How To Weld (Motorbooks Workshop) Paperback – Illustrated, August 25, 2008

I am new to welding. It's something I've wanted to do for quite some time but I just finally got around to tackling it. The first book I bought was The Welders Handbook. I read it cover to cover. It was OK, but left me wanting. After reading the reviews here I ordered How To Weld. I wish I had read this book first! Todd Bridigum does an excellent job of organizing the information. The book builds knowledge in layers. Todd discusses not only the obligatory safety items (which he still manages to keep interesting), but also different types of metal that you may find at the yard, how they are sold (sheet, linear foot, pound, etc), tools useful in metal fabrication, joint designs and positions, and brazing and soldering to top it off. This isn't just a book on welding, it's really an introduction to metal!When I first decided to learn to weld I just wanted to be able to put two pieces of metal together and have them not come apart. After reading Todd's book I have so much more appreciation for certified welders and the jobs they do. This book will teach you the finer points of developing a good weld without trying to make you a certified welder. It strikes an excellent balance between a cursory overview of welding and a full technical manual. This is exactly what every home/hobbyist welder wants.After giving a full lecture on all the different types of welding and the geometry of the weld (with tons of great color photos and drawings) , Todd sets up detailed welding exercises specific to each type of welding technology - accompanied by yet more pictures. This is some excellent instruction! There are also plenty of sidebars with excellent, more technical, information that will keep this book useful as a reference for years to come as well.If you are new to welding you will not be disappointed with this book.My one critique item would be that on page 42 he talks about "CJP" without defining it. I had to turn to Google to figure out that it means "Complete Joint Penetration". He eventually defines it eight pages later on page 54, but it would certainly provide more continuity to have it defined when it is first used.

This is probably the only book available that would allow somebody to learn, practice and become proficient in all major methods of welding on their own (or with the assistance of a more experienced welder). I'm "proficient" in both MIG & TIG, but Oxy/Acetylene has always mystified me & I can "do" stick (but don't enjoy it). Just quickly reading through the book has given me a new understanding & impetus to pull out my Oxy equipment and "get proficient" (as well borrow as my cousin's old "Buzz Box" stick welder that he's offered me & get better at that also).The target audience is for general welding, but does cover a lot of areas for which many readers would have an interested. If you're one of those looking to learn/refine your welding technique to just work on cars, there is a better book for you (see my other reviews), but it would still not hurt you to have this book for the well written text and the exceptional color photographs, as well as the numerous "skill development" exercises/projects that are included for each chapter.

I am a retired engineer and have worked in the heavy energy industry all of my professional life which encompasses 37 years. I ran industrial maintenance departments, which included a lot of ASME/API/AWS code compliant welding, for most of that time and although I am not a welder by trade, I have welded using most of the commonly used processes. I thought I new a lot about welding. However, after reading this book I gained new insights. The author provided a highly detailed and superior, but not overpowering, level of all necessary back round theory relating to the various welding processes such as Stick, Mig, Tig, Brazing, etc., including equipment theory of operation, selection, and shop set up needed to be understood to support an apprentice welder in his/her quest to achieve full journeyman welder status. The author also details exercises that the apprentice should perform to both teach and reinforce proper equipment set up and use, proper welding technique, and includes photos and discussion on how and why both poor and desired results where achieved.In my personal library I own many books pertaining to welding. Some are better than others. However, if I had to recommend just one book for a person wanting to embark on a career in welding, I would have to recommend this text as my first go to choice. I feel that it provides an outstanding degree of all the real life information an aspiring welder must master in order to be successful in this trade without being repetitive nor boring. A great source of welding information. Highly recommended.

Lots of good information including peripheral information. Covers several different types of welding. One page towards the beginning lists like all types of welding (like a hundred or so). Illustrations are good but most are not referenced in the text, and contain no captions other than credit to another source where they came from. In the section on stick welding I stare at the illustration of different weld problems pretty much every night to make it sink into my brain. Before this book I didn't realize how important arc length is. It really hammers arc length pretty well.

This manual is very comprehensive. Easy to read with great practice exercises.a good extensive information.

Bought this book when I bought a new welder. Love it. Very detailed and is easy to follow. Buy it you won't regret it. It puts welding into lamens terms.