DIMEVISION

DimeVision Blog

Expert welding guides, certification tips, and industry news for professional welders.

Beginners

DIY Welding Table: A Complete Build Guide (~$150)

March 2026

Build a professional welding table for about $150. Exact materials, cutting specs, and tacking sequence to avoid warping.

Beginners

5 Signs Your Welding Setup Is Holding You Back

March 2026

Bad welds are not always bad technique. Here are five signs your setup, not your hands, is the problem.

Beginners

The Only Welding Table a Beginner Actually Needs

March 2026

Most beginners spend too much on their first setup. Here is what you actually need to start welding safely and consistently.

Apps

Welding Simulator Apps 2026 — Do They Actually Work?

March 2026

We tested the top VR and mobile welding simulators to find out if virtual practice translates to real skill — and where they fall short.

Apps

Best Welding Calculator Apps 2026 — Settings for MIG, TIG & Stick

March 2026

Find the right welding settings fast. We compare the best welding calculator apps plus settings reference tables for common joints.

Defects

Is My Weld Bad? 7 Visual Signs of Weld Defects

March 2026

Not sure if your weld is good or bad? Here are 7 visual signs of common defects — porosity, undercut, spatter, cold lap, and more — with fixes.

Apps

Welding Design Apps 2026 — Blueprint Reading to Weld Symbols

March 2026

The best apps for reading welding blueprints, decoding weld symbols, and joint design — including DimeVision's AI-powered Blueprint Decoder.

Technique

How Can I Tell If My Travel Speed is Consistent?

March 2026

Travel speed is the hardest skill to self-assess. Here's how to read weld bead ripples and use AI to measure consistency.

Defects

Why Does My Weld Look Porous? Causes and Fixes

March 2026

Porosity is the #1 weld defect for beginners. Here's what causes it, how to fix it, and why AI can spot what your eyes miss.

Career

Will Welding Be Replaced by AI? The Honest Answer for 2026

March 2026

The welding industry needs 320,000 new welders by 2029. Robots aren't replacing jobs — they're creating opportunities. Here's the honest truth about AI in welding.

Quality

What a Bad Weld Really Costs: The Numbers Behind Welding Rework

March 2026

A single bad weld can cost 2-3x to fix immediately, or 10-50x downstream. See the math behind welding rework and how AI catches defects earlier.

Technical

How AI Sees Your Welds: A Technical Deep Dive

March 2026

Pixel coordinates, bounding boxes, confidence scores - how AI actually analyzes weld photos and why it's more precise than human feedback.

Case Study

Case Study: How Clover Park Technical College Used AI to Accelerate Student Success

March 2026

24 students, 60-day pilot, 5 reached certification readiness. See how one welding program used DimeVision to free up instructor time.

Workforce Development

Trade Schools Can't Find Enough Welding Instructors. Here's How AI Is Filling the Gap.

March 2026

The U.S. needs 320,000 new welders by 2029 but schools can't hire enough instructors. See how AI is helping trade schools scale.

Certification

How to Pass a Weld Test: The Complete Guide for 2026

March 2026 • Updated weekly

Everything you need to know about passing your AWS or structural welding certification exam.

The exact requirements, common failures, and preparation strategy that works — based on AWS D1.1 standards and real-world testing experience.

Quality

Weld Defect Identification Guide

March 2026 • Updated weekly

A visual reference for common welding defects, what causes them, and how to fix them - based on AWS B4.0 standards.

Process

Stick Welding 6013 vs 7018: When to Use Each

March 2026

Understanding the differences between the two most common stick electrodes and when to use each for different applications.

Process

MIG to TIG Transition Guide

March 2026

What changes, what stays the same, and how to adapt your technique when switching from MIG to TIG welding.

Technique

TIG Foot Pedal Control: Technique Breakdown

March 2026

Master the art of TIG foot pedal control for consistent heat input and professional-quality welds.

Career

How to Become a Certified Welder

March 2026

Step-by-step guide to getting your welding certification, from choosing the right process to passing your test.

Career

Welder Salary Guide 2026

March 2026

Current welding salaries by process, location, and certification level. What to expect in different industries.

Symbols

Welding Symbols Guide

March 2026

Understanding welding symbols on blueprints. The complete reference for reading fabrication drawings.

Certification

How to Pass Your AWS D1.1 Certification Test (First Try)

February 2026

Complete guide to AWS D1.1 structural welding certification. Learn the 5 most common failure points, test format breakdown, and practice strategies that work.

Reviews

Best Welding Apps for 2026

February 2026

The top welding apps for certification prep, weld analysis, and career advancement. Compare features, pricing, and real user reviews.

Beginners

Welding for Beginners: Where to Start

February 2026

Everything you need to know before your first weld. Equipment, safety, and what to expect in your first year.