Another landmark is about to be reached in the ongoing fuel crisis. At $3.95/gallon as of May 12, the city of San Francisco looks like it will become the first in the country to record an average gasoline price over $4/gallon for regular unleaded. Of course, this is nothing new to truckers, farmers and other […]

According to a recent survey, the economy has become the most important issue facing our country – surpassing the Iraq war, staggering gas prices and health care. With that in mind, it seems that the timing of the 2008 income tax rebate checks couldn’t be better.
The checks, up to $600 for qualifying individuals and $1,200 […]

A recent study sponsored by The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers found that 75 percent of Americans favor a government program that would provide any qualified U.S. resident with two free years of post-high school education or training.
The survey contended that one of the reasons the US emerged as a world […]

When it comes to the skilled trades, the saying “the children are the future” is more than just a cliché.  As baby boomers retire in the coming years, and with anticipated demand for even more skilled workers than we have today, this country will be left with a severe gap in the construction industry workforce. […]

Common wisdom tells us that the economy is in poor shape and that the construction industry has been one of the hardest hit sectors. You would never know it, however, judging by the attendance and general mood at the 2008 CONEXPO/CON-AGG trade show in Las Vegas this week.
The CONEXPO/CON-AGG show is one of the […]

There hasn’t been much good news lately on the state of the economy, and the welding industry has been no different.
Many economists are predicting the current economic slowdown will last up to two years or more, and a recent poll by Fortune magazine found that 75 percent of Americans believe the country is headed […]

In few industries does the old saying “It’s a man’s world” apply more than in welding. Women have made great strides in establishing themselves as competent workers in industries traditionally dominated by men. However, women continue to be severely underrepresented in the welding world. Why is this?
There’s a major welder shortage looming, the pay can […]

    Marty Rice, a welding instructor at the High School Career Center in Texas, wrote an excellent column this month on why he became a welder and why he stayed in the trade. You can read the article here.
    Rice writes about terrible hours, unbearable temperatures, fatal on-the-job injuries and a host of other […]

The season of shopping, cooking, eating and caroling is now past, and we hope your holidays were filled with joy and merriment. Right on its heels, however, comes a new season — the season of resolutions.
Some people make resolutions to lose weight or to quit smoking. Some may set goals to run a marathon […]

You don’t really think the holiday season is just for kids, do you?
Whatever your holiday tradition, even the really big boys and girls are entitled to dream about some new toys — maybe a new plasma cutter or aluminum pulsed-MIG system. And the best part is no one is keeping a list of whether you’ve […]