HOMESTEAD WELDING

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Once again, the rule is "safety first" . . . and that means a good Fiber-Metal helmet (a must because the ultraviolet rays produced by the arc-welding process are dangerous to your eyes and to any exposed skin). The headpiece should be fitted with at least a No. 12 shade lens, and it's also a good idea to add two clear plastic lenses . . . one in front of the shaded plate, the other behind it. The purpose of these extra barriers is to protect the expensive colored shield from metallic splatter. I prefer plastic to glass because it's less easily damaged by smoke and flying metal drops.

It's, also advisable to wear heavy leather gloves and preferably a fireproof shirt or jacket. Try to avoid dressing in ragged, fringed jeans! I've had several such garments start smoldering in the course of welding jobs. If you can afford them, leather pants are best for this kind of work.

Ready? Set your machine to the correct amperage for the meal's thickness and the size of welding rod you intend to use (see Chart B). The box the rod comes in will indicate the best beat range for each type. (Personally, I prefer Eutectic brand . . . the best available, according to my own experience and the advice of other welders.)

Connect the ground cable to the welding job, fairly near the intended join but far enough away that it won't interfere with the work. Place the rod in the grooves of the electrode holder, turn on the machine and you're ready to strike the arc.

A caution: I can't overemphasize the importance of making yaw helmet falls down over your face before the arc is struck. If the straps are properly adjusted, a good healthy nod will bring down the head covering at the right moment. It's not always convenient to rely on your other hand for this purpose, because you'll generally be using it to hold the job in place.

Now. Your helmet is down, right? Go ahead and produce an arc by scratching the rod over about an inch and a half of the area to be welded, and then lifting the electrode about a quarter inch from the work. Try to keep the instrument at about 20 to 30 degrees from vertical, with the hot tip pointing in the direction of travel . . . assuming, that is, you're doing a horizontal, flat weld. For vertical or overhead flat work, keep the tip aimed opposite to the direction of travel (that is, toward the point where you began).

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