The old adage, that a person is only as good as their tools, can be applied to many situations in life. That’s especially true for welding instructors.

To be effective teachers, welding instructors need the right equipment and resources at their beck and call. Without the right electrode, welding glove or torch, real learning simply cannot take place.

But with Lincoln Electric’s Education Resource & Purchasing Portal, it’s never been easier to obtain the tools you need to help up-and-coming welders perform at their best. What exactly are the essential tools all welding instructors should have?

Learn how instructor Scott Slagle uses the Education Portal to find some of the most popular items for welding instructors in one easy-to-use, convenient place.

It was a much-needed step in the right direction for economic recovery, especially considering the impact the trade has on several industries.

In preparation for this good news, it was important for the Welding Technology & Training Center to get policies and protocols established to make sure the transition back to welding education was as safe and effective as possible. These new policies took into consideration not only hygienic safety, but overall welding safety, as well.

In drafting these policies, we reviewed guidelines for school reopening from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization and other best practices recommended by national, state and local leaders.

Excalibur Stick Electrode

Consumables

It should go without saying, but having a healthy stockpile of consumables is absolutely vital. Because consumables tend to get used up quickly, it can be a challenge to make sure you have an adequate supply at all times.

That’s where the Education Portal makes a real difference. Once you load all of your items onto your account, it’s easy to come back and make sure you’re ordering the exact amount of wire and electrodes that your class needs when you need it.

Here are some of the most popular consumables I frequently need to restock:

• Excalibur® 7018 MR® (E7018) stick electrodes
• Fleetweld® 5P+ (E6010) stick electrodes
• Superarc® L-56 (ER70S-6) MIG wire
• Lincoln® ER70S-6 TIG wire
• Ultracore® 71A85 (E71T-9M-H8) FCAW-G wire

Premium Welding Gear Ready-Pak

Gear

Without the proper welding gear, no one has any business being inside a welding booth or lab. That’s Welding Safety 101.

The problem is that after a period of time, welding gloves, helmets and jackets can go through some serious wear and tear to the point they are no longer effective in providing the required level of protection.

That is why I make sure to have the following items on-hand for my students and colleagues:

• Traditional MIG/Stick Welding Gloves
• Traditional Flame-Resistant Cloth Welding Jacket
• Intermediate Education Welding Gear Ready-Paks® (these are an excellent all-in-one solution because they cover everything a welder needs – welding cap, helmet, face shield, safety glasses and gloves)

Industrial C-Clamp

Hand Tools

Welding tools like wire brushes, pliers, clamps, chipping hammers and flint strikers are a lot like a magician’s playing cards – you see them one second, and just like that, they’re gone.

That’s why it’s always a good idea to keep a couple extras on hand.

Whether I need a few replacements or have to stock up in bulk for new classes, I can quickly and easily find everything I need through the Education Portal. It’s these little things that sometimes get overlooked, but in a pinch, it’s nice to be able to add these items to my orders:

• 4 X 16 Row Carbon Steel Welding Wire Brushes
• Radius® Welding Pliers
• Industrial C-Clamp
• Flint Striker Replacements
• Radius® Chipping Hammer

Activ8X Magnum Pro Curve 300 One-Pak

Guns and Torches

Welding guns and torches can sometimes be an afterthought when purchasing supplies for your classroom. But they are critically important because they are the single most handled piece of equipment and are pre-disposed to environmental and operator abuse.

Instructors should look for welding guns with features that are designed to minimize downtime, welding problems and other flaws that can extend service life and help save you more money in the long-run compared to an inferior gun.

There are welding guns and torches for every skill level and price point, but here are a few of my go-tos:

• Magnum® PRO Curve 300 for MIG, Pulsed MIG and Flux-Cored welding
• Pro-Torch F Model with flexible head and comfortable non-slip grip

Tapered Contact Tip, 550A, .052

Replacement Parts

Maintaining the components of the welding gun that come in contact with the wire before it enters the weld pool helps to uphold quality, productivity and safety.

Quality parts such as nozzles, contact tips, diffusers and insulators can resist spatter build-up better than lower quality ones. These parts should be checked frequently to ensure good electrical transfer to the welding wire and prevent weld defects. However, these parts can wear down easily, which is why I’m glad I have these already queued up on my account:

• Magnum® PRO Gun Contact Tips with flattened thread profile
• Magnum® PRO Nozzle Holder
• Magnum® PRO Gas Diffuser
• Magnum® PRO Nozzle Insulator

Education Portal

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BONUS: FREE Technical Guides & Posters On the Education Portal!

• FREE guides for Stick, MIG, TIG, FLUX CORE and more
• FREE Posters on weld symbols, positions, processes and more