The main problem that most people have when they first choose to get into welding is that they have no idea how to weld. Welding is a far more detailed trade than can possibly be taught in one article. Learning how to weld like a professional requires extensive and repetitive practice. Despite this fact, you should be armed with a mind full of knowledge before you even step up to the welding machine. This introduction to welding will provide you with the general knowledge needed to familiarize yourself with the terminology and concepts involved in welding.
First and foremost, a person (you, before too long) who welds is called a “welder”, or sometimes “weldor”. The device used to make the welds is called a “welding machine”. Although it sounds quite basic and trivial, you’d be surprised at how many people mistakenly call a welding machine a “welder”. I have yet to see anyone successfully create welds by holding a welder up to the workpieces. I have, however, spent many years using a welding machine to weld nearly anything and everything. With this basic bit of information, you are much further ahead in learning how to weld than most everyone that you know.
The next that that you need to learn in this introduction to welding are the main welding processes. There are many different welding processes out there, but this article will focused briefly on the two most common: gas welding and arc welding.
Gas Welding (properly called oxy-fuel welding) uses fuel gases to join the workpieces. The welding torch combines the fuel gas with oxygen to create a chemical reaction which expends heat to form a shared pool of molten metal between the workpieces. This pool is generally combined with additional “filler metal” to create the weld. The most common fuel gas used in gas welding is acetylene.
Arc Welding is the processes of using a welding power supply to form an electric arc between an electrode and the base material to combine the workpieces. Arc welding can be further broken down into two most common processes:
Much more information about the various welding processes, as well as 1200 pages of information on welding can be found at Welding Secrets Revealed.
No introduction to welding would be complete without warning you about some of the safety risks involved in the trade. The very most important piece of advice that I can provide you is to make sure that you are wearing the proper safety equipment during any welding, no matter how small or quick the task is. A cautious welder is one who will be around to keep on welding. It takes just a minute to properly suit up, and this minute can prevent serious injury or even death. After you are well equipped to begin welding, make sure that you are in a well-ventilated area. Make sure you keep the welding fumes away from your face, as the gases used in and produced by welding can be very hazardous to your health. With Arc Welding, make sure you take extra precaution with the electrode. Don’t forget the principal behind this type of welding: an electric arc is used to join the workpieces. Touching the electrode is no different than sticking a fork in an electric socket – I can promise you that you do not want that type of electricity going through your body. When you are ready to learn how to weld through practice, safety is the first thing you should master. This list of dangers is nowhere near a comprehensive safety guide. Please become familiar with a very detailed welding safety guide (such as the one at Welding Secrets Revealed) before you attempt any welding practice or project.
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