Three Golden Rules of Welding

       

The three golden rules are as follows:

1.Joint preparation is critical.

2.Comfort is more important than welding technique.

3.Welding machine set-up is the key to a smooth weld.

Joint preparation is the part of welding most people never think about. We concentrate on welding techniques and anything else that seems to be the answer to a better weld! The fact is no matter what welding process is chosen the joint set-up is the first part of producing a sound quality weld. What you put in is what you get out! A dirty joint or improper fit-up will make the best welders fail at their job. If you spend some time properly fitting up and preparing you weld joint; the welding part will become much easier. The last thing you want in a weld joint is moisture, paint, rust, mill scale, or anything else that does not belong there! If you work with clean metal, and a clean weld joint, the only thing left is a clean weld. Don't expect the weld to clean itself because that is your job!

Comfort is the most important part of welding. No matter what welding technique you choose being comfortable is what it is all about. Find a comfortable position and something to lean on. The goal is to stabilize your body and hands so you have full control over your welding technique. It is better to be comfortable and in control then have a welding technique down but you are not able to stay steady when welding.

Proper welding machine set-up is the key to having a smooth weld and at the same time can compensate for a lack of skill. Many welders get so used to using the same machine all of the time they forget how to set one up. I am guilty of this myself. When I work with the same welding machine I get very intimate with the way the machine runs. After a while you just know where to set the machine for what you are going to weld. The key to sound weld quality is know how to set any welding machine to run properly. Before getting caught up in welding techniques and other distractions lean how to set any welding machine out there. This is so true when it comes to taking onsite welder qualification tests!