need a wide assortment of clamps to hold the work in position—both to keep the work steady while you weld and to reduce weld-induced distortion. The metals you will be working with all have different characteristics and react differently under the intense heat of the welding torch. This chapter will look at some of the properties of those metals. And, finally, you will also require specialized safety equipment.
WHAT HAND TOOLS ARE USED IN WELDING?
WHAT POWER TOOLS ARE USED IN WELDING?
WHAT TYPES OF CLAMPS ARE USED IN WELDING?
WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON STEEL PRODUCTS USED IN WELDING?
WHAT ARE SOME BASIC SAFETY REQUIREMENTS?
What hand tools are used in welding?
A welder removes slag after a welding pass
You may already own many of these tools because they are commonly used for general carpentry and household repair. Some tools that you should have to facilitate your welding include:
•Builder’s and torpedo levels—Use the larger builder’s level whenever possible; it is more accurate and measures over a longer span; use the torpedo level wherever the builder’s level won’t fit.
•Framing, carpenter’s, cabinet maker’s, and combination squares—Use the largest square that fits the work. The combination square is convenient for layout of 45° corner cuts and parallel lines.
•Cold chisel and ball peen hammer—Handy for breaking tack welds when they must be repositioned; also useful for removing material between a series of drilled holes (chain drilling).
•Center Punch—Marks hole centers and cutting lines.
•Compass and dividers—For scribing circles or stepping off a series of equal intervals.
•Files—For bringing an oversized part down to exact dimension or removing a hazardous razor/burr edge.
•Hack saw—For slow, but accurate metal cutting.
•Tape measures—16- and 24-foot tapes are the most convenient sizes. Useful for measuring on curved surfaces too.
•Precision steel rules—Available in lengths from 6 to 72 inches (150 to 1000 mm).
•Protractor—For finding angles.
•Trammel points—These points fit on and adjust along a wood or metal beam and scribe circles or arcs with 20- to 40-foot (6 to 12 m) diameters. See Figure 1-2.
Figure 2-1 Here is a selection of typical hand tools used in welding, including an assortment of hammers, wrenches, screwdrivers, and pliers (top), as well different types of squares, such as carpenter’s squares, speed squares, and combination squares. You will find uses for both builder’s levels and smaller torpedo levels (below)
Figure 2-2 This page contains an assortment of common hand tools, including hammers, pliers, wrenches, and levels. At left are trammel points for scribing large circles
Metal Marking Tools
There are a variety of tools used to mark metal layout lines. They include
•Chalk line snap
•Weldor’s chalk, also called soapstone
•Ball point metal marker
•Single center punch mark or a line of punch marks
•White lead or silver lead pencil
•Felt-tip pen
•Aerosol spray paint
•Scriber on bare metal
•Scriber on layout fluid
Use weldor’s chalk for marking rough dimensions or to indicate cutting lines that will hold up under cutting torch heat. A line of center punch marks can be more accurate and will also withstand torch heat. For very accurate layout lines, spray paint the metal in the area of the layout lines and use a scriber to scratch through the paint to make the layout lines. Alternatively, machinist’s layout fluid (Dykem® is the major brand, and available in red or blue) can be used to make the scribed lines more visible. These lines will not hold up under torch heat, but can be essential to laying out non-torch cutting lines. A black felt-tip pen can also be used in place of spray paint or layout fluid to darken the metal and show up scriber lines. Do not use scribe marks to designate bend/fold lines since they will be stress raisers and the part will eventually fail along the scribed line. Metal markers are available. They put down a 1/16 inch width line, come in several colors, and are excellent for applying lettering to metals. The are rated at 700°F (370°C) so cannot be used for torch cutting lines. Note that some marking materials’ residues may contaminate GTAW welds.
Figure 2-3 This yellow marker is used for drawing layout lines
Figure 2-4 Soapstone applicators and refills mark metals. Soapstone is also called welder’s chalk
Both Photos courtesy of Hobart Welders.
Specialized Hand Tools
Here are some tools most welders will find necessary. They include:
•Chipping hammer to remove welding slag.
•Wire brush for cleaning welds.
•Hammer and cold chisel to break tack welds.
•Pliers for moving hot metal safely.
•Wire cutters to trim electrode wire.
Figure 2-5 Here is a group of specialized welder’s hand tools
Photo courtesy of Hobart Welders.
What common power tools are used in welding?
Many of the power tools used by welders are also used for carpentry and other tasks. They include:
•Reciprocating saw—Excellent for
