Introduction: What is Welding Anyway?

This is the first article of numerous articles that will be generated in an attempt to bring the most comprehensive tutorial guide for welding to the web.

I will be covering everything you will need to know about welding. From stick rod to tig and all that could be squeezed in between.

I hope what I have learned over the past 100 years can be a blessing and help to you in some way. No Iam not really a hundred!!

Welding has made up the larger part of my life. I absolutely know how to weld. If I tell you something in these lessons and articles, it will be to your benefit to pay attention to them.

If you are a novice I have just what you are looking for. If you have been around the block a few times, I have something for you too. I can give you what you need. Wait till you see the welding videos.Wow!!

The first thing I would like to go over with you is beginning terms of welding you will here in your articles. Please understand that I am giving you a meaning of welding that will make sense to you. They might not be the thesaurus definition. Dictionary is not always practical for your purposes. You will understand later.

What is welding anyway? Well simply put, it is the art of joining metals together. A carptenter uses nails and glue. A banker uses your money and his drawer. A welder uses different rods or filler metals and high electric current known as heat to melt metal together.

Arc: the actual contact and electricity released when welding. It is the light that will burn your unprotected eyeballs. Don't look at the arc unless you are behind the welders lens. Get it? the welders lens.

Many would never know this, but the arc is about 7400 degrees Fahrenheit where the metal is at liquid state.

Stinger: also known as the electrode holder. The handle that holds stick rods or electrodes. Sometimes you may find the stinger in the bee or in your body if it's too late.

Sleeves: leather or cotton coverings like the sleeves off a shirt that protect against the sparks of welding. I like a full leather jacket. It can be uncomfortable but it is most effective. There are green sleeves made out of fire retardent cotton that have elastic in both ends that can be purchased at the weld supply store. One for each arm from the shoulder to the wrist.

Hand Shoes: also known as gloves. Don't be an idiot and weld without protecting every part of your body. You would be suprised at what I have seen thourgh the years. Lots of brain damage out there. Once I watched an old tanky welder weld without even a long sleve shirt. I mean that guys arms were taking the sparks off that 3/16" fast freeze rod. I know it had to hurt. He has the same flesh I have. Tanky welders are a breed of themselves. That is another story. Anyway, I said man, why don't you put a shirt on and protect your arms. This was his response: Oh no, the sweat on my arms is keeping me from feeling the sparks. Wow! The sad thing is that he actually believed it.

Amps: the current output used to measure how hot or cold your arc is (not to be confused with volts).

Electrodes: Flux coated rods that are used in the stick rod process.

Slag: unwanted impurities in the metal that are driven to the surface of the weld. Usually only visible after the metal cools.

Leads: The rubber coated wiring(copper) that carries the current from your machine to your puddle.

The Puddle: Where you used to play as a child, but now where you make a living with welding. The puddle is the liquefied medal at the end of your arc.

Enough terms for now. Welding actually has an extensive history dating back to the late 1800s. Of course welding principles today are the same but the methods are much different as well as the various types of procedures. Old time welding was brazing metals under the heat from an oxygen/acetylene torch. I personally like tig welding. It is the cleanest form of welding. No fire coming at you (sparks, that is). It is the elite apex of the welding field. Our next article will focus on Stick Rod welding, probably the most common type of welding there is. Until next time, keep your safety glasses on and watch your eyes.

Thanks from the author.

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Hello and thank you for your interest in the article. My name is Michael D. Treadway. I have been welding for for over a quarter of a century. I have taken hundreds of welding tests and have made money welding all over America. If you would like to find out more about what I offer, go to www.thewelderslens.com There is a gift for you there. Thanks again.

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