Welding for Beginners (New Shoe Press)

by Stephen Blake Christena

[annieb123]

Originally posted on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Welding for Beginners is a reformat and re-release based on Stephen Blake Christena's earlier introductory welding manual titled Learn to Weld. Due out in this edition 2nd Aug 2022 from Quarto on their New Shoe Press imprint, it's 160 pages and will be available in paperback format.

This is a very basic beginner-friendly manual on MIG welding. The author does give a very short overview over other types of welding, but the focus of this book and the bulk of the instruction concerns MIG. The book's intro is thorough and step-by-step. The author has an accessible and easy to understand style of writing. In fact much of the book reads like a one-on-one tutorial workshop. Safety is paramount and the author emphasizes safety, attention to detail, and a good and well organized workspace at every step.

Equipment is explained in detail along with abundant photography of both the necessary gear and the processes. I really liked that the action tutorial photos are taken without hands or other tools obscuring the shot (not a trivial detail - as most of the action in welding occurs with hands and tools in the way). Special tips and tricks for processes are located throughout the book in highlighted text boxes. These provide short and digestible tips for getting the best (and safest) results.

This is a very good short but comprehensive manual which will get the absolute beginning welder some competence and familiarity with the basic processes.

Five stars. This would be a good choice for public and school library acquisition, as well as for the home DIYer, activity groups and makers' spaces, and smallholders. The tasks and tutorials in this manual aren't specifically slanted toward smallholders, but there is a wealth of relevant info here.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.