for data center infrastructure — the new pipeline boom

• Working 5x12s and 6x10s fresh out of welding school

• $95K in 7 months at 18 and 19 years old

• The golden arm at KWI — what it takes and what it means

• Financial literacy in trade school: Roth IRAs, principal payments, and smart money moves

• CCO rigging, OSHA 30, CPR, and the full KWI curriculum • How a wrecked '92 Sonoma led to the job of a lifetime

• Why 7 KWI classmates are all on track to hit $100K in year one

• The $100K wall — and what you have to prove to get your hood on it.

🔥 Support the Arc Junkies Podcast Sponsors

The Arc Junkies Podcast is made possible by the companies below. If you enjoy the show, please support the brands that support the welding community.

Supporting these sponsors helps keep the Arc Junkies Podcast free and independent.

🎙️ Arc Junkies Podcast

• Website: https://arcjunkies.com
• Instagram: @ArcJunkiesPodcast
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@arcjunkiespodcast9253
• Email: show@arcjunkies.com
• LinkedIn (Jason Becker): https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-becker-45407b72

🧢 Arc Junkies Merch:https://shop.threadmob.com/arcjunkie/shop/home

🏭 Underground Metal Works

Hands-on welding education for hobbyists, makers, and professionals

• Website: https://www.underground-metalworks.com

🤝 Friends of the Show & Sponsors

🧰 BattlBox

Premium outdoor, EDC, and survival gear delivered monthly

• Website: https://alnk.to/90Chh6D
• Instagram: @BattlBox
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES
• Offer: Save up to 30% off your first BattlBox

🏛️ American Welding Society — Conferences

Stay current on inspection, code updates, and industry leadership

AWS Inspection Expo & Conference

• Event Info: https://www.aws.org/community-and-events/conferences-and-events/welding-automation-expo-and-conference/
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES
• Offer: Free gift at the event

🧤 Outlaw Leather LLC

Handcrafted welding hoods and leather PPE built to last

• Website: https://outlawleather.com
• Instagram: @outlawleatherusa
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES
• Offer: 15% off all in-stock leather goods

⚡ Everlast Welders

High-performance welding machines without the high price tag

• Website: https://bit.ly/37xJstI
• Instagram: @everlastwelders
• YouTube: Everlast Welders
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES
• Offer: Free Nova Foot Pedal + TIG Torch with qualifying machine purchases

🎧 ISOtunes

Certified hearing protection designed for jobsite communication

• Website: https://shop.isotunes.com/arcjunkies10
• Instagram: @isotunesaudio
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES10
• Offer: Save $10 on your purchase

Don DeCorte spent 46 years in resistance welding, including 31 at Roman Manufacturing, and now teaches the AWS Certified Resistance Welding Technician (CRWT) certification through his consulting company DTS Technical Services. He sits down with Jason to pull the curtain back on the welding process most arc guys never think about — but interact with constantly. From the 1,300+ resistance-welded products hiding inside your local Home Depot, to the flash welds on every commercial jet's front landing gear, to the butt-welded steel wheels under every 18-wheeler and state trooper car, Don makes the case that resistance welding is everywhere — you just can't see it. We cover the four core processes (spot, seam, projection, upset), the physics behind Force, Current, and Time, why aluminum welding took off thanks to chromate treatments and Elon Musk, the codes and standards that govern it (C1.1, D8, D17.2, J1, J6), and what it takes to earn your CRWT. Don also shares the story of how an $8 roast beef dinner in Detroit in 1980 turned into a lifetime with AWS — and a friendship with Amos Winsan that changed his career.

Stephanie Hoffman is back on the show, this time as the new Director of Industry Development and Engagement at Miller Electric. Jason and Stephanie catch up on her time away from the industry, what pulled her back, and the work she is now leading across education, business development, national accounts, customer experience centers, and process training for one of the biggest names in the trade.

The conversation covers Miller's Instructor Conference happening this July at the Appleton, Wisconsin headquarters in partnership with Fox Valley Technical College, and why Miller is approaching CTE programs as true partners instead of just placing blue boxes in the corner of the shop. Stephanie also breaks down the data center boom that is about to reshape welding, the shift away from wind energy, the role of small modular nuclear reactors in powering AI, the real difference between renewable and clean energy, what tariffs are doing to American steel, and why the next ten to fifteen years are going to make this industry almost unrecognizable.

Stephanie also opens up about being the first female to graduate from her welding program in New Jersey, the realities of a trade still under ten percent female, the mental health toll of being a national spokesperson, and what it took for her to step back, regroup, and come back stronger than ever.

🔥 Support the Arc Junkies Podcast Sponsors

The Arc Junkies Podcast is made possible by the companies below. If you enjoy the show, please support the brands that support the welding community.

Supporting these sponsors helps keep the Arc Junkies Podcast free and independent.

🎙️ Arc Junkies Podcast

• Website: https://arcjunkies.com
• Instagram: @ArcJunkiesPodcast
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@arcjunkiespodcast9253
• Email: show@arcjunkies.com
• LinkedIn (Jason Becker): https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-becker-45407b72

🧢 Arc Junkies Merch:https://shop.threadmob.com/arcjunkie/shop/home

🏭 Underground Metal Works

Hands-on welding education for hobbyists, makers, and professionals

• Website: https://www.underground-metalworks.com

🤝 Friends of the Show & Sponsors

🧰 BattlBox

Premium outdoor, EDC, and survival gear delivered monthly

• Website: https://alnk.to/90Chh6D
• Instagram: @BattlBox
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES
• Offer: Save up to 30% off your first BattlBox

🏛️ American Welding Society — Conferences

Stay current on inspection, code updates, and industry leadership

AWS Inspection Expo & Conference

• Event Info: https://www.aws.org/community-and-events/conferences-and-events/welding-automation-expo-and-conference/
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES
• Offer: Free gift at the event

🧤 Outlaw Leather LLC

Handcrafted welding hoods and leather PPE built to last

• Website: https://outlawleather.com
• Instagram: @outlawleatherusa
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES
• Offer: 15% off all in-stock leather goods

⚡ Everlast Welders

High-performance welding machines without the high price tag

• Website: https://bit.ly/37xJstI
• Instagram: @everlastwelders
• YouTube: Everlast Welders
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES
• Offer: Free Nova Foot Pedal + TIG Torch with qualifying machine purchases

🎧 ISOtunes

Certified hearing protection designed for jobsite communication

• Website: https://shop.isotunes.com/arcjunkies10
• Instagram: @isotunesaudio
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES10
• Offer: Save $10 on your purchase

Jason Marburger of Fireball Tool returns for our annual conversation — and he's not pulling punches. We dig into the public feud between Fireball, Sigmund, and Quantum Machinery over fixture table claims, why "world's strongest welding table" needs data to back it up, and Jason's push to standardize testing across the industry. He also walks us through the grinding disc performance guide his shop spent months producing, the surprising winners (the $2.50 Steel Savage, the new 3M Cubitron 3), and why pressure — not RPM — is what most welders are getting wrong. Plus a preview of what Fireball is rolling out at FabTech Vegas, including a 1,800-pound blacksmith vise, theft-proof service truck vises, and the new Mystic Square.

Show Notes

A wide-ranging conversation with Jason Marburger, founder of Fireball Tool, covering fixture table testing, the abrasives industry, tool design philosophy, and what it takes to back up your marketing claims with real data.

Topics covered in this episode:

• The Sigmund / Quantum / Fireball Instagram beef and why "world's strongest welding table" needs proof
• How Jason tests fixture tables — flex, deflection, three-leg sag — and why every table company should publish numbers
• 3D printing scale models of fixture tables so customers can flex-test before they buy
• Why BuildPro set the bar for value and how Fireball's Pro Kit table competes at $500-$600
• The made-in-USA vs. overseas manufacturing struggle for tool companies
• Fireball's new 1,800-pound blacksmith vise — 30-inch throat, $7K-$8K, built to last 100 years
• Drilling 800 holes in a Fireball vise to handicap it against a Wilton (and why marketing is the hardest part of the job)
• The Ultimate Grinding Performance Guide — 65 flap discs tested, charted, and ranked
• Why the cheap Steel Savage discs outperform mid-tier name brands at $2.50 a piece
• Cubitron 3 first-look: 3M's 50% claim is real
• The 4-to-8-pound pressure sweet spot every grinder operator should know
• The myth of slowing the grinder down to save the disc
• Mill scale removal — Walter strip discs vs. 3M's new offering
• How to deglaze a flap disc with a propane torch (do this when the boss isn't looking)
• Gloves around rotating equipment: the case for situational awareness over blanket rules
• A pitch for a head-to-head welding glove comparison series
• FabTech Vegas preview: new sawhorses, the Mystic Square, theft-proof service truck vises, and the blacksmith vise on the load cell

Find Jason at fireballtool.com and on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook @fireballtool.

🔥 Support the Arc Junkies Podcast Sponsors

The Arc Junkies Podcast is made possible by the companies below. If you enjoy the show, please support the brands that support the welding community.

Supporting these sponsors helps keep the Arc Junkies Podcast free and independent.

🎙️ Arc Junkies Podcast

• Website: https://arcjunkies.com
• Instagram: @ArcJunkiesPodcast
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@arcjunkiespodcast9253
• Email: show@arcjunkies.com
• LinkedIn (Jason Becker): https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-becker-45407b72

🧢 Arc Junkies Merch:https://shop.threadmob.com/arcjunkie/shop/home

🏭 Underground Metal Works

Hands-on welding education for hobbyists, makers, and professionals

• Website: https://www.underground-metalworks.com

🤝 Friends of the Show & Sponsors

🧰 BattlBox

Premium outdoor, EDC, and survival gear delivered monthly

• Website: https://alnk.to/90Chh6D
• Instagram: @BattlBox
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES
• Offer: Save up to 30% off your first BattlBox

🏛️ American Welding Society — Conferences

Stay current on inspection, code updates, and industry leadership

AWS Inspection Expo & Conference

• Event Info: https://www.aws.org/community-and-events/conferences-and-events/welding-automation-expo-and-conference/
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES
• Offer: Free gift at the event

🧤 Outlaw Leather LLC

Handcrafted welding hoods and leather PPE built to last

• Website: https://outlawleather.com
• Instagram: @outlawleatherusa
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES
• Offer: 15% off all in-stock leather goods

⚡ Everlast Welders

High-performance welding machines without the high price tag

• Website: https://bit.ly/37xJstI
• Instagram: @everlastwelders
• YouTube: Everlast Welders
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES
• Offer: Free Nova Foot Pedal + TIG Torch with qualifying machine purchases

🎧 ISOtunes

Certified hearing protection designed for jobsite communication

• Website: https://shop.isotunes.com/arcjunkies10
• Instagram: @isotunesaudio
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES10
• Offer: Save $10 on your purchase

Chad Doucette, foreman at Ace Welding in Oceanside, California, joins Jason Becker on the Arch Junkies Podcast to talk about going from a random job offer on the street to running a structural steel shop — all in five years.

Chad breaks down the real path to growth in this industry: why the helper position is the most underrated opportunity in any shop, how attitude and work ethic matter more than your cert, and why he's now setting his sights on the CWI. He also gets candid about where he came from, how welding changed his life, and the mindset shift that made all the difference.

If you're early in your career, thinking about the CWI, or just need a shot of motivation — this one's for you.

Topics covered: Starting as a shop helper · Growing into a foreman role · What Chad looks for when hiring · Pursuing the CWI exam · Running a structural solar canopy shop · Mindset, health, and building a life you love in the trades.

🔥 Support the Arc Junkies Podcast Sponsors

The Arc Junkies Podcast is made possible by the companies below. If you enjoy the show, please support the brands that support the welding community.

Supporting these sponsors helps keep the Arc Junkies Podcast free and independent.

🎙️ Arc Junkies Podcast

• Website: https://arcjunkies.com
• Instagram: @ArcJunkiesPodcast
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@arcjunkiespodcast9253
• Email: show@arcjunkies.com
• LinkedIn (Jason Becker): https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-becker-45407b72

🧢 Arc Junkies Merch:https://shop.threadmob.com/arcjunkie/shop/home

🏭 Underground Metal Works

Hands-on welding education for hobbyists, makers, and professionals

• Website: https://www.underground-metalworks.com

🤝 Friends of the Show & Sponsors

🧰 BattlBox

Premium outdoor, EDC, and survival gear delivered monthly

• Website: https://alnk.to/90Chh6D
• Instagram: @BattlBox
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES
• Offer: Save up to 30% off your first BattlBox

🏛️ American Welding Society — Conferences

Stay current on inspection, code updates, and industry leadership

AWS Inspection Expo & Conference

• Event Info: https://www.aws.org/community-and-events/conferences-and-events/inspection-expo-and-conference/
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES
• Offer: Free gift at the event

🧤 Outlaw Leather LLC

Handcrafted welding hoods and leather PPE built to last

• Website: https://outlawleather.com
• Instagram: @outlawleatherusa
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES
• Offer: 15% off all in-stock leather goods

⚡ Everlast Welders

High-performance welding machines without the high price tag

• Website: https://bit.ly/37xJstI
• Instagram: @everlastwelders
• YouTube: Everlast Welders
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES
• Offer: Free Nova Foot Pedal + TIG Torch with qualifying machine purchases

🎧 ISOtunes

Certified hearing protection designed for jobsite communication

• Website: https://shop.isotunes.com/arcjunkies10
• Instagram: @isotunesaudio
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES10
• Offer: Save $10 on your purchase

In this special National Welding Month edition of Weld Wednesday with AWS, host Jason Becker sits down with three guests who each represent a unique and exciting path that a welding career can open up. Kicking things off is Austin Ross — known across social media as A-Ross Welding — a pipeline welder with roughly a decade of experience and a member of Pipeliners Union 798. Austin breaks down the real cost of life on the pipe, how to break into the industry as a helper, what it takes to earn your spot, and why attitude and thinking ahead can make or break your career out there.

Next up, Richard Johnston from The Ocean Corporation in southwest Houston, Texas joins the show to pull back the curtain on the world of commercial diving. Richard — a third generation diver — explains what commercial diving actually looks like day to day, the range of environments divers work in, how the training program at OceanCorp.com prepares students with zero prior experience, and why the career is far less dangerous than its reputation suggests. Closing out the episode is Brian Wills, a motorsports fabricator, race car builder, and Formula Drift Prospect Series competitor who builds and races his own cars under the Nasty Habit Motorsports banner. Brian shares how fab school launched him into drifting, what goes into building a competition-ready drift car from the ground up, and why welding has made it possible for him to spend the last five years doing exactly what he loves.

Jason sits down with Sheldon Wray, head of Industrial Technology and Innovation Strategy at Lincoln Electric, for a conversation that is equal parts inspiring career story and inside look at the future of the welding industry. Sheldon shares how he went from studying electronics and computer engineering in LA to falling in love with welding at night school class — and how one chance encounter at a career fair changed everything. He breaks down Lincoln Electric's legendary welding school, what it actually takes to earn your place in the field, and the inside story behind the development of the game-changing Lincoln Electric 300C.

The guys also dig into the retirement of the iconic Lincoln 225 tombstone, where AI and robotics are headed in the fabrication world, and the emerging role of handheld laser welding technology. Plus, Sheldon opens up about earning his MBA from the prestigious Kellogg School of Business — while working full time in Cleveland — and why he believes failure isn't something to fear, it's the first step toward mastery.

Passing the CWI exam is a huge accomplishment — but it's only the beginning.

In this episode of the Arc Junkies Podcast, Jason Becker sits down with veteran welding inspector Daryl Peterson to discuss what new Certified Welding Inspectors really need to know after earning their certification.

From ethics and inspection authority to metallurgy, code interpretation, and non-destructive testing, this conversation breaks down the real challenges that many new CWIs face when they step into the role for the first time.

Daryl shares insights from 40 years in welding inspection, including the importance of mentorship, understanding QA vs QC responsibilities, and why gaining experience in NDT methods like PT, MT, UT, and radiography can dramatically improve your effectiveness as an inspector.

They also discuss common industry myths, welding metallurgy concepts that inspectors must understand, and how unethical decisions early in your career can have serious consequences.

If you're a welder thinking about becoming a CWI — or a newly certified inspector trying to figure out your next move — this episode is packed with practical advice from someone who's spent decades in the field.

Topics include:

•

What new CWIs should focus on after passing the exam

•

The difference between QA and QC inspectors

•

Why ethics and integrity matter in inspection

•

How NDT experience can accelerate your career

•

The metallurgy concepts inspectors must understand

•

Common welding myths and misunderstandings

"You've never seen me sober."

For years, Justin built a respected name in the welding industry — sharp, disciplined, professional. But behind the scenes, there was something no one saw.

In this raw and honest conversation, we talk about high-functioning alcohol use in the trades, what it looks like when success masks a problem, and the moment Justin realized he hadn't been truly clear-headed in nearly a decade.

We cover:

•

What high-functioning drinking really looks like

•

The culture of alcohol in welding and blue-collar industries

•

Productivity after quitting drinking

•

Identity, reputation, and vulnerability

•

Financial literacy and long-term career planning in the trades

•

Why not hitting "rock bottom" can be the most dangerous place to live

If you work in welding, fabrication, construction, or any skilled trade, this conversation may hit closer than you expect.

This isn't about judgment. It's about ownership.

If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol, help is available: Alcoholics Anonymous – aa.org SAMHSA National Helpline – 1-800-662-4357 (24/7 confidential support)

This is Blue Collar Talk — the real version.

🔥 Support the Arc Junkies Podcast Sponsors

The Arc Junkies Podcast is made possible by the companies below. If you enjoy the show, please support the brands that support the welding community.

Supporting these sponsors helps keep the Arc Junkies Podcast free and independent.

🎙️ Arc Junkies Podcast

• Website: https://arcjunkies.com
• Instagram: @ArcJunkiesPodcast
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@arcjunkiespodcast9253
• Email: show@arcjunkies.com
• LinkedIn (Jason Becker): https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-becker-45407b72

🧢 Arc Junkies Merch:https://shop.threadmob.com/arcjunkie/shop/home

🏭 Underground Metal Works

Hands-on welding education for hobbyists, makers, and professionals

• Website: https://www.underground-metalworks.com

🤝 Friends of the Show & Sponsors

🧰 BattlBox

Premium outdoor, EDC, and survival gear delivered monthly

• Website: https://alnk.to/90Chh6D
• Instagram: @BattlBox
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES
• Offer: Save up to 30% off your first BattlBox

🏛️ American Welding Society — Conferences

Stay current on inspection, code updates, and industry leadership

AWS Inspection Expo & Conference

• Event Info: https://www.aws.org/community-and-events/conferences-and-events/inspection-expo-and-conference/
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES
• Offer: Free gift at the event

🧤 Outlaw Leather LLC

Handcrafted welding hoods and leather PPE built to last

• Website: https://outlawleather.com
• Instagram: @outlawleatherusa
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES
• Offer: 15% off all in-stock leather goods

⚡ Everlast Welders

High-performance welding machines without the high price tag

• Website: https://bit.ly/37xJstI
• Instagram: @everlastwelders
• YouTube: Everlast Welders
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES
• Offer: Free Nova Foot Pedal + TIG Torch with qualifying machine purchases

🎧 ISOtunes

Certified hearing protection designed for jobsite communication

• Website: https://shop.isotunes.com/arcjunkies10
• Instagram: @isotunesaudio
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES10
• Offer: Save $10 on your purchase

Recorded live at the Inspection Expo & Conference (IEC), this episode captures a powerful discussion on the future of welding inspection and the rapid integration of AI and automation into the field.

Jason Becker hosts a live panel featuring Amanda Young, Vice President of McNDT Pipeline, Ltd., and Lee Pialet, President of Pioneer Steel Services, Inc..

The conversation explores how digital weld scanning systems, AI-driven defect recognition, and code cross-referencing software are reshaping the role of the Certified Welding Inspector (CWI).

Topics include:

• How AI interprets weld scan data • The reliability and limitations of automation in inspection • What skills remain irreplaceable • How inspectors can adapt without being replaced • The balance between craftsmanship and machine intelligence

AI is moving fast. The real question isn't whether it's coming — it's how we prepare for it.

If you're a CWI, welding engineer, fabricator, or industry decision-maker, this is a conversation you need to hear.

🔥 Support the Arc Junkies Podcast Sponsors

The Arc Junkies Podcast is made possible by the companies below. If you enjoy the show, please support the brands that support the welding community.

Supporting these sponsors helps keep the Arc Junkies Podcast free and independent.

🎙️ Arc Junkies Podcast

• Website: https://arcjunkies.com
• Instagram: @ArcJunkiesPodcast
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@arcjunkiespodcast9253
• Email: show@arcjunkies.com
• LinkedIn (Jason Becker): https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-becker-45407b72

🧢 Arc Junkies Merch:https://shop.threadmob.com/arcjunkie/shop/home

🏭 Underground Metal Works

Hands-on welding education for hobbyists, makers, and professionals

• Website: https://www.underground-metalworks.com

🤝 Friends of the Show & Sponsors

🧰 BattlBox

Premium outdoor, EDC, and survival gear delivered monthly

• Website: https://alnk.to/90Chh6D
• Instagram: @BattlBox
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES
• Offer: Save up to 30% off your first BattlBox

🏛️ American Welding Society — Conferences

Stay current on inspection, code updates, and industry leadership

AWS Inspection Expo & Conference

• Event Info: https://www.aws.org/community-and-events/conferences-and-events/inspection-expo-and-conference/
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES
• Offer: Free gift at the event

🧤 Outlaw Leather LLC

Handcrafted welding hoods and leather PPE built to last

• Website: https://outlawleather.com
• Instagram: @outlawleatherusa
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES
• Offer: 15% off all in-stock leather goods

⚡ Everlast Welders

High-performance welding machines without the high price tag

• Website: https://bit.ly/37xJstI
• Instagram: @everlastwelders
• YouTube: Everlast Welders
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES
• Offer: Free Nova Foot Pedal + TIG Torch with qualifying machine purchases

🎧 ISOtunes

Certified hearing protection designed for jobsite communication

• Website: https://shop.isotunes.com/arcjunkies10
• Instagram: @isotunesaudio
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES10
• Offer: Save $10 on your purchase

In this special episode of Weld Wednesdays with AWS, recorded live at the Inspection Expo & Conference in Austin, Texas, Jason Becker sits down with longtime AWS volunteer and industry veteran Bill Komlos for an in-depth conversation on volunteering on AWS code committees.

While most welders, inspectors, and fabricators rely on AWS codes every day, few understand how those standards are actually developed. Bill shares his journey from local AWS section involvement to national technical committees, explaining how volunteers from across the industry—inspectors, fabricators, engineers, and educators—collectively shape the codes that govern welding worldwide.

This episode covers why committee participation is open to the public, how involvement can accelerate your career, and why real-world shop experience is essential to keeping codes practical, relevant, and safe. Jason and Bill also discuss mentorship, networking, the value of diverse perspectives, and why the next generation of welders and inspectors is critical to the future of AWS standards.

If you've ever complained about a code requirement—or wondered how to get involved in shaping them—this episode is for you.

For more information on how you can get involved with the AWS Click Here

Welding productivity is one of the most misunderstood topics in the industry—and it's costing shops serious money.

In this episode, Jason Becker sits down with Nate Bowman to break down the reality behind arc-on time, operator factor, deposition rate, and weld volume. Together, they explain why welders aren't "only welding 11 minutes an hour," how over-welding quietly drains profitability, and how small operational changes—like proper weld sizing or adding an extra grinder—can save thousands of dollars over time.

This conversation isn't about blame. It's about data, efficiency, and building high-performance welding operations that benefit both welders and business owners.

🔥 Support the Arc Junkies Podcast Sponsors

The Arc Junkies Podcast is made possible by the companies below. If you enjoy the show, please support the brands that support the welding community.

Supporting these sponsors helps keep the Arc Junkies Podcast free and independent.

🎙️ Arc Junkies Podcast

• Website: https://arcjunkies.com
• Instagram: @ArcJunkiesPodcast
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@arcjunkiespodcast9253
• Email: show@arcjunkies.com
• LinkedIn (Jason Becker): https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-becker-45407b72

🧢 Arc Junkies Merch:https://shop.threadmob.com/arcjunkie/shop/home

🏭 Underground Metal Works

Hands-on welding education for hobbyists, makers, and professionals

• Website: https://www.underground-metalworks.com

🤝 Friends of the Show & Sponsors

🧰 BattlBox

Premium outdoor, EDC, and survival gear delivered monthly

• Website: https://alnk.to/90Chh6D
• Instagram: @BattlBox
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES
• Offer: Save up to 30% off your first BattlBox

🏛️ American Welding Society — Conferences

Stay current on inspection, code updates, and industry leadership

AWS Inspection Expo & Conference

• Event Info: https://www.aws.org/community-and-events/conferences-and-events/inspection-expo-and-conference/
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES
• Offer: Free gift at the event

🧤 Outlaw Leather LLC

Handcrafted welding hoods and leather PPE built to last

• Website: https://outlawleather.com
• Instagram: @outlawleatherusa
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES
• Offer: 15% off all in-stock leather goods

⚡ Everlast Welders

High-performance welding machines without the high price tag

• Website: https://bit.ly/37xJstI
• Instagram: @everlastwelders
• YouTube: Everlast Welders
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES
• Offer: Free Nova Foot Pedal + TIG Torch with qualifying machine purchases

🎧 ISOtunes

Certified hearing protection designed for jobsite communication

• Website: https://shop.isotunes.com/arcjunkies10
• Instagram: @isotunesaudio
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES10
• Offer: Save $10 on your purchase

In this episode of the Arc Junkies Podcast, Jason Becker sits down with Brian Huff, founder and CEO of Midwest Technical Institute and Delta Technical College.

Brian shares his perspective on the growing skilled labor crisis, why the U.S. is facing a massive workforce shortage, and how removing shop class and technical education from K–12 schools created the situation we're in today.

The conversation covers workforce demographics, infrastructure demand, energy production, AI-driven growth, and why construction and skilled trades remain recession-resistant careers with lifetime opportunity. Brian also explains how trade schools can rebuild the pipeline and why this problem must be treated as a national priority — not just an industry issue.

This is a big-picture discussion about the future of skilled labor, education reform, and why the trades matter more now than ever.

🔥 Support the Arc Junkies Podcast Sponsors

The Arc Junkies Podcast is made possible by the companies below. If you enjoy the show, please support the brands that support the welding community.

Supporting these sponsors helps keep the Arc Junkies Podcast free and independent.

🎙️ Arc Junkies Podcast

• Website: https://arcjunkies.com
• Instagram: @ArcJunkiesPodcast
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@arcjunkiespodcast9253
• Email: show@arcjunkies.com
• LinkedIn (Jason Becker): https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-becker-45407b72

🧢 Arc Junkies Merch:https://shop.threadmob.com/arcjunkie/shop/home

🏭 Underground Metal Works

Hands-on welding education for hobbyists, makers, and professionals

• Website: https://www.underground-metalworks.com

🤝 Friends of the Show & Sponsors

🧰 BattlBox

Premium outdoor, EDC, and survival gear delivered monthly

• Website: https://alnk.to/90Chh6D
• Instagram: @BattlBox
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES
• Offer: Save up to 30% off your first BattlBox

🏛️ American Welding Society — Conferences

Stay current on inspection, code updates, and industry leadership

AWS Inspection Expo & Conference

• Event Info: https://www.aws.org/community-and-events/conferences-and-events/inspection-expo-and-conference/
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES
• Offer: Free gift at the event

🧤 Outlaw Leather LLC

Handcrafted welding hoods and leather PPE built to last

• Website: https://outlawleather.com
• Instagram: @outlawleatherusa
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES
• Offer: 15% off all in-stock leather goods

⚡ Everlast Welders

High-performance welding machines without the high price tag

• Website: https://bit.ly/37xJstI
• Instagram: @everlastwelders
• YouTube: Everlast Welders
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES
• Offer: Free Nova Foot Pedal + TIG Torch with qualifying machine purchases

🎧 ISOtunes

Certified hearing protection designed for jobsite communication

• Website: https://shop.isotunes.com/arcjunkies10
• Instagram: @isotunesaudio
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES10
• Offer: Save $10 on your purchase

In this weeks episode, I sit down with Alex McNamara, a trades advocate, welder, rigger, and content creator who has become one of the loudest voices pushing for skilled trades education and tool literacy.

Alex shares her unconventional path—from theater and set building to welding, rigging, and managing massive international live events, including work in Saudi Arabia. The conversation digs into why shop class disappeared, how that decision created today's skilled-labor shortage, and what individuals can do locally to help rebuild trades education.

We also discuss women in the trades, workplace culture, confidence on the jobsite, the realities of PPE and workwear design, and why being yourself actually makes you better at your craft. This is an honest, funny, and deeply important conversation about identity, work ethic, and the future of skilled labor.

🔥 Support the Arc Junkies Podcast Sponsors

The Arc Junkies Podcast is made possible by the companies below. If you enjoy the show, please support the brands that support the welding community.

Supporting these sponsors helps keep the Arc Junkies Podcast free and independent.

🎙️ Arc Junkies Podcast

• Website: https://arcjunkies.com
• Instagram: @ArcJunkiesPodcast
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@arcjunkiespodcast9253
• Email: show@arcjunkies.com
• LinkedIn (Jason Becker): https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-becker-45407b72

🧢 Arc Junkies Merch:https://shop.threadmob.com/arcjunkie/shop/home

🏭 Underground Metal Works

Hands-on welding education for hobbyists, makers, and professionals

• Website: https://www.underground-metalworks.com

🤝 Friends of the Show & Sponsors

🧰 BattlBox

Premium outdoor, EDC, and survival gear delivered monthly

• Website: https://alnk.to/90Chh6D
• Instagram: @BattlBox
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES
• Offer: Save up to 30% off your first BattlBox

🏛️ American Welding Society — Conferences

Stay current on inspection, code updates, and industry leadership

AWS Inspection Expo & Conference

• Event Info: https://www.aws.org/community-and-events/conferences-and-events/inspection-expo-and-conference/
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES
• Offer: Free gift at the event

🧤 Outlaw Leather LLC

Handcrafted welding hoods and leather PPE built to last

• Website: https://outlawleather.com
• Instagram: @outlawleatherusa
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES
• Offer: 15% off all in-stock leather goods

⚡ Everlast Welders

High-performance welding machines without the high price tag

• Website: https://bit.ly/37xJstI
• Instagram: @everlastwelders
• YouTube: Everlast Welders
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES
• Offer: Free Nova Foot Pedal + TIG Torch with qualifying machine purchases

🎧 ISOtunes

Certified hearing protection designed for jobsite communication

• Website: https://shop.isotunes.com/arcjunkies10
• Instagram: @isotunesaudio
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES10
• Offer: Save $10 on your purchase

In this episode of the Arc Junkies Podcast, Jason sits down with George Rolla, a pipe welder, inspector, educator, and industry leader with over 50 years of hands-on experience in the welding trade.

George shares his journey from welding in the Canadian Arctic and North Dakota oil fields to becoming an AWS Senior Certified Welding Inspector, Certified Welding Engineer, and founder of the California Welding Institute. Together, Jason and George have an honest, in-depth conversation about what's broken in welding education, why instructor quality matters more than ever, and how poor training creates ripple effects throughout fabrication, inspection, and code compliance.

They also discuss fast-track training done the right way, the realities of workforce development, the challenges of welding codes becoming law, and why documentation, ethics, and real-world experience still matter in a rapidly changing industry.

This is a must-listen episode for welders, inspectors, educators, and anyone who cares about protecting the integrity of the trade.

🔥 Support the Arc Junkies Podcast Sponsors

The Arc Junkies Podcast is made possible by the companies below. If you enjoy the show, please support the brands that support the welding community.

Supporting these sponsors helps keep the Arc Junkies Podcast free and independent.

🎙️ Arc Junkies Podcast

• Website: https://arcjunkies.com
• Instagram: @ArcJunkiesPodcast
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@arcjunkiespodcast9253
• Email: show@arcjunkies.com
• LinkedIn (Jason Becker): https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-becker-45407b72

🧢 Arc Junkies Merch: https://shop.threadmob.com/arcjunkie/shop/home

🏭 Underground Metal Works

Hands-on welding education for hobbyists, makers, and professionals

• Website: https://www.underground-metalworks.com

🤝 Friends of the Show & Sponsors

🧰 BattlBox

Premium outdoor, EDC, and survival gear delivered monthly

• Website: https://www.battlbox.com/arcjunkies
• Instagram: @BattlBox
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES
• Offer: Save up to 30% off your first BattlBox

🏛️ American Welding Society — Conferences

Stay current on inspection, code updates, and industry leadership

AWS Inspection Expo & Conference

• Event Info: https://www.aws.org/community-and-events/conferences-and-events/inspection-expo-and-conference/
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES
• Offer: Free gift at the event

🧤 Outlaw Leather LLC

Handcrafted welding hoods and leather PPE built to last

• Website: https://outlawleather.com
• Instagram: @outlawleatherusa
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES
• Offer: 15% off all in-stock leather goods

⚡ Everlast Welders

High-performance welding machines without the high price tag

• Website: https://bit.ly/37xJstI
• Instagram: @everlastwelders
• YouTube: Everlast Welders
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES
• Offer: Free Nova Foot Pedal + TIG Torch with qualifying machine purchases

🎧 ISOtunes

Certified hearing protection designed for jobsite communication

• Website: https://shop.isotunes.com/arcjunkies10
• Instagram: @isotunesaudio
• Promo Code: ARCJUNKIES10
• Offer: Save $10 on your purchase