Weld Like a Pro

Book excerpt: Welding is an art and skill that's essential for automotive fabrication, repair, and vehicle upgrades, but it is also an important skill for countless household projects and industries. Some books show merely basic welding techniques with steel and cast iron. But this isn't your run-of-the-mill introductory welding book. In this revised edition of the previous title, Advanced Automotive Welding, Jerry Uttrachi, past president of the American Welding Society, does show you how to perform basic welding procedures with steel and cast iron. But he also reveals advanced welding techniques and the use of aluminum, titanium, magnesium, stainless steel, and other specialty materials. Projects and techniques in this book focus on automotive applications but can also be used for welding a bicycle frame, welding a steel grill, or repairing the frame for a garden bench. TIG, oxyacetylene, arc, and wire-feed welding processes are covered, but special coverage is provided for stick and MIG. Welding butt and V-joints is explained plus welding more complex joints, including J- and U-joints, is also shown. Step-by-step instruction and exceptional detail give you the necessary information to tackle and complete complex welding jobs. Popular automotive projects, such as welding an electric fuel pump into an aluminum tank, repairing chromemoly suspension arms, and welding in floorpans, are thoroughly covered. And when it comes to repairing household items, specific projects such as repairing and modifying the steel tubing on an exercise machine, repairing a decorative bench, and more are covered. Rather than take a project to a shop, you can now do the job at home. Whether you're new to welding or a veteran welder looking to work with special materials or involved in a special project, you will find indispensible information within the pages of this book. Now you can confidently weld with steel, cast iron, aluminum, anodized steel, titanium, magnesium, and other specialty metals.