THE
WELDING TUTORIAL
INTRODUCTION
The use
of welding and some form of welding plant has for many years been
an accepted and important part of even the smallest engineering
and maintenance workshops. Since the late fifties it has become
increasingly available to the home handyman.
Australian industry, centered largely in major cities has relied
on manual metal-arc welding as its major metal fabrication process
since the early thirties. While this form of welding is being
supplanted to a large extent in industry with higher productivity,
semi or fully automatic arc welding processes, its continued place
is assured by its wide range of application and overall
versatility.
The wide spread expansion of electric power reticulation
throughout the settled country areas has led to the availability
of the small, low-priced and convenient AC transformer type
welding machines for almost everybody wishing to employ this quick
convenient means of joining metals.
DC welding generators, powered by petrol or diesel engines or as
an attachment for the farm tractor extend the availability of the
process to field usage.
Manual metal-arc welding, the subject of this booklet, is not
difficult, but like all practical arts, the learning of the basic
principles and correct techniques at the start is the only real
basis for its successful application. It is hoped our step by-step
introduction to arc welding, its application and safe working
practices, will set you off in the right direction to achieving
the most from the process, your WIA arc welder and electrodes. |