Introduction to Welding

Q: What machine do you use to weld?

A: This is the machine I use to weld. The part circled in light blue is what allows me to weld on that specific table it is attached to. The part circled in dark blue is what you use to weld. So the machine powers the dark blue part to create a spark to weld.

Q: Are there any preparations you need to make before you start working?

A: Yes there are! Before you start to weld, you must clean the area you're working in. In the picture above, the table is clean, and the floor is clean. When the area is clean, you are ready to weld.

Q: So after the area is clean, are there any other preparations you need to make?

A: Yes there are. When you're done cleaning the area, you must clean the piece of metal you're going to weld on. If you don't clean the metal, the weld may not come out right.

Q: What can you do when you're done welding the piece of metal? Is there anything else to do?

A: Good question! Once you are done welding, you would clean the weld. Obviously it would be too hot to touch, so you would use the tool shown above to lift the metal. When the metal is in the tool's grip, you would wait a while and then clean it.

Q: What would you use to clean the metal?

A: You could use a brush, but there is a more fun way to clean it. This machine, shown above, can clean it fast and easily. A lot of people confuse the two circular objects circled above. The one circled in light blue is sometimes confused as the part to clean the metal. However, it doesn't. The part circled in dark blue does. With the tool previously shown, you put the metal on the bottom of the spinning mechanism, and it will clean the metal.

Q: Is there anything you wear to protect your body while welding?

A: Yes there is. In the photo shown above, I am wearing a jacket to protect my body while I'm welding. By the way, yes that's the face I make when I mean business.

Q: Do you wear anything to protect your hands while welding?

A: Yes I do. Welding gloves(such as the one shown above)prevent your hands from getting burnt while welding.

Q: What do you wear to protect your face?

A: To protect your face, you would wear a mask(such as the one seen above). The mask protects your face from any sparks and protects your eyes from the radiation from the light. The light produced when welding is very bright, so the mask protects your eyes from that as well.

Q: In the welding machine, what makes contact with the metal to create the spark?

A: There is a wire that makes contact with the metal. In the photo above is the wire that makes contact with the metal. When the wire and metal make contact, with the press of a button the spark will be made.

Q: How does the spark look like?

A: As seen above, this is how the spark looks. However it is not as bright as when welding. When welding, the spark is much more hot and much more bright. Its because of the light and heat's intensity that you wear safety gear.