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A crew member from Bill Davis Racing welds underneath one of the team's racecars.

Skill in welding can make for perfect career or hobby

By Official Release
April 8, 2008
10:47 AM EDT

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People learn to weld for many reasons. Some people start welding for a hobby, doing things from building yard art to practical shop equipment to repairing things around the house. With modern welding equipment, this rewarding and useful hobby can be in anyone's reach -- and you can even take your skills from a hobby to a lucrative career.

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Maybe you've got your eye on a career in automotive repair, engineering or racing. Well, did you know that welding skills can take you there?

In NASCAR team race shops, it's a virtual racecar laboratory, complete with CNC machining, welding and sheet metal fabrication departments. 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 racecar. About 95 percent of racecars are welded by hand. Hundreds of individual parts are hand-cut, welded and machined, from the chassis and frame to suspension and the drive train.

The skill of welding, as any welder knows, is valuable in a wide range of tasks from various auto repairs to more simple projects that can beautify and enhance a workshop or home. And whether you're welding on a racecar or fixing your broken metal lawn chair, good equipment is key.

MIG welding is relatively easy to learn and very adaptable -- perfect for home-repair projects, sheet metal, auto repair or farm work and welding on thin sheet metal, stainless and aluminum effortlessly. And always remember, safety first! When welding on your project, always make sure you have the proper equipment: flame and chemical-heat resistant gloves, a leather welding apron, welding goggles, a cool helmet and a good clean, organized work area.

Want to learn to weld? Just visit the experts who can help you pinpoint the right welding classes and products to meet your needs at www.lincolnelectric.com.