| Technique | Direction | Penetration | Best For | | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Bottom → Top | Deep, strong | Thick material (>1/4"), structural codes, high strength required | | Vertical Down (3F Down) | Top → Bottom | Shallow, fast | Thin material (sheet metal), root passes, cosmetic welds | Note: Stick (SMAW) and Flux-Cored often use Vertical Up for strength. MIG hard wire often uses Vertical Down to prevent drips, but MIG up requires special technique. Key Techniques for a Successful 3F Weld To fight gravity, you must manipulate the electrode or gun.
Jeff is an award-winning journalist and expert in the field of high school sports, underscored with his appearance on CNBC in 2010 to talk about the big business of high school football in America.
Jeff turned to his passion for high school football into an entrepreneurial venture called High School Football America, a digital media company focused on producing original high school sports content for radio, television and the internet.
Jeff is co-founder and editor-in-chief of High School Football America, a partner with NFL Play Football.
In 2025, he and his co-founder Trish Hoffman launched HSFA Flag.
