Larson Steel Products

09/01/2026

Thank you to our customers, employees, friends and family for believing in us!

09/01/2026

🔥 WELDING DEFECTS EXPLAINED – MASTER YOUR BEAD LIKE A PRO 🔥

If you’ve ever struggled to get that perfect weld bead, this visual breakdown is exactly what you need. Welding isn’t just about melting metal—it’s about control, precision, and understanding how travel speed and current affect your final result. Whether you're into MIG welding, TIG welding, stick welding, or flux-core welding, these common welding defects can make or break your project.

Let’s break it down 👇

Normal Welding (Perfect Bead)
This is what you’re aiming for: a smooth, even weld bead with consistent ripple pattern, proper pe*******on, and clean edges. It shows balanced amperage, voltage, and travel speed—the key to strong, durable welds.

Speed Too Slow
Moving too slowly causes excessive heat buildup. The weld becomes wide, overly convex, and can lead to burn-through or distortion. This is a common mistake in beginner welding—slow down your heat, not just your hand.

Speed Too Fast
Too fast means poor fusion. You’ll notice a narrow, uneven bead with weak pe*******on. This type of weld may look okay at first glance but can fail under stress. Always maintain a steady hand and consistent pace.

Welding Current Too High
Excessive current leads to spatter, undercut, and a rough, messy weld pool. It can weaken the structure and ruin the appearance. Control your amps and voltage settings to avoid overheating the base metal.

Welding Current Too Low
Low current results in poor pe*******on and a weak bond. The bead may look thin, inconsistent, and sit on top of the metal instead of fusing into it. This is a critical issue in structural welding.

Pro Welding Tips for Better Results

* Keep a consistent arc length
* Match your amperage to material thickness
* Maintain steady travel speed
* Use the correct electrode or filler material
* Clean your base metal before welding
* Practice bead control on scrap before real projects

Whether you're working on DIY metal projects, automotive welding, pipeline welding, fabrication, or repair work, understanding these welding defects will dramatically improve your skills and results.

Save this guide and come back to it every time you weld. Consistency is what turns beginners into professionals.

08/29/2026

08/27/2026

Metallica is one of the biggest metal bands on the planet. What most of their fans don't know is what the band has quietly been building off stage: one of the largest trade-school pipelines in the country.

It runs through their foundation, All Within My Hands, and specifically the Metallica Scholars Initiative. In partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges, the band funds career and technical education, real, hands-on training for real jobs. Welding. Plumbing. Electrical work. And increasingly, nursing, EMT and firefighting, automotive repair, pipefitting, and agriculture.

The scale is the surprising part. As of 2026, the program supports 93 community colleges across all 50 states, plus Guam. Its latest round alone put more than 3 million dollars into those schools. And it has now backed some 13,000 students in learning skills that lead to stable, well-paying careers, with the program recently expanding overseas too.

Frontman James Hetfield has explained why it matters to them. Touring, he points out, runs entirely on skilled trades: the electricians, drivers, cooks, and mechanics who make every show possible. The band said it wanted to reinvest in exactly those kinds of workers.

No splashy campaign. No album tie-in. Just a metal band deciding that the people who build and fix and wire the world deserve a shot, and quietly footing the bill for thousands of them 🤘

08/25/2026

The Larson Steel Products family just got a little bigger! Please join us in congratulating the newlyweds! Welcome to the family Alyssa, now it's time to train you on a saw 😊

08/07/2026

08/04/2026

Months of planning our Toast and Tour through TMA was all well worth it!

On July 9, this networking and educational event drew in over 60 manufacturing professionals, plant owners, and industry members. The on-site walkthrough of our new Bedford Park facility included 2 tours, a company presentation and a social happy hour.

Thank you to all for attending and a special thank you to the dedicated employees who attended and volunteered!