"Ernie Leimkuhler" wrote in message
...
| Hi Guys.
|
| I have decided to spend some of this summer finally compiling a welding
| book.
|
| I am curious what you guys would want in a book.
| I am looking for a balance of technical info to step by step
| descriptions.

I like the tips and tricks that help you get the hang of the proper hand
motions, like the pencil and washer exercise and so forth. A lot of books
have five or so photographs of weld beads, but not a lot of detail about
each, and what each little detail of the weld is doing or not doing.
Perhaps a dozen or more photographs, with various combinations of problems
and conditions that the user is bound to occur, if a neophyte or old hand.
Some welds look good but suck, and some welds look horrible but are stout as
hell. Explain how we can tell this just by looking at it. Show common
errors and what to do about it. Point out what the inspectors look for,
what they usually miss. How you can fix that slag inclusion deep in a
corner, and the best way to approach a tight corner or leave one. What are
the various options for various welding positions and what setups, motions,
and options are there for various conditions. What combinations work best,
what will get you by, and what just plain won't work, and why. What body
positions are bad ergonomically, what works but looks funny, and what are
the best ways to deal with certain conditions. My welding teacher used to
bend his rod backwards and weld with a mirror on rare occasion. I don't
think he was so much looking in the mirror as feeling his way, just using
the mirror to start the arc in the right place. I've had to torch weld once
with a mirror, and I managed to do okay, but watching that fellow told me
that he either had a lot of time to learn it, or someone really sharp taught
him to "feel the force." That's what I would like to learn, since I what I
need to learn only comes with burning a lot of rod, not attending class with
kids who don't know which end to stick in the clamp, and more likely
something I'll be wanting to learn long after the course is over.

Thanks, Ernie!