#that's solid tungsten right there

[xxelliewxx]

Fire and Frost {Ellie x Reader} Chapter 6

Pairings: loser!(AFAB)Reader x hockey player!Ellie

Synopsis: When y/n is requested to tutor Ellie Williams in organic chemistry, she expects arrogance and attitude from the hockey player. However, she discovers a different aspect of Ellie’s tough exterior, revealed through humor and fleeting glances. This raises the question: why does Ellie go to great lengths to embarrass and harass y/n whenever they are in the presence of others?

Warnings: Mentions of depression, anxiety, sexual/physical assault, alcohol, violence, trauma (if I miss any let me know!)

w/c: 2.6k

an: this is my first time ever posting fanfic on Tumblr, so feedback is completely welcome! this is not proofread and is a work in progress.

Tungsten Core

The morning of your scheduled tutoring session with Ellie erupted into chaos right from the get-go when you overslept past your 06:30 alarm. The sound of Dina bustling around the apartment was the only thing that roused you from your slumber. Grabbing your phone from the bedside table, the glaring light revealed the time: 07:15. 

 Panic surged through you as your eyes widened in disbelief. You flung the blankets aside and burst through your bedroom door, racing to the bathroom to prepare. In a whirlwind, you applied just enough makeup to add a touch of vibrancy to your face. With your hair styled and looking decent, you dashed back to your room, rifling through your closet for an outfit that struck the right balance—something that said "I care" without screaming "look at me!"

Thoughts of the brunette lingered in your mind after last night, a constant blush painting your cheeks with warmth that refused to fade. You had always found Ellie undeniably attractive, even sexy as hell, but it was her sweet gestures that truly melted your heart, leaving you yearning for something deeper. 

 You chose a striking outfit: a red and black flannel shirt layered over a white crop top, paired with faded high-waisted jeans and classic Converse. The brisk morning air prompted you to grab your Carhartt beanie before spritzing on some perfume, hurrying out of your apartment in a flurry. You made it to your car in record time, opting to drive instead of walk since you were already running late. 

As you navigated the campus, you kept a careful eye on the speed limit, pushing your speed just enough to avoid drawing the attention of campus police. Getting pulled over would only complicate things further.

Arriving at the library, you shifted your car into park, snatched your backpack from the passenger seat, and hurried toward the entrance. As you dashed up the steps to the study area, you rounded the corner where the tables were set up, only to collide with a solid figure that nearly sent you sprawling. 

 Reeling back, your gaze met that of the stranger; it was Abby. Her firm grip reached out to catch you, saving you from making an even bigger spectacle. In your rush, you had overlooked her presence, causing the stack of books she was holding to crash to the floor, echoing through the otherwise quiet space and drawing irritated glances from fellow students. 

 Muttering a quick apology to the man who shot you a disapproving look, you turned your attention back to Abby. "I’m really sorry, Y/N. I thought you noticed me when you turned the corner."

Abby appeared just as flustered as you felt, which offered a small comfort. You placed your hand on her bicep and grinned, "Abby, I'm the one tripping over my own feet, not you. I really need to be more aware of what's around me."

She let out a soft laugh, noticing your hand resting on her arm as she looked down at you, shifting the conversation. "So, are you here to study?"

Her gaze flicked to your backpack, then back to your lips before locking onto your eyes. Shaking your head gently, you answered, "Actually, I'm here to meet Ellie. I'm tutoring her in organic chemistry."

Abby's brow knitted together at your words as she turned to glance at her teammate, who was sitting nearby. Following her gaze, you were met with a fierce glare that made your heart race, the anger in her deep green eyes sending a jolt through you. Your hand, which had been resting on Abby's arm, fell away as if it had touched fire, prompting the blonde to turn back and look at you once more.

"Coach had mentioned to me that she was getting tutored, she didn't say it was you doing it though. Knowing it's you helping her I'm confident she'll ace her next test." The playful grin she shot your way made your own smile bloom, diverting your focus from the glares aimed in your direction.

"I really appreciate it, Abby. It's nice that you gave faith in me."

“Hey, I’ve got a meeting with Coach soon, but it was great to see you again! You’re always welcome at the hockey house." Abby squeezed your shoulder affectionately before heading off. Taking a deep breath to steady your nerves, you made your way to the table where the hockey player awaited your arrival. 

Ellie was fixated on the textbook in front of her, her eyes boring into the pages as if they held the answers to the universe, completely disregarding your greeting as you settled into the chair opposite her. The chill radiating from her made you clear your throat, feeling the weight of her silence. To distract yourself, you began fiddling with your new iPad, scrolling through your note-taking apps in search of something to ease the tension.

As the silence lingered, your irritation simmered just beneath the surface. "Ellie, I can't keep playing this back-and-forth with you. It's giving me whiplash, and I’m not sure how much more I can take."

Ellie shot you a fierce look, her grip on the pen tightening to the point where it seemed ready to snap. "You're late."

You rolled your eyes, exasperated. "Thanks for the newsflash, Captain Obvious. I couldn't have figured that out on my own." Frustration bubbled up as you realized she just didn’t grasp the reasons behind your tardiness. Every explanation you offered fell flat, and just when you were about to throw in the towel, she finally broke the silence.

"You wouldn't have been as late if you wouldn't have stopped to flirt with my teammate." 

Your eyes widened in disbelief at her accusation. "What are you talking about?"

Ellie let her pen slip from her fingers, resting her hand on her cheek as a playful smile danced across her lips. With a teasing tone, she imitated your voice, saying, "Wow, Abby, your biceps are looking impressively strong today! If only I could lounge around and admire you all day, but alas, I have to tutor your hopeless teammate."

You were utterly taken aback; that’s the only way to capture the whirlwind of chaos unfolding around you. What the fuck is happening?? Words escaped you as frustration surged, pushing aside your initial bewilderment. "Just so you know, Ellie, I was actually apologizing for smashing into her. And for the record, I don’t talk like that."

As you cast your gaze toward your iPad, you sensed her unwavering stare locked onto you. "Bet you want her to smash you."

You slammed your iPad onto the table, shooting her a fierce look. "What the fuck is your problem? Even if I've considered it, it's not your concern. You don't control me, Ellie; we aren't even friends."

Ellie's mouth parted as if to speak, but she quickly closed it, shaking her head and avoiding your gaze. The silence lingered, and frustration bubbled within you as you started to gather your things. Suddenly, a tattooed hand shot across the table, halting your actions, and a rich, earthy aroma enveloped you from her proximity.

"Please don't go, I'm sorry." You gazed at her hand, weighing your options, as a wave of feelings surged within you, threatening to spill over. A single tear rolled down your face, only to be tenderly wiped away by her soft touch.

The hockey player pulled her hand back, creating distance between you, her fragrance still hanging in the air. "Fuck, Y/N, I'm really trying my best here. I'm sorry."

You were baffled; how could she be so fiery one moment and so distant the next? Her contradictory behavior left you dizzy. "Why don’t you like me?" The words slipped out before you could catch them.

"Huh?" Ellie either feigned ignorance or simply didn’t hear you, so you asked again, raising your voice and locking your gaze with hers.

"Why do you hate me?" Ellie fixed her gaze on you, her expression a blank slate, a puzzle waiting to be solved. Your inquiry hung in the air, unanswered, prompting you to elaborate, "Since that day, you've carried this—" you faltered, searching for the right term. "Contempt for me. Even after I said I was sorry and offered to cover your laundry expenses, you still seem to loathe me. Why is that?"

Ellie remained still, her silence deafening, her eyes locked onto yours. You had never witnessed her uncertainty before; she was always the embodiment of self-assurance. With a sigh, you resumed gathering your things. "Hold on!" Ellie exclaimed, stepping in front of you, blocking your path and halting your departure.

Tears streamed down your face, pooling at your chin as you stood there, waiting for the hockey player to find the words to explain herself. "I...I don't hate you, Y/N." 

You let out a bitter laugh, "You had me fooled."

Ellie threw her hand up to stop you from speaking anymore. "Y/N, I’m not trying to justify how I treated you. It was fucked up, and I fully acknowledge that. But I need you to understand that I don’t hate you. Not at all." The last part of her sentence barely escaped her lips, a whisper that you strained to catch.

"What?"

You tried to pry it from her but she shook her head. "Nothing, just know I don't hate you. Look, I have a captains' meeting at 9, and I completely get it if you choose not to help me. However, if you could stick around, I would appreciate it."

You chewed on your lip, contemplating your choices. Being around Ellie often drained you mentally, yet the comforting glow in your heart when she showed you kindness was utterly addicting. "Alright, I’ll stick around, but only if you agree to one thing."

Ellie nodded her head, "Anything."

"Before you decide you dislike me, I hope you'll take the time to understand who I really am. I wanna learn about you as well. These tutoring sessions can carry on for the entire semester if that’s what you need, but it all starts with getting to know each other first."

Ellie nodded her head in agreement, a playful smirk dancing on her lips. "Next time, just go ahead and ask me out." 

With a playful smack on her arm, you strolled back to your chair. "Sure, Williams, keep dreaming." You observed her settle into her seat once more, the neglected textbook on isomerism still splayed open before her. The irony struck you; isomerism perfectly mirrored your dynamic with Ellie. Both of you were stuck together in this tutoring arrangement, yet your methods and attitudes couldn't be more different. 

Ellie caught your laugh, raising an eyebrow in curiosity, but you brushed it off. "Do you need help with isomerism, or did you just randomly land on that part?"

The hockey player looked visibly flustered as she lifted her shoulders in a helpless gesture, saying, "I really have no idea; it just doesn't make sense to me." 

Smiling at her you nodded your head in understanding, "Trust me it took me a bit to understand it too. Let me put it this way: isomerism occurs when molecules share the same chemical formula but are structured in distinct ways. These variations can result in different properties or reactions. Does that clarify things, or would you like me to provide an example?" 

 Ellie tilted her head slightly, "I think an example would be really helpful."

With a playful laugh, you remarked, "I hope you won't take this the wrong way, but let me share my viewpoint. Remember how we first crossed paths? We were both in organic chemistry, yet our responses to that moment were worlds apart. I instinctively apologized when I bumped into you, while you, on the other hand, sent my coffee flying, creating a mess all over my sweater."

This memory once weighed heavily on your mind, but as you grew closer to her, the anger from your past began to fade. Ellie let out an exasperated sigh at your comment, saying, "I get it now—I'm the asshole, and you're the sweetheart."

You stuttered at her compliment, your heart thudding in your chest, "W-well, I suppose that's one way to put it." A palpable energy filled the atmosphere, a kind of tension that, for a change, was not steeped in anger or animosity, but instead...perhaps attraction? 

Your gaze locked with those striking green eyes, and for a moment, time seemed to stand still. A wave of unease washed over you, deepening your apprehension about the possibility of becoming too emotionally invested. In that instant, it was as if every corny romantic comedy you and Dina used to sip wine and laugh about came to life. You were beyond fucked.

Ellie cleared her throat, redirecting her focus to the textbook in front of her, silently encouraging both of you to keep the session on track for studying rather than veering into flirtation. "As much as I love flirting with pretty girls, I only have a few minutes left until my meeting."

Nodding your head, doing your best to avoid her admittance to flirting, you turned back to the task at hand. The session carried on, both of you maintaining a facade of normalcy, as if there wasn't some kind of shift. You shared examples and tailored your explanations to ensure Ellie grasped the concepts completely, drawing on your limited knowledge of hockey as references.

As you were using a power play to explain reactions, Ellie let out a chuckle, interrupting you mid-sentence. "I'm sorry to cut you off, cutie, but that's not quite how a power play works. Just because a team is on a power play doesn’t guarantee a goal."

With your arms crossed defiantly, you replied, "Whatever, you know what I meant."

Ellie shook her head, her smile unwavering. "Looks like I get to give you a crash course in hockey. How about you come to our game on Thursday night? I bet Dina would be thrilled to see you cheering from the stands."

You mulled it over, pretending to be upset with her for interrupting, while in truth, you were preoccupied with the way she had used the term "cutie." You hoped that the flush creeping up your cheeks would be misinterpreted as irritation. A mischievous idea flickered in your mind, and a sly smile curled at the corners of your mouth. "I’ll accept that offer; it finally gives me a chance to see Abby play. Maybe she'll score."

Fury ignited in Ellie's eyes, her demeanor shifting dramatically as she stood up from her chair. With a quick, purposeful stride, she circled the table, leaning in to meet your gaze, her arms forming a protective cage that held you firmly in place. As she drew near, her breath tickled your ear as she murmured, "I’m the one you should focus on; I can outscore Abby any time." The intensity of her words sent a shiver down your spine, making you fidget in your seat. 

Ellie leaned back slightly, her gaze locked onto yours as she awaited your reply, a playful smile dancing on her lips at your evident unease. "I suppose we'll find out," you declared, a sudden surge of confidence surprising even yourself. 

 Her lips curled into a teasing smirk as she looked down at you, her eyes flickering to your mouth for a fleeting moment before returning to meet your gaze. "I guess we will." 

As she glanced at her watch, her smile faded, and she turned away from you, retreating to her seat to gather her belongings. You pulled out your phone to check the time, realizing the reason for her abrupt departure, a wave of sadness washing over you as the playful banter came to an unexpected halt. 

With a playful toss of her backpack onto her shoulder, she shot you another cheeky grin. "Catch you in class, cutie." A warm flush crept back to your cheeks as you nodded, caught off guard by the term of endearment. Yeah, you were fucked. 

[toomanygoldfish]

Kuroo cat person!

You were writing a College language paper and it was kicking your butt. You had missed class scheduling period, so you were stuck with some of the most difficult professors on campus.  

Specifically this one professor had decided that you must be plagiarizing, but couldn’t find any evidence. All and all, the work he was having you do dragged late into the night. 

And on one particular night, you had a buddy. He was a small calico who had no thoughts in his head. You and Kuroo had picked him up off the streets. For some reason the cat had decided that you were the favorite person. 

“Kuroo! Come get your cat! Hese being an asshole!” You lightly try to tap the cat away from your laptop. When that doesn’t work, you blow in his face.

You hear footsteps coming down the stairs as the cat goes back to asking for attention. You turn around to face your boyfriend. “Take him, I need to get a paper done.” 

You were tired and really wanted to get this paper finished so you could sleep. Kuroo’s arms snake past you as he reaches for the cat. 

He picks the cat up gently and turns towards you. His face is twisted into a sarcastic pout. “i'm insulted that you think my cat could be anything less than perfect!” 

You roll your eyes with a smile on your face; “He is a perfect little bean, he is just sitting on my laptop and I need to get work done”

Kuroo smiles and looks at his cat. “Its his favorite napping place!”

You huff out a laugh “Your impossible”

You open your laptop and begin to write out your essay. Your boyfriend says in the room going to sit on a nearby chair. 

After about an half an hour of quiet, you hear his voice from your left. “…Do you want to hear a potassium joke?”

You swivel you chair to face him, he got this goofy little heron on his face. “Sure?”

He looks up at you and stares you straight in the eyes and says “K.”

You sit in silence for a second, then your eyes widen finally getting the joke. A cough escapes you throat as you try not to laugh.  “W-what?”

“You got it, i know you did” he looks smug.

You pause for a second to regain your composure before looking into his eyes and replying “I dont remember that element, but its on the tip of my tungsten.”

His eyes brighten with joy, “[Name], i love you so much” you smile back at him about to respond before-

Meow!

You glance down at the cat, who is now pawing at your boyfriend chest, trying to get attention. “It seems that your cat loves you too.”

Kuroo’s eyes narrow as he realizes that you have not once referred to the cat by his name, “Say the cat's name babe, you know it.”

He places the cat in your lap. You look at the cat and heave a sigh. “…hello… Erwin” the cat looks up at you curiously before reaching up…

… and batting you right in the face. 

You jump up, startling the Erwin as Kuroo laughs. “OW” Kuroo keeps laughing for a solid minute before a single sentence makes its way out of his mouth; “I guess he really is just an … Arsole”

[ruinparadox]

Probably already done before, but Husk buying Reader jewelry as an Overlord versus when he's at the hotel. (Totally not inspired by something I bought off Etsy.)

Overlord Husk obviously has access to a veritable mountain of money, and his choice in jewelry reflects his vast amount of wealth. Sticking to his card theme, his first choice is a lavish gold chain with a huge heart shaped gem. You can't tell if its either Garnet or Ruby, but it hardly matters when it has what feels like a solid gold chain with black gemstones. It sits heavy around your neck, but to have something that Husk picked out for you is more than enough to convince you not to take it off. And of course, he denies any sort of deeper reason for buying it when you ask him about it.

"Just somethin' to keep ya happy." He says. You know there's something deeper there, but you don't tease him about it.

Then several decades later, after he ups and disappears one night, the casino going to ruin and all the workers leaving the building to be occupied by some other rando whose name you don't care to remember, you have to leave and find another place to live, thus landing you at the hotel for its free rent and improbable redemption. Its a huge surprise when he sees you walk through those doors, the first time he's seen you in what feels like half a century. His first thought is if you remember him or not. You obviously do and are shocked to find him still alive and kicking, assuming he'd wound up dead at some point, but you're just happy to be around him again. He wants to apologize for up and disappearing, but he notices the necklace he gave you is now missing. He asks what happened to it and you reluctantly tell him that you had to sell it for food and rent money. You had to sell a lot of things to get by before you finally relented and chose to sign up for the hotel.

He gives you a look of what feels like melancholy but doesn't say anything further on the matter. At least not until a few days later when he shows up at your room door and gives you a small chain with an even smaller red heart bead as the charm. The bead is obviously plastic, or possibly a cheaply made synthetic gemstone, and the metal is durable, but very low quality black metal. Probably tungsten or something like that. Husk apologizes, its all he could afford, but you chuckle and give him a peck on the cheek, earning yourself a small "mrrp" with his fur bushing up. Even if its not the most expensive jewelry, you're happy he bought you something. Even if its not solid gold and surrounded by a gaudy casino, it brings you joy to have a connection to Husk again after all these years. His fur flattens, his body visibly relaxing. He chuckles and gives you a tired old smile. "S'wonderful to see ya again, kid."

And its not long until, later, he finds out that you kept the nipple piercings he bought you that one time. Seeing those shining gemstones shaped after each of the four card suits resting against your perky nubs, he can't help but be turned on and treat you right that night.

[luna-wing-cns274]

@ocram-station-admin-and-records

< Alright, let’s fuck around with Ocramite. >

[ Video feed from the surface of a barren, lifeless moon. Above, set against the black of space, is the disk of a nearby planet. Visual conditions are too poor to make out any of the planet’s surface features; only a narrow crescent of the world is illuminated.

An open field of gray regolith extends to the horizon, illuminated by harsh sunlight. Solid boulders are scattered among the dust, ejecta from meteorite impacts. One of them stands in the distance, centered in frame. It’s difficult to judge the scale of the object by visuals alone, but HUD elements have been added to provide information. ]

TARGET RANGE: 40.6M

COMPOSITION: BASALT ROCK

APPROX. MASS: 27.3 TONNES

[ A combat subaltern moves into view, facing away from the camera. It makes long strides through the low-gravity environment, and clouds of dust billow up around its feet with each step. In one hand, it holds an anti-materiel railgun, slung at its side by a strap over its shoulders.

With slow, deliberate motions, it falls into a low stance and slides to a halt. Raising the railgun to its shoulder, it sights the boulder in the distance. As it looks through the scope, the subaltern reaches up to make a small adjustment before lowering the weapon and turning to look at the camera. Rather than any humanlike features, the subaltern’s face has eight optical sensors arranged in double rows, protected by plates of sloped armor. ]

< Yo. It’s Garm, if you can’t tell. >

The subaltern reaches to a pouch at its belt and extracts an object which fits neatly in its palm, holding it up. As if on queue, the camera zooms in to view the object in detail: a small, precisely-machined dart of black material, encased in a squarish metallic shell.

< Alright, so, this is what I’m here to fuck around with. If you’ve never seen a railgun round, quick crash course. That little dart in there is the actual bullet, and the casing around it is called an armature, sometimes a sabot. Whole thing gets loaded into the gun. When current runs through one rail, it travels into the armature, through it, and into the other rail. That makes the armature accelerate real quick. When it leaves the barrel, the armature discards, and the round itself goes out to hit the target. Simple.

Now, usually, this dart would be made of tungsten or depleted uranium. This one is special. It’s made of Ocramite, which means it’ll soak up electrical current and radiate it all away as heat with perfect efficiency, which is flat-out insane. So, if I loaded this thing up into a normal armature and let ‘er rip, the Ocramite would just turn all that electricity into heat. Bullet goes nowhere, gun melts in my subaltern’s hands.

That’s why we aren’t going to use a normal armature. Took a sec to figure out how to get it to work, but this one should make it so the Ocramite itself only gets a little bit of the current, and only when it’s near the end of the barrel. Just enough to get it spitting out enough heat to really do some damage when it hits our target rock over there.

Since the Ocramite is going to drink up some of our current, we’re going to fire this thing at higher power than normal to make up for the difference. We don’t want the Ocramite sticking around in the barrel for a nanosecond longer than it has to, so we need that extra current.

If I took everything into account and did my math right, this should work. >

[ Garmr’s subaltern turns, raises the railgun, and loads it in the same motion. It kneels, preparing for low-G recoil, and brings the scope up to one of its optical sensors. Tiny flickers of motion can be seen across the synthetic muscles of its arms and torso as it corrects its aim—then, it stands perfectly still.

A change in the quality of the footage—the fighter’s camera begins gathering thousands upon thousands of frames per second, preparing for post-test analysis. ]

< Let’s see if I’m any good at R&D. Charge ready, and…firing. >

[ The surface of the moon is in vacuum, so there’s no sound when the gun explodes.

A flash of orange and blue flares up in the center of the screen. Sparks of molten metal bloom away from the railgun’s barrel, and the entire forward half of the weapon is blasted apart.

Hurled to one side, away from the blast, Garmr’s subaltern scrambles to catch itself as a cloud of shrapnel pelts its armor plating. Pieces of debris spin away into space: the gun’s external components, bits of metal casing, and the remnants of the subaltern’s right forearm, sheared off when the conductive rails came apart.

The subaltern stumbles to its feet. All around it, plumes of fine regolith are rising into space, kicked up by the wave of shrapnel. Still clutching the remnants of a grip and rifle stock in one hand, the subaltern glances down, examining the damage to itself. It inspects the stump of its right arm; black, glistening threads of frayed synthetic muscle dangle from the severed elbow joint. ]

< …ow. Goddammit. >

[ For a long while, the subaltern stands motionless. Garmr growls. ]

< Okay, I fucked something up. Let’s go see if it did anything, at least. >

[ Dropping its destroyed railgun, Garmr’s subaltern begins loping along towards the target boulder. The video feed shifts to the subaltern’s own optics, a composite image generated from its optical sensors. At the far right-hand side of the image, sections of footage are discolored, stuttering and skipping every so often.

HUD elements flash onscreen: MALFUNCTION DETECTED - OPTICS 6, 8. ]

< Yeah. I know. >

[ Coming closer to the boulder, Garmr pushes his subaltern to move faster. Something catches his attention. ]

< Wait, wait…yo, hold on. >

[ Carved into one face of the boulder is a small crater. In its center, a hole has been neatly punched in the rock. As Garmr adjusts his subaltern’s optics to look into the hole, the interior can be seen glowing dull red with residual heat.

And on the other end of the hole, sunlight. ]

< Y’ALL, IT WORKED >

[forgetfulmachineart]

[ID: A digital drawing of a Jujutsu Kaisen OC. On the left is a full body of him. He stands straight with his left arm out to magically spin a small silver ball around his hand. His other arm is behind his back. He's wearing a cropped halter top and dark blue jacket tied around his waist. On the right is a close of of his hand to show that he has hand tattoos. The bases of his fingers have solid black rings around them. The back of his hand has a solid black circle that has a circle around it that's intercepted with a small black circle. On the bottom right is a bust of the character smiling. His hair is a layer wolf or jellyfish cut and frames his face in soft curves. His has two moles in a vertical line under his right eye. At the top right is text: "CT: Radius. Is able to rotate things around his body at varying speeds depending on volume and mass. Possible DE: A carousel. Keeps tungsten spheres on his belt to use as weapons." /End ID

Finals are coming up so naturally I made a JJK self insert oc instead of studying :') He's the same year as Nanami and Haibara but went to the other school. Overall a friendly guy but doesn't really know what's going on. He became a sorcerer because he didn't know what else to do and as an adult is now more focused on perfecting his technique and trying to unlock his Domain Expansion. This kind of resulted in him throwing himself into whatever missions he doesn't think he'll die in to push his CT further and further

[bishop-percival]

@stuckinuniformdevelopment

(prev) When they started fighting Teddy rolled his eye and sidestepped to avoid getting tangled up in it. How annoying. Weren’t they older than him? At least their squabble fizzled out before he had to tell them to either stop acting like rambunctious brats around extremely valuable equipment or leave. Teddy briefly watched… whatever Revenard Miriam was doing until Revenard Mike addressed him. There was a twinkle in his eye as he handed a print out of his research to him. The front page was an abstract summarizing his results while the rest was a rough draft of detailed technical jargon describing his testing process, along with spreadsheets and graphs showing raw data. “I suspect that the blade itself is a tantalum hafnium alloy while the hilt is largely titanium diboride. The later is incredibly difficult to refine and manufacture so I’m impressed that they managed to form a relatively large amount into a solid object. And with such artistic flair at that.” “Unfortunately that means that if the sword is permanently ruined the hilt’s material can’t be repurposed. Or at least not with our current technology. Have we not rediscovered the process because it requires magic? Really, I’d love to see how advanced the Ormir civilization was before its collapse.” “It’ll require further analysis to find the exact composition of the tantalum hafnium alloy. So far tungsten and cobalt are my best guesses for the other elements. Speaking of, both materials exhibit unusual lattice structures. Or, more precisely, they’re roughly what you’d expect until you notice that there’s an abnormally low amount of defects.”

Mike accepted the print out and scanned through it while Teddy talked. Of course Mike didn’t understand much of the technical aspects of Teddy’s report, but he was actually quite interested in hearing what he had to say. He couldn’t deny he was impressed with his knowledge. 

The moment Teddy mentioned the Ormir civilization, a twinkle appeared in Mike’s own eye. Wanna know more about fallen ancient civilizations? Simply utter the name to Mike. It did make him stop paying attention to Teddy’s last blurb about lattice-whatevers, but he still waited patiently until he was done explaining before he started in on his own lecture. 

“You’re quite right in your assumption of the use of magic in the Ormir civilization’s technology. It was in fact one of the largest civilizations to have perfected a unique application of the magical arts and the sciences. Something like that is very rare, even in the modern day.”

“The source of their technology was, as the name of this sword suggests, what was referred to as Dragon’s Breath. You see, the Ormirons deeply worshiped Ormir, an ancient deity who took the physical form of a dragon. Ormir provided protection and his divine fire to the civilization. The divine properties of the fire were extensively studied and harnessed to be able to utilize the hard natural resources of the planet that normal heat didn't have much of an effect on. Unfortunately, an-”

Mike was interrupted when he heard the sound of metal scraping against a surface. He turned around to see Miriam had picked up the sword. Despite being twice her size, she seemingly held it effortlessly. 

She looked at Teddy. “Theodore. If I were to try and reignite this, is there anywhere I should go so as to not accidentally burn anything important in here?”

[lilliths-story-studio]

I follow Drew to the edge of the carnival grounds because what the hell does he mean we’re staying? I don’t stomp, because I’m not a child, but I can’t deny that every bone in my body wants to demand a straight answer.

The very tree line that Jose had promised to send me sprinting towards sprawls wide right before me, darkness swallowing anything I could hope to see past the first couple lines of rich, brown bark. My boss checks to ensure I haven’t fucked off back to the bunks and maintains eye contact as he plants his palms firmly against air.

“It’s impressive mime work.” Seriously?

The look I’m treated to could melt tungsten, then he uses the leverage to push his feet back, sliding. My pulse stutters, an involuntary laugh skipping up my throat.

“You’ve been practicing.“ I clear my throat.

“Check the palms, then, Tasha.”

I do, because this is a neat trick, but it doesn’t explain why my ex-girlfriend has convinced the man to trap us here to help with her fucking problem. His palms are the same shade of white mine had been earlier in the day, when I’d been using the rope to distract myself from Cassy’s presence.

“How are you doing that?”

In the next three steps his face has come level with his palm and his nose is smashed flat in line with those hands, like leaning into a window pane.

“Do you remember Grand Junction now?”

I don’t know about the damn town he won’t leave alone, but the ringing in my ears is back.

“What’s going on, Drew.”

“Your ex.”

What?

I feel my jaw work, my brow furrow, but my eyes are still looking at his damningly flattened nose.

“Don’t you think it’s odd she didn’t bother you the last two years we’ve come through?” He uses the invisible wall to push himself back upright. Past his shoulder several yards, I watch Jax and the trio finally stumble together out of the party tent and towards the bunkhouse. “But suddenly she needs you, specifically, for help.”

“I think you confuse me with someone who cares.” The reply is automatic.

“Are you fucking kidding me right now?” Oh…oh he’s getting mad mad.

Shit.

“But I can come and go fine.”

Why can’t he? This trick can’t be real. But how do you smash your nose to your face against nothing but air? I wave my hand through what had been a solid barrier for him.

“That’s because she didn’t bind you.”

The ringing’s giving me a migraine and my stomach has begun lodging its resulting complaints in the form of a sour swirling.

“What do you mean bind?“ I shake my head.

“I mean what I just showed you Tasha. I mean unless you go the fuck home with her, I don’t get to leave.”

“Why-“

“Because you wouldn’t talk to her and I HAD to! Because that fucking witch threatened my carnival and I still tried to say no!” It’s the first time I’ve ever heard him yell at me - well, second. But I was hearing colors the last time this happened. “Tasha! What the fuck hap-“

“I told you I don’t remember!”

“Three years?? I knew you had a goddamn problem, but you don’t remember three fucking years?”

“There was nothing worth remembering!”

“How fucking convenient for you.”

Silence falls between us. I can’t catch my breath and the threat of tears is clawing its way steadily up my chest, lips twitching in directions I’ll be damned if I let them finish. But damned I may be, because my fight is a loosing one.

I look into the woods. Can I just disappear in there?

“Tasha...” The fight has drained from his voice, but I can’t look at him.

He’s seen me pathetic enough. It seems like all he’s ever seen.

Needles prickle along my skin and the water I’ve been fighting to keep in my body leaks from the corners of my eyes. I swallow the lump in my throat, then again when it aches but refuses to sink back into oblivion.

“Fine.” I don’t want to see her.

“What do you mean, fine?”

Fuck, I don’t want to see her.

“I mean I’ve been a piece of shit, but I’m not gonna make you pick up my bill.” I’m not her. “Where is she?”

Next Post

Prompt #1169

"I think you confuse me with someone who cares."

[adorewelding]

Types of Welding Machines: Choosing the Right One for Your Business

Welding is the backbone of many industries, including construction, automotive, shipbuilding, and heavy manufacturing. Yet selecting the correct welding machine may be overwhelming with so many types of welding machines to choose from.

Here is a breakdown of the most popular types of welding machines, their uses, and how to choose the right one for your industrial requirements.

What is Welding?

Welding is the process of joining materials, mostly metals or thermoplastics, by melting them together to form a strong, permanent bond. A filler material is often added to reinforce the joint, and once cooled, the weld is usually as strong as (or stronger than) the original parts.

Welding is a go-to method across industries because it creates tough, long-lasting connections. In automotive repair, welding helps restore vehicle frames and body panels after accidents. Welding is critical in constructing solid frames in buildings and bridges. Even in aviation and space exploration, welding is crucial to make aircraft and spacecraft strong and lightweight.

Common Types of Welding Machines

Different kinds of welding machines are engineered for distinct applications, each offering its own set of advantages:

1. MIG Welding Machine (Gas Metal Arc Welding — GMAW)

Best for: High-speed production, automotive, fabrication shops.

How it works: Employing a continuously fed wire electrode and shielding gas to fuse metals together.

Advantages:

Quick, efficient, and simple to master.

Suits welding mild steel, stainless steel, and aluminum best.

Clean welds with minimal spatter are created.

Considerations: Not best suited for outdoor use as it is sensitive to shielding gas.

2. TIG Welding Machine (Gas Tungsten Arc Welding — GTAW)

Best for: Thin or non-ferrous metal precision welding.

How it works: Employed with a non-consumable tungsten electrode and inert gas (argon or helium) to form high-standard welds.

Advantages:

Forms clean, accurate, and beautiful welds.

Perfect for aluminum, copper, magnesium, and stainless steel.

Provides better control of the welding process.

Considerations: Slower process with a greater learning curve.

3. Stick Welding Machine (Shielded Metal Arc Welding — SMAW)

Best for: Heavy-duty and outdoor uses such as construction and pipeline welding.

How it works: A consumable electrode with a flux coating is applied to deposit the weld.

Advantages:

Easy and inexpensive.

Works in windy or dirty conditions.

Ideal for heavy materials and structural steel.

Considerations: Leaves more spatter and needs slag removal.

4. Flux-Cored Arc Welding Machine (FCAW)

Best for: Heavy fabrication, shipbuilding, and outdoor welding.

How it works: Similar to MIG welding but employs a tubular flux-filled wire; it can be employed with or without shielding gas.

Advantages:

High penetration and deposition rates.

Efficient in outdoor conditions.

Ideal for thick materials.

Considerations: More smoke is produced and requires the removal of slag.

5. Submerged Arc Welding Machine (SAW)

Best for: Long, straight welds with heavy steel fabrication.

How it works: An arc is created under a cover of granular flux, shielding the weld from atmospheric contamination.

Advantages:

Deep weld penetration and high deposition rates.

Low arc visibility and fewer fumes.

Ideal for thick materials.

Considerations: Only for flat or horizontal positions; not portable.

6. Multi-Process Welding Machines

Best for: Workshops that need versatility across multiple welding applications.

How it works: Merges several welding processes (MIG, TIG, Stick) into one machine.

Advantages:

Space-efficient and versatile.

Economical for stores working on varied projects.

Best suited for small and medium-sized companies.

Considerations: May fall short of performance by dedicated machines for specific applications.

How to Choose the Right Welding Machine

Choosing the right welding machine is based on several factors, and they are:

1. Material Type and Thickness

Carbon Steel: Suitable for the majority of welding operations; tolerant to heat.

Stainless Steel: Ideally welded with TIG or MIG machines.

Aluminum: Needs careful temperature control; TIG or MIG using a spool gun is ideal.

2. Welding Environment

Indoor: MIG and TIG machines are best in controlled environments.

Outdoor: Stick and flux-cored welding are preferred owing to wind resistance.

3. Power Supply

Single-Phase: Ideal for light to medium-duty welding applications.

Three-Phase: Ideal for heavy-duty industrial welding.

4. Transportability

Stationary Machines: Provide higher power but are not movable.

Portable Units: These are mandatory for on-site work and repairs.

5. Skill Level

Beginners: MIG and Stick welding are less demanding and more forgiving.

Experienced Welders: TIG welding is more controllable for detail work.

Final Thoughts

Choosing the correct type of welding machine is important if you want to be efficient, safe, and produce high-quality work. Understanding the different types of welding machines and their capabilities will help you identify your specific requirements, thus helping you make the right choice.

For high-quality welding solutions tailored to industrial applications, explore Ador Welding’s range of equipment at adorwelding.com.

FAQs

1] What are the types of welding machines?

Typical examples are MIG, TIG, Stick (Arc), Flux-Cored, Submerged Arc, and Multi-Process welding machines.

2] How do I choose a good welding machine?

Take into account the materials to be welded, the environment in which you will weld, the power supply, portability requirements, and your experience level.

3] Can one welding machine be used for all types of welding jobs?

Multi-process welding machines provide flexibility for many functions, but for specific purposes, specialized machines are superior.

4] What factors should I consider before buying a welding machine?

Some of the most important factors are the material type and thickness, working environment, power supply, transportability, and skill levels.

[1cutfab]

Sheet Metal Welding: 5 Available Methods and 10 Important Tips

When you watch someone weld sheet metal, it looks like a show full of flying sparks and glowing metal. Under that flash, though, lies a mix of science, skill, and a dollop of patience. Whether you're fixing a rusty vent cover or crafting a one-off table, picking the right weld style saves time and keeps the joint strong.

In the pages ahead, we'll explain five go-to weld methods for thin metal and drop ten quick tips. With these tricks, your seams stay neat, your parts fit as planned, and you finish the job proud instead of frustrated.

Why Welding Matters in Sheet Metal Fabrication

Sheet-metal fabrication is all about cutting, bending, and locking thin sheets into items like signs, boxes, or small covers. Welding seals those parts together, giving them strength and a tidy look. Yet that metal is so thin that too much heat can turn it into a taco or burn a hole you cant fix. Knowing how each weld style acts lets you control the heat and avoid costly mistakes.

MIG Welding (Gas Metal Arc Welding)

MIG welding sends solid wire through a gun while a cloud of shielding gas keeps air away. Shops love it because the speed is great and the skill curve is gentle, even for beginners.

MIG welding shines most when youre working with medium or heavy sheet metal. Because the basics arent hard to pick up, many newbies jump in with this method. It lays down solid beads on steel and handles aluminum almost as easily.

So, why go MIG?

Its usually the fastest option on the shop floor.

Getting the machine ready is quick and simple.

When you set the dial right, the welds come out smooth and clean.

Just remember that with very thin metal, you still have to watch for that pesky burn-through.

TIG Welding (Gas Tungsten Arc Welding)

TIG is a little fussier, because it runs off a tungsten rod and feeds in a separate filler wire. The welder has to keep an eye on the heat and push the filler by hand, so it takes time to feel comfortable-honestly, the welds can turn out show-quality.

Its the go-to process for thin stuff, especially where people will see the seams, like door frames or inner panels. Sectors that care about spotless beads-food plants, art shops, and high-end builds-lean on TIG.

So, why pick TIG?

You get rock-solid heat control from start to finish.

Aluminum and stainless steel both love this process.

Its the champ for thin, decorative, or even sculptural parts.

Fair warning: Because it travels slower, TIG wont keep pace with MIG when production speed is the main goal.

Stick Welding (Shielded Metal Arc Welding)

Stick welding is no-nonsense and hard to break. People use it outside, on shaky jobs, and in rain, snow, or dust. It needs neither gas bottles nor spotless metal, so grime or light rust is not a deal breaker.

But that same heat makes it risky on thin sheet metal- you can burn through fast and spray spatter everywhere.

Why use stick welding?

Works in wind, mud, and bad lighting

No gas lines or regulators

Gear costs little and fits in a truck

Keep in mind: its not for delicate metal and you’ll scrub off more slag.

Spot Welding (Resistance Spot Welding)

Spot welding seems fancy, yet its roots run deep. It shines when two thin sheets overlap and need a quick bond. The operator presses electrodes onto the joint and a short electric blast melts a tiny nugget that cools almost at once.

That speed is why manufacturers use it by the thousands when building cars, microwaves, or any part that stacks layers of metal.

Why use spot welding?

Blazing fast on mass runs

No rods, wire, or filler

Perfect for lap joints

Watch out: both sides must stay clear, and some shapes simply wont fit.

Laser welding uses a narrow, powerful light beam to fuse metal parts. Because the heat zone stays tiny, the welds come out smooth and the surrounding metal barely bends.

People rely on it for electronics, surgical tools, and any job where small, tidy joints count. You wont find it in most garages yet, but sheet-metal fabrication pros are slowly adopting it.

Why bother with laser welding?

Crystals developed by close-tolerance optics

Tiny heat zone means less twist

Safe on fragile parts

On the downside, the gear costs a fortune and usually lives in clean, air-conditioned labs.

10 Tips for Better Welding in Sheet-Metal Work

Whatever process you pick, these quick reminders can lift your game.

Clean Your Metal: Dust, oil, or rust hides defects and ruins the bead. A fast wipe pays off.

Choose the Right Method: Match the process to the metal type and thickness. Thin stuff calls for gentle heat.

Practice on Scrap: Burn a few beads on throw-aways before you touch the final piece.

Wear Safety Gear: Gloves, a good helmet, and long sleeves stop burns and shield your eyes. Sparks and UV light dont play nice.

Control Heat: Too much heat can twist sheet metal. Keep runs short, use fans, or select a pulse option.

Clamp the Pieces: Hold your metal parts steady and lined up so the seams stay even.

Use the Right Rod or Wire: Pick filler that matches the base metal, or you invite porosity.

Ventilate the Area: Work where fresh air blows in, so toxic fumes dont settle in your lungs.

Inspect the Welds: Look over each bead for gaps, cracks, spatter, or anything that shouts weak.

Keep Learning: Skill builds slowly. Watch clips, join a class, then repeat the weld until it shines.

Final Thoughts

Welding sits at the heart of sheet-metal work. Which process you use depends on the job, the stock, and how much practice you have. MIG and TIG deliver neat, user-friendly joints on most common sheets. Stick handles thicker metal or rough sites with reliable speed. Spot and laser welding lock in super-fast, exact seams for bulk orders or tight tolerances.

Best of all, you dont have to learn every technique today. Pick the one that suits your project and drill it until muscle memory kicks in. With steady practice, a curious mind, and a little patience, your metal joints will tighten up with every new piece.

[alpharing]

Zirconium Wedding Bands: The Bold, Black Ring Built for Real Life

Not every groom wants the traditional yellow gold band that’s been passed down for generations. If you’re looking for something that speaks to strength, style, and individuality, it might be time to consider a zirconium wedding band.

At Alpha Rings, we believe your ring should reflect who you are—not just what the tradition expects. That’s where zirconium steps in: bold, black, and built for modern life.

What Is Zirconium, Really?

Zirconium is a real metal—used in high-performance industries like nuclear power and aerospace. It's not to be confused with cubic zirconia, which is a synthetic gemstone. Zirconium’s strength, lightness, and corrosion resistance make it ideal for jewelry—especially for wedding bands that need to endure.

Once heated, zirconium undergoes a transformation: its surface oxidizes and turns into a permanent, deep black finish. No coatings. No paint. Just pure, chemically altered metal—sleek and solid to the core.

Why Choose a Zirconium Wedding Band?

Here’s why modern grooms are ditching soft metals and opting for zirconium rings:

Unique Black Look – Not silver. Not gold. Just bold, deep black.

Strong & Lightweight – Comfortable for everyday wear.

Hypoallergenic – Safe for sensitive skin.

Corrosion-Resistant – Sweat, soap, and water? No problem.

Low Maintenance – Just wipe and go. It holds up without babying.

Plus, when you buy a zirconium ring, you're choosing a material that’s symbolic—transformed under pressure, just like a great relationship.

Top Zirconium Rings from Alpha Rings

Our zirconium collection is built with intention. Here are two standouts that define what it means to wear something meaningful:

The Guardian

A matte black band with a subtle red stripe—symbolizing passion, leadership, and quiet fire. At 8mm wide with a comfort fit, it’s perfect for the man who protects what he loves.

The Boss

Polished black zirconium meets raw superconductor. Yes, real superconductor material—used in high-tech engineering. This ring is for the man who’s built his life with discipline and purpose.

Is It Right for You?

Zirconium is for guys who don’t need flash to be seen. If you appreciate clean design, value practicality, and want something that matches your lifestyle—zirconium nails the brief.

It’s also a great fit if you’ve looked at tungsten or titanium but want something with a little more mystery and depth.

Strong. Sleek. Understated. Just like you.

Caring for Your Zirconium Ring

Maintaining your ring is simple:

Wipe with a soft cloth to remove smudges.

Wash with mild soap and water as needed.

Avoid harsh chemicals or abrasive surfaces.

While zirconium is scratch-resistant, it’s not scratch-proof. But minor marks over time? Just proof you’ve lived.

[pepminn]

The Only Guide You Need to Nail Down the Right Wedding Ring for Men

Let’s get real—wedding rings for men aren't just a box to check off. They’re a daily reminder of your commitment, your style, and frankly, your taste. But most guys don’t want to wade through cheesy sales pitches or 50 tabs of ring jargon. You want clarity, confidence, and a ring that doesn’t feel like an afterthought.

Whether you're getting married or upgrading from a ring you never liked, here's everything you need to know—fast, sharp, and with zero fluff.

Why Men’s Wedding Rings Matter More Than You Think

A ring isn’t just metal. It’s the one piece of jewelry most men wear every day. That means it needs to match your personality, stand up to real life, and still look sharp 10 years down the road.

Think of it like your favorite pair of boots—form meets function. The right wedding rings for men combine durability, design, and comfort. Miss one of those? You’ll feel it every day.

Choose the Metal That Fits Your Lifestyle

Each metal has its own vibe and level of toughness. Here's a quick breakdown:

Tungsten: Ultra-durable, scratch-resistant, and heavy-duty. Great for guys who work with their hands.

Titanium: Lightweight but tough. Ideal for active lifestyles.

Gold (Yellow, White, or Rose): Classic and classy. Softer than others, but easy to resize.

Platinum: Premium feel, heavier, hypoallergenic, and built to last.

Silicone: Perfect for gym-goers or anyone needing a backup ring.

Design Matters—Even if You’re Not a Jewelry Guy

Don’t overthink it. You don’t need diamonds or intricate patterns unless that’s your thing. Stick to what feels authentic:

Matte or brushed finishes for a modern edge

Hammered textures for a rugged, hands-on feel

Black or two-tone bands for a bold statement

Real-life tip: If you're unsure, go try on a few different styles at a store before you commit online. What looks great in a photo might feel totally wrong on your hand.

Sizing Isn’t Optional—It’s Everything

You’ll wear this ring daily, through hot weather, workouts, and everything in between. Make sure it fits right. A snug fit that doesn’t pinch or spin is key.

Bonus tip: Get professionally sized in the afternoon (fingers swell slightly throughout the day).

Final Thought: Make It Count

Your ring isn’t just a piece of jewelry—it’s your story in metal. So invest in one that feels like you. Want a no-pressure place to start? Check out Rogers & Hollands. They’ve got a solid selection of wedding rings for men that won’t waste your time or kill your budget.

Bottom line: Don’t settle. Choose a ring that’s built for your real life—and wear it like you mean it.

[wikicarexpert]

Understanding Paintless Dent Repair: Techniques, Tools, and Career Potential

Paintless Dent Repair, or PDR, is catching on as one of the smartest ways to fix minor car dents—no sanding, no repainting, and no waiting days for repairs. Instead of the traditional, messy methods, PDR works by easing the dented metal back to shape using heat, pressure, and a sharp understanding of material science.

Can Every Dent Be Fixed with PDR?

Not quite. PDR works best when:

The dent isn’t deeper than 5 cm.

The original paint is still intact.

The metal hasn’t become brittle from over-compression.

Basically, if the car’s surface damage is minor but annoying—like a door ding or hail dent—PDR is likely the fastest and cleanest fix.

The Three PDR Techniques Pros Use

Each repair needs the right approach. Here are the three go-to PDR techniques:

Push-to-Paint – From inside the panel, techs push the dent out. It’s perfect when they can get behind the surface.

Glue Pulling – When there’s no rear access, they attach pullers to the surface, heat them, and gently lift the dent.

Rodding – For those weird, deep spots, calibrated rods help nudge the metal back into shape with exact force and angle.

Angles matter—most use between 35° and 65°, and pressure must stay within the 2–15 pound range to avoid more damage.

Tools of the Trade

PDR relies on tools designed for micro-precision:

Tungsten Rods (super tough, ideal for fine-tuned pressure)

Heat Guns (help reshape the metal with less force)

Shadow Lights (15° lighting shows even the tiniest ripple)

Digital Stress Gauges (so you know when to stop pushing)

More advanced shops even use hot box machines—devices that create heat through induction, letting the metal expand and pop out naturally. Great for medium dents and tricky spots.

What Do PDR Machines Cost?

Pricing can vary, but here’s a quick breakdown:

While cheaper tools exist, investing in premium brands (especially U.S./EU models) usually pays off through faster, better-quality repairs and longer tool life.

Career Options for PDR Techs

Once you’re trained, you’ve got choices:

Offer mobile services straight to customers.

Work with dealerships to prep cars for resale.

Team up with insurance companies for accident repairs.

To really stand out, you'll need around 200 hours of guided practice—but it pays off. Experienced techs can make 30–80 million Tomans per month (~$7,145–$18,999 USD), depending on job complexity, location, and reputation.

What Do PDR Services Cost?

PDR pricing in Iran is calculated with this formula:

Service Fee = (A × D) + (B × T) + C

Where:

A is a local cost factor (0.8–1.2),

D is dent size (cm),

B is how tricky it is (1–3),

T is how long it’ll take (hrs),

C is your flat tool fee (usually 200–500K Tomans).

Example: Fixing a small 3 cm dent in Tehran might run around 304,725 Tomans (~$72.56).

Still Wondering? Here Are Some FAQs

Is PDR just for small dents? Yes. If your paint is still good, and the dent isn’t too deep, it’s the ideal fix.

How long does it take? Most dents are fixed in under an hour—way faster than body shops.

Is it cheaper than normal repair? Absolutely. It can cost 70% less than sanding and repainting.

Conclution

PDR is more than a quick fix—it’s a smarter way to care for vehicles. If you’re looking to start a hands-on career or expand your repair shop’s offerings, investing in PDR training—like the programs from Galaxy Turbo—is a solid bet. The demand is only growing, and with the right skills, you can ride the wave.

[brightweld]

What are some common welding methods used?

Welding remains a fundamental process in the metal fabrication industry, serving as a critical technique for joining and repairing metal components. With multiple welding methods available today, understanding their unique functions and applications is essential for industries ranging from construction to aerospace. This article explores the most commonly used welding techniques and emphasizes the importance of investing in high-quality welding equipment in UAE.

1. Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW)

Also known as stick welding, SMAW is one of the most traditional and widely adopted welding techniques. It uses a flux-coated consumable electrode that forms a gas shield to protect the weld area. SMAW is favored for its simplicity and effectiveness in construction, maintenance, and metal repair work.

2. Gas Metal Arc Welding (GMAW/MIG)

MIG welding, or Gas Metal Arc Welding, involves a continuous solid wire electrode and a shielding gas that protects the weld pool from contamination. Known for its high deposition rate and ease of use, MIG welding is ideal for automotive assembly, manufacturing, and structural fabrication.

3. Gas Tungsten Arc Welding (GTAW/TIG)

TIG welding, or GTAW, uses a non-consumable tungsten electrode and inert gas to create clean, high-quality welds. This method is especially suited for precision welding tasks in the aerospace, medical, and nuclear industries due to its superior control and finish.

4. Flux-Cored Arc Welding (FCAW)

FCAW is similar to MIG but uses a tubular electrode filled with flux. It’s known for high deposition rates and deep penetration, making it perfect for heavy-duty applications like shipbuilding, structural fabrication, and pipeline construction.

5. Plasma Arc Welding (PAW)

This method uses ionized gas (plasma) to produce an extremely hot, focused arc. PAW is used for welding thin, high-precision materials, especially in aerospace and electronics manufacturing.

6. Resistance Spot Welding (RSW)

A common technique in automotive production, RSW joins sheet metal using electrical resistance. It’s fast, efficient, and widely used in body panel and frame assembly.

7. Laser Beam Welding (LBW)

LBW employs a concentrated laser to fuse materials, offering pinpoint accuracy and minimal distortion. This method is common in the medical device, electronics, and automotive sectors.

8. Electron Beam Welding (EBW)

EBW uses a focused beam of electrons to generate deep welds with minimal distortion. It's ideal for high-value components in the defense, nuclear, and aerospace industries.

9. Stud Welding (SW)

This method is used to join metal studs or fasteners to base metals and is popular in construction and fabrication. It provides strong and reliable welds in a short time.

Why High-Quality Welding Accessories Matter

The success of any welding operation doesn't rely solely on technique—it also depends heavily on the quality of accessories and safety gear. Partnering with trusted welding accessories suppliers in UAE ensures access to durable products like:

Welding helmets & gloves

Electrodes & wires

Gas regulators

Protective clothing

Ground clamps and torches

These accessories not only enhance safety and efficiency but also contribute to consistent weld quality and reduced downtime. Reliable welding equipment in UAE helps maintain operational integrity across industries.

Conclusion

Selecting the right welding process is crucial for achieving optimal results in metal fabrication. Equally important is investing in dependable welding tools and accessories from reputable welding accessories suppliers in UAE. Whether for construction, manufacturing, or repair work, the combination of the right welding method and top-tier accessories ensures quality, safety, and long-term success.

Read more

[aconsultancyblogs]

How to Choose the Right Tungsten Carbide Burr for Your Project

Carbide burr bits are essential for finishing and shaping in metalworking. Here’s why they matter:

Versatile Applications: Ideal for deburring, shaping, and finishing operations in metal fabrication.

Tool Compatibility: Work well with die grinder burr bits, carbide burr set, and rotary burrs.

Durability: Tungsten carbide burrs last longer than standard steel alternatives.

Material Compatibility: Suitable for hard materials like stainless steel, cast iron, and hardened steel.

Precision Finish: Offer clean, accurate results when used alongside solid carbide drill bits for hardened steel or carbide lathe tools.

[williamsjr]

Top 5 Best 4-Person Tents for 2025: Spacious, Durable & Adventure-Ready

Camping in 2025 is all about blending comfort with rugged reliability, and a great 4-person tent can make or break your outdoor experience. Whether you're planning a family getaway, a group adventure, or a cozy retreat for a couple with extra gear, the right tent needs to be spacious, durable, and ready for whatever nature throws your way. After researching the latest models, testing feedback, and considering real-world performance, here’s a look at five standout 4-person tents for 2025 that deliver on space, durability, and adventure-readiness.

The North Face Wawona 4: A Spacious Haven with Epic Storage

The North Face Wawona 4 is a crowd-pleaser for its roomy interior and massive vestibule that feels like an outdoor living room. With a peak height of 72 inches and a floor area of around 60 square feet, it’s perfect for taller campers or those who want to move around without feeling cramped (best 4-person tents for 2025). The standout feature is the front vestibule, which offers enough space to store gear, muddy boots, or even a couple of camp chairs for a rainy-day hangout. Made with durable, weather-resistant materials, it handles three-season conditions like a champ, from summer storms to windy fall nights. Setup is a breeze thanks to color-coded poles, and the ventilation keeps things airy even with four people inside. It’s not the lightest at just over 16 pounds, but for car camping, it’s a reliable choice that feels like a home away from home.

REI Co-op Base Camp 4: Built for Tough Weather

For those who camp in unpredictable conditions, the REI Co-op Base Camp 4 is a fortress. Its reinforced four-pole structure and robust fabrics make it one of the most weather-resistant options for 2025. With a 75-inch peak height and 60 square feet of floor space, it’s spacious enough for four adults or a family with kids and gear. The dual vestibules provide ample storage, and the tent’s design ensures stability in high winds. Testers love the thoughtful details, like interior pockets for organization and a rainfly that zips up tight against the elements. The downside? You’ll need to buy a separate footprint to protect the floor, and at around 16 pounds, it’s better suited for car camping than backpacking. Still, for durability and comfort, it’s hard to beat.

Marmot Tungsten 4P: Lightweight and User-Friendly

The Marmot Tungsten 4P strikes a sweet spot for campers who want a balance of portability and livability. Weighing just over 8 pounds, it’s light enough for short backpacking trips but still offers a generous 61-inch peak height and 64 square feet of floor space. The pre-bent pole design maximizes interior space, making it feel less claustrophobic than other lightweight tents. Setup is intuitive, with color-coded clips that even beginners can handle. Its durable 68-denier polyester floor and rainfly hold up against rough terrain and wet weather, while the large mesh panels ensure excellent ventilation. This tent is ideal for small groups or couples who want extra room for gear without sacrificing portability.

Kelty Discovery Basecamp 4: Budget-Friendly and Reliable

If you’re looking for value without skimping on quality, the Kelty Discovery Basecamp 4 is a fantastic pick. Priced lower than most competitors, it offers a 59-inch peak height and 53 square feet of floor space, making it cozy but functional for four people. The freestanding dome design is easy to pitch, and the durable polyester construction withstands moderate weather conditions. Dual doors and vestibules add convenience, though the stakes could be sturdier for rocky ground. At just over 7 pounds, it’s a solid choice for beginner campers or those sticking to established campsites. It may not have the premium features of pricier tents, but it’s a dependable option for casual adventures.

NEMO Aurora Highrise 4: Modern Design with Ample Ventilation

The NEMO Aurora Highrise 4 brings a fresh take to 4-person tents with its unique four-pole structure and steep walls, creating a spacious 83-square-foot interior and a 75-inch peak height. The large front door and massive mesh windows offer unbeatable ventilation and stargazing views, while the sturdy white mesh provides privacy. It’s a bit trickier to set up the first time, but once you get the hang of it, the process is quick. Weighing around 15 pounds, it’s best for car camping, but its durable build and weather-ready rainfly make it a great choice for families or groups who prioritize comfort and airflow.

[suhasinikirloskar]

Drilling Hardened Materials with Micro Drilling Tools and Tungsten Carbide Drill Bits

When it comes to intricate, high-precision components, micro drilling tools are the unsung heroes of the manufacturing world. Whether you're in electronics, aerospace, or medical device production, drilling tiny, accurate holes is a non-negotiable task—and Sharpedge Technologies delivers just the right tools for the job.

Our micro drilling tools are crafted from solid carbide, offering exceptional hardness, wear resistance, and heat tolerance. These attributes are essential when working on micro-scale components where tool failure isn’t an option.

One of the biggest advantages of our micro drills is their compatibility with carbide tool grinders, which maintain the sharpness and geometry required for consistent performance. With diameters often smaller than a human hair, these tools demand exact alignment and precise workholding—something our zero point clamping systems help achieve effortlessly.

For manufacturers tackling hardened materials, combining micro drilling tools with tungsten carbide drill bits for hardened steel offers superior results. These tools are designed to penetrate the toughest surfaces without sacrificing hole quality or tool life.

When used alongside grinding wheels optimized for micro tool maintenance, and carbide drill bits for metal, your shop floor gains a serious edge in precision and productivity.