Guides
Trade how-tos, charts, and troubleshooting — separate from product reviews and practice tests.
TAP File Editor Troubleshooting — Parse Failures, Nest Mistakes & Clip Surprises
Diagnose TAP File Editor failures when the file opens oddly, a nest/fix looks wrong, out-of-bounds selection mis-fires, Clip to Machine…
How to Edit, Nest, and Fix a TAP/G-code File Without Going Back to CAM
Move, rotate, delete, or nest an individual toolpath after the file's already posted — without dragging the whole job back…
Bolt Torque Guide — How to Torque Fasteners Correctly
Complete guide to bolt torque — clamping force vs tightness, dry vs lubricated torque, anti-seize corrections, torque sequences, TTY bolts,…
Cutting Speed & Feed Rate Guide — SFM, RPM & Feed Rate for Every Material and Operation
Complete guide to cutting speed and feed rate — SFM to RPM conversion, feed rate from chip load, SFM ranges…
Thread Pitch & Engagement Guide — How to Calculate Thread Depth, Pitch & Length for Any Fastener
Complete guide to thread pitch and engagement length — TPI vs metric pitch, the 1.5× diameter rule, material effects on…
Countersink & Counterbore Guide — Setup, Angles, Depths & Common Mistakes
Complete guide to countersinking and counterboring — angles, depth calculations, pilot hole sizing, tool selection, and the mistakes that scrap…
How to Choose the Right Electrical Box Size
How to pick the right electrical box for any installation — box types, cubic inch volumes, depth requirements, AFCI/GFCI considerations,…
Box Fill Calculations Explained — NEC 314.16 Complete Guide
How to calculate electrical box fill per NEC 314.16 — the six fill categories, volume per conductor, worked examples, and…
Voltage Drop vs. Ampacity — What’s the Difference and Which One Controls Wire Size
Voltage drop and ampacity are two separate calculations that both have to pass. Here's what controls each, the common mistakes,…
Parting Off Guide for Lathes — Setup, Speed, Feed & Troubleshooting
Complete guide to parting off on a manual lathe — blade selection, tool height, RPM, feed rate, cutting fluid, and…
Spot Welding Guide — Current, Time, Pressure & Electrode Settings for Every Material
Complete spot welding guide — current, weld time, electrode force, and tip diameter for mild steel, galvanized, stainless, and aluminum.…
Welding Wire Gauge Chart — MIG Wire, Filler Rod & Extension Cord Size Reference
Quick-reference welding wire gauge chart — MIG wire diameter, TIG filler rod, welding lead cable sizing, extension cord AWG, and…
Welding Rod Chart & Selection Guide — Every Electrode Explained
Complete welding rod chart — E6010, E6011, E6013, E7018, E7024, stainless, and cast iron electrodes. Amperage tables, AWS number decoder,…
Conduit Bending Guide: Stub-Up, Offset, Saddle & Box Offset Bends Explained
Complete conduit bending guide for electricians — stub-up, offset, 3-point saddle, and box offset bends with multipliers, shrinkage tables, and…
Plasma Cutting Settings Guide: Amperage, Air Pressure & Speed for Every Material
[calculator file="plasma-cutting-settings-guide"] Field diagnosis when calculator numbers still fail: Plasma Cutting Troubleshooting.
Boring Bar Speeds and Feeds Guide — RPM, Feed Rate & Chatter Fix
Complete boring bar setup guide for machinists. Covers RPM and feed rate formulas, chatter causes and fixes, material tips, and…
Surface Finish Guide for Machinists — Ra, Rz, Callouts & How to Hit Your Number
Complete guide to surface finish for machinists — Ra vs Rz, reading print callouts, how feed rate and nose radius…
How to Choose the Right Drill Bit for Metal
HSS, cobalt, carbide, step drill — which drill bit do you actually need for the job? A complete guide for…
Pipe Welding Guide — Positions, Joint Prep, Root Pass & Settings
Pipe welding is where the money is — and where most welders get humbled. The joint doesn't move, you do.…
Flux Core Welding Settings Guide — Voltage, Wire Speed & Amperage Chart
Flux core is one of the most misunderstood welding processes. People set it up like MIG, forget to flip the…
How to Read and Build a Panel Schedule — NEC 408.4 Complete Guide
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How to Size a Feeder or Service Entrance — NEC 215.2 Complete Guide
Feeder and service sizing errors are one of the top reasons projects get red-tagged. The calculation looks simple — add…
How to Size an EV Charger Circuit — NEC 220.57 & Article 625 Complete Guide
EV charger installations are booming, and so are failed inspections from undersized circuits. The rule is simple — EV chargers…
How to Size a Generator: Running Watts, Surge Watts & What the NEC Actually Requires
Most people buy a generator that's too small because they only look at running watts and ignore surge watts. A…
How to Size a Service Panel Residential Load Calculation Guide
How to Size a Service Panel: Residential Load Calculation Guide (NEC 220.82) | TestTalkHQ :root{--orange:#e8611a;--orange-dark:#c4500f;--dark:#111111;--dark2:#1a1a1a;--dark3:#222222;--dark4:#2c2c2c;--gray:#888888;--border:#333333;--text:#e8e8e8;--text-dim:#aaaaaa;--green:#2ecc71;--yellow:#f1c40f;--red:#e74c3c;--blue:#3498db;} *{box-sizing:border-box;margin:0;padding:0;} body{background:var(--dark);color:var(--text);font-family:'Barlow',sans-serif;font-size:16px;line-height:1.7;} .hero{background:var(--dark2);border-bottom:3px solid var(--orange);padding:48px…
How to Size a Circuit Breaker
TestTalkHQ.com — Electrical Circuit Breaker Chart — 125% Continuous & NEC 240.6 Circuit Breaker Sizing CalculatorEnter load amps and continuous…
Wire Ampacity and Derating Explained: How to Size Conductors the Right Way
TestTalkHQ.com — Electrical Wire Ampacity and Derating ExplainedHow to Size Conductors the Right Way 📅 March 2026 ⏱ 9 min…
Drill Speed and Feed Rate for Metal: The Complete Guide
TestTalkHQ.com — Fabrication Drill Speed and Feed Rate for MetalThe Complete Guide 📅 March 2026 ⏱ 9 min read 🔧…
Air Compressor Sizing for Plasma Cutters: Complete CFM & Tank Guide
Fast answer: size the compressor so delivered air meets or beats plasma cutter SCFM at required PSI. Tank size buys…
Solid Wire vs Flux-Core: Complete MIG Welding Wire Comparison Guide
You're standing in the welding supply aisle staring at spools of wire, and the choice between solid wire and flux-core…
MIG vs TIG vs Stick Welding: Which Process to Use
You're standing in front of a 1/4" steel frame needing welding, with a MIG welder, TIG welder, and Stick welder…
TIG Welding Stainless Steel: Complete Settings Guide & Techniques
Quick answer: stainless needs tighter heat control than mild steel. Run lower amps for thickness, use 100% argon with solid…
Common MIG Welding Problems and Solutions: Complete Troubleshooting Guide
Fast answer: if your MIG weld looks bad, do this order first - ground, contact tip, clean metal, then settings.…
Filler Metal Weight Guide: Calculate Wire & Electrode Needed for Welding Jobs
You're bidding on a structural steel job with 500 linear feet of 1/4" fillet welds and estimate you'll need "about…
Weld Deposition Rate Guide: Calculate Welding Productivity & Efficiency
If you cannot state lbs/hr at the arc and your realistic duty cycle, you cannot estimate labor or consumables—you are…
Welding Wire Size Chart Guide: How to Choose the Right MIG Wire Diameter
Pick the wrong MIG wire diameter and thin sheet blows through—or thick plate stays cold and spattery. This page gives…
Metal Cutting Speed Chart Guide: Calculate SFM, RPM & Feed Rates for Optimal Tool Life
Wrong RPM on a given diameter means wrong SFM—then heat kills edges fast. Look up SFM for material + tool,…
Compressed Air Cost Guide: Calculate Operating Costs & Reduce Your Electric Bill
You're running a 5 HP air compressor in your shop 8 hours a day, and you're wondering: how much is…
Air Compressor Runtime Guide: How Long Will Your Tank Last?
Tank gallons are not minutes of air. Runtime comes from usable compressed air between your cut-out and the lowest PSI…
Welder Electricity Cost Guide: How to Calculate Power Consumption & Reduce Your Electric Bill
You're running a 240V MIG welder at 200 amps for 3 hours of fabrication work, and you're wondering: how much…
Welding Wire & Electrode Consumption Guide: How to Estimate Filler Metal for Job Bids
You're bidding a fabrication job that requires 200 feet of MIG welds on 1/4" steel, and you need to know:…
Tap Drill Size Chart: Complete Guide for Imperial & Metric Threads
Fast answer: drill size before tapping depends on thread size and pitch. Coarse and fine threads do not use the…
Air Compressor Tank Size Guide: How to Choose the Right Gallon Capacity
A 60-gallon air compressor sounds like it holds twice as much air as a 30-gallon tank—but if both deliver the…
Duty Cycle Explained: Complete Guide for Welders
If you've ever shopped for a welder, you've seen duty cycle ratings like "60% @ 180A" on the spec sheet.…
Plasma Cutting Settings Chart: Complete Guide for Clean, Professional Cuts
You’re standing in front of quarter-inch steel with your plasma cutter cranked to 50 amps. You pull the trigger, drag…
Bolt Torque Specifications Chart: Complete Guide for Metric & SAE Fasteners
Need a fast shop answer? Match bolt size + grade/class + thread condition, then choose the dry or lubed torque…
Angle Grinder Disc Speed Safety Guide: How to Prevent Disc Explosions
This calculator saves lives. Every year, fabricators and DIYers are seriously injured or killed by exploding grinding discs. Most of…
How to Size an Air Compressor: Complete CFM Guide
If you've ever bought an air compressor and realized it can't keep up with your tools, you know how frustrating…
Welding Gas Flow Rate Guide: How to Set CFM for MIG, TIG & Flux-Core
If you've ever looked at your gas regulator and wondered "what CFM should I actually be running?" - welcome to…
Welding Amperage Chart: MIG, TIG & Stick Settings by Material Thickness
Look, if you've ever stood in front of a welder wondering "how many amps do I actually need for this…
Stick Welding Rod Chart & Selection Guide
If you've ever stood in front of a shelf full of welding rods wondering which one to grab, you're not…
TIG Welding Settings Guide: How to Actually Set Up Your Machine
TIG welding settings confuse the hell out of most people. You've got amperage, balance, frequency, post-flow, tungsten size, cup size,…
How to Calculate Welding Heat Input: Complete Guide
How to Calculate Welding Heat Input (The Right Way) If you've ever had an inspector ask you about heat input…
How to Dial In MIG Wire Speed (The Simple Way)
Introduction I've spent way too many hours of my life standing in front of a MIG welder, turning knobs back…