// guides & resources
Welding guides from the trade counter.
We supply welders, fabricators and workshops every day — so we know which questions come up again and again. These guides put plain, practical answers in one place: setting up a machine, what to keep on the shelf, and how to buy the consumables that decide whether a job runs smoothly or fights you the whole way.

// getting started
Setting up your first MIG welder
Wire, gas, polarity, voltage and wire-speed — get the machine set up right and the first weld will look like you've done it for years.
Read the guide →
// workshop stores
Consumables: what to stock
The tips, shrouds, liners, rods and wire a working shop should never run out of — a sensible stock list so a job is never held up by a £2 part.
Read the guide →
// grinding & cutting
Abrasives buying guide
Cutting discs, grinding discs and flap discs — bonded vs coated, grit, bore size and the safety rules that actually matter at 12,000rpm.
Read the guide →
Why we write these
A welding supplies specialist isn't just a shelf of boxes — it's the place you ring when the tips keep burning back, the wire's birdnesting, or you're not sure which cutting disc is rated for stainless. We answer those calls all day, so we've turned the most common ones into guides you can read at your own pace.
Everything here is written for real workshops, from a one-machine garage to a busy fabrication shop. If you're buying for a business, our trade account gets you account pricing and 30-day terms; for the brands we stock, see the brands page, and for keeping consumables in good condition see our care & storage guide.
Can't find what you need? Call or message us — someone who actually welds will pick it up.
Need it today?
Every guide links straight to the products it covers. Order online or call the trade counter.
