Car Care: Welding a skill learned for career or hobby

Do you have an eye on a career in automotive repair, engineering or racing? Well, did you know that a skill called welding can take you there?

In Nextel Cup race shops, it's a virtual racecar laboratory, where engineers work side-by-side with master fabricators to create the fastest machines possible.

And long before the rubber hits the road, welding and fabrication consumes roughly 950 man-hours on each car. About 95 percent of NASCAR racecars are welded by hand. Hundreds of individual parts are cut, welded and machined by hand, from the chassis and frame to suspension and drive train. The skill of welding, as any welder worth his or her own weight in welding wire knows, is valuable in a wide range of tasks, from repairs around the home or auto to more simple projects that can beautify and enhance your workshop or home.

Hey, just like in racing, you need to push beyond your comfort zone constantly if you want to learn new skills, right?

Whether you're welding on a racecar or fixing your broken metal lawn chair, good equipment is key. Compact Power MIG welders with Diamond Core Technology can be used for a variety of home, farm, autobody, shop maintenance or light duty fabrication projects. And always remember safety first! When welding on your project, always make sure you have proper equipment:

• Flame and chemical-heat resistant gloves
• Leather welding apron
• Welding goggles
• A cool helmet
• A good clean, organized work area completes the picture.

Want to learn to weld? Visit the experts at www.lincolnelectric.com. If you want to be a motorsports fabricator or just try out a new hobby at home, Lincoln Electric can hook you up with the right welding classes and products to meet your needs!