Arc Junkies

Handheld laser welding is changing the welding industry, but how much of the hype is backed by actual testing, and where does this technology fit into the future of fabrication?
In this special edition of Weld Wednesdays with AWS, recorded live at FABTECH 2026 in Las Vegas, I'm joined by Rex Alexandre from the Handheld Laser Institute. Rex is a former SpaceX welding engineer who helped develop laser welding applications for the aerospace industry before launching his own company focused on research, training, and advancing handheld laser technology.
We get into the technical side of handheld laser welding, including the process variables that affect penetration, weld quality, and repeatability. Rex explains why laser power isn't the only thing that matters, how beam spot size and wire feed speed influence the process, and why joint fit-up can make or break a successful laser weld.
We also discuss some of the biggest concerns surrounding this technology, particularly laser safety, proper eye protection, controlled welding areas, and the importance of understanding what you're buying before investing in equipment.
One of the most interesting parts of our conversation is Rex's work with structural applications. His team has successfully performed mechanical testing on 3/8-inch A36 plate welded using handheld laser equipment, opening up some interesting possibilities beyond traditional sheet metal applications.
We also cover the current state of welding codes and standards, including AWS and ASME, the challenges of qualifying handheld laser welding procedures, and what the industry needs to do to make this technology more accessible.
Whether you're a welder, welding inspector, educator, engineer, or shop owner considering adding laser welding to your operation, this episode offers a practical look at what the technology can and cannot do.
Weld Wednesdays with AWS is brought to you by the American Welding Society.
Stay safe out there, and until next time… make every weld better than your last.
 
For more information on how you can get involved with AWS Click Here

What should a student know before walking into welding school on day one? In this episode of Weld Wednesday with AWS, I sit down with Josh Wolfe, welding instructor at Laurel Oaks in Wilmington, Ohio, and host of the Speaking of Skilled Trades podcast, for an honest conversation about what it really takes to succeed in welding education.

We talk about why safety rules in a welding lab are different from the arbitrary rules students may be used to, how quickly one careless decision can change a life, and why PPE and safe habits have to become automatic. Josh and I also discuss the importance of attitude, grit, accepting direct feedback, and using every available minute in the booth. Nobody looks back and wishes they had burned less rod.
For more information on AWS Click Here
Josh Wolfe on Instagram: @wolfe_cte
Speaking of Skilled Trades podcast: Listen on Spotify
Arc Junkies Podcast: arcjunkies.com
Weld Wednesday with AWS: aws.org/podcasts
Arc Junkies Instagram: @ArcJunkiesPodcast

Daryl Peterson is a SCWI and the District Director for District 5 of the American Welding Society. This week we  hop in the way back machine to revisit a very controversial topic in the welding Industry. We often hear about welders claiming to be "Certified" and then getting called out on social media as being "Qualifed" not Certified. Well, Daryl has done some deep digging through the different codes and standards and has come up with an answer that will hopefully settle this debate.  For more information on the AWS and their programs, check out their website AWS.org

In this episode of Weld Wednesday with AWS, host Jason Becker sits down with Anthony Nighswander, founder of APT Manufacturing and one of the top FANUC integrators in the country. Anthony breaks down the real difference between traditional industrial robots and collaborative robots (cobots), why welders — not controls engineers — make the best cobot programmers, and how schools can bring automation into their programs without blowing up an already-packed curriculum. They also dig into FANUC's education grant structure (up to $400,000 in matching software value), what a robotic welding cell actually costs, the difference between a certificate and a certification, and how to build an apprenticeship pipeline that keeps students employed and industry staffed.
For more information on how you can get involved with AWS Click Here
AWS Automating the Future of Fabrication Webinar Click Here to Register

Sean "Dabs" Flottman — welder, fabricator, educator, and bracelet-shipping hustle machine — joins Jason on this month's Weld Wednesday with AWS to tackle one of the most debated topics in the trade: the six-figure welding salary. Is it a myth? Is it achievable? And more importantly, what does it actually take? Dabs brings nearly 30 years of experience to the table, starting at $6.30 an hour and working his way through sheet metal, fabrication, and eventually into welding education at a trade school. He and Jason break down the ingredients required to reach $100K — from the top-10% mindset and willingness to travel, to union packages, financial discipline, and surrounding yourself with the right people. They also dig into what nobody talks about: how to keep that money once you make it, why chasing happiness beats chasing dollars, and what welding school students are doing (and not doing) to set themselves up for success from day one.
 
For more information on how to get involved with the American Welding Society Click Here