****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
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.
