// 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: choosing a process, gas and protection, setting up a machine, and stocking the consumables that keep a job moving.
// choose a process
MIG vs TIG vs MMA
Compare speed, finish, portability, materials and learning curve — then choose the process and starter kit that fit the work.
Compare the processes →
// 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 →
// shielding gas
Welding gas & regulator guide
Match gas to MIG, TIG or MAG work, choose the right regulator or flowmeter, set flow and diagnose porosity.
Choose gas equipment →
// eye & respiratory protection
Welding helmets & PAPR
Understand shade range, sensors, optical class, cover lenses and when air-fed respiratory protection belongs in the setup.
Choose welding protection →
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.