Defining the ‘welding shop’: General Industry Coverage

My first experience with welding was when my dad taught me to stick weld in the basement of our home. When I was about 9 years old, he came home with a new welding hood. I remember asking him who the hood was for and being mortified when he said it was for me.

I donned the heavy, moldering leather welding jacket—complete with the stale, sweaty leather smell they all have—and clamped the claustrophobic, lightless hood over my head and, to my surprise, absolutely loved it. The funny part is I still use some of the same teaching techniques my dad used on me when I instruct welding wannabes.

Figure 1. General tolerance guidelines for welded assemblies.