Welding for Beginners Learn Everything You Need to Know to Weld, Cut, and Shape Metal

by Christena, Stephen Blake

• ISBN13: 9780760379769
• ISBN10: 0760379769
• eBook ISBN(s): 9780760379776
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2022-08-02
• Publisher: New Shoe Press
• More Book Details
• Purchase Benefits

Summary

Learn to weld, step by step, with this beginner’s guide.

Welding for Beginners, adapted from Stephen Blake Christena’s Learn to Weld, has culled the absolute basics that are required to build a successful welding hobby and illustrated them in these pages. Both practical and inspiring, this book teaches you the basic equipment you will need, setting up your work area, techniques for beginners with project ideas for practicing your skills, dos and don’ts, and welding safety.

If you are inexperienced and want to start out strong—whether working in a home workshop, school workshop, blacksmith shop, or auto shop—this is the perfect reference. The projects illustrate the basic foundation techniques that every welder needs to know, while also helping you tackle problems and fix mistakes as well as shortcuts and level ups. Photographs and illustrations teach welding and clear, concise, easy-to-read text takes all the confusion out of the learning the processes. 

This easy-to-use book includes:
 

• Welding techniques for simple practical repairs and small artisan home projects 
• Safety and protective gear
• Workshop set-up plans
• Basic equipment and upkeep
• Basic welding types, including arc and MIG
• Common mistakes and troubleshooting
• Instructive photos showing process details for successful results 
• Tons of quick tips and welding hacks to give beginners a strong foundation to improve upon
• Three step-by-step projects: a cube, welding table, and long table

Get welding!

Author Biography

Stephen Blake Christena is the owner of Midwest Metal Works in Chicago, IL. MW2 offers custom fabrication services and a learning center for hobbyists interested in MIG welding. Christena teaches small-size courses designed to cover the basics and explore students’ projects and interests. He is also a spokesman for Miller welding equipment. Originally from Flint, Michigan, Christena moved to Chicago in 1998 after graduating from Western Michigan University with a degree in art. During his time at WMU, his primary focus was directed toward metal sculpture, photography, and painting. He opened his first custom metal sculpture studio in August of 1998. His studio’s website is midwestmetalworks.org.

Table of Contents

Introduction
CHAPTER 1 WELDING: START HERE
How Welding Works
The Arc
The Filler Metal
Flux and Shielding Gas
The Ground
Spatter
Why Learn MIG Welding?
Buying Tools and Equipment
CHAPTER 2 GETTING STARTED
Your Studio
Electrical
Ventilation and Lighting
Studio Layout
Safety and Protective Gear
First Aid
Sparks Are Flying
Protective Gear
Equipment and Tools
The Chop Saw
The Angle Grinder
The Welder
Other Cutting Tools
CHAPTER 3 SELECTING, BUYING, AND PREPPING
YOUR METALS 56
Hot Roll vs. Cold Roll
Filler Material
Decorative Options
Buying Metal
How to Order
Preparing Your Metal
Let’s Prep
CHAPTER 4 HOW IT WORKS
Technique
The Puddle
Stance and Comfort
Vision
Hand Position
Angle of the Gun
Heat vs. Thickness
Clamps and Tacking
Exercise 1: The Draw
CHAPTER 5 THE BASICS
Basic Joints
Technique
Exercise 1: Butt Joints
Exercise 2: Corner (or Fillet) Welds
The Rest of the Joints
Corner Joints
Lap Joints
The Edge Joint
Exercise 3: Jigs
Other Welding Situations and Positions
Vertical Welding
Cross Body Welding
CHAPTER 6 PROJECTS
Project 1: The Cube
Project 2: The Welding Table
Project 3: The Runner
Glossary
Resources
About the Author
Index