ON WELDING

To weld is a powerful thing, and a dangerous thing too. I'm not very good at it but I'd like to be better.

It takes a minute to get the right formula for acetylene and oxygen. I suit up from head to toe: hat, goggles, ear protection, face mask, gloves, cowl apron, and (p)leather shoes. If I'm extra good, I wear even more protection: long sleeves and a leather jacket.

First, you turn on the acetylene; then comes the oxygen; then you adjust.

I used to insert the filler rod too early and tack on top of the two pieces of metal I was trying to weld, hoping that the layer of melted rod would hold enough for me to join the idle pieces together. That was until I learned about the "floor test". If the bond is truly strong enough, you'll be able to drop it, throw it, toss it, onto the floor and everything should hold together effortlessly. This won't happen though, unless you get the pieces hot enough to merge.

I pull out a copper coated filler rod in my left hand and I hold the flame to a thick piece of metal and wait. My favorite part is watching it turn a warm orange color with gold rims. If you hold the torch just close enough, for however long it takes, eventually the metal will thaw and sparks will begin to fly. Now just vulnerable enough to conjoin with another piece of metal. Only the surface of the other piece needs to be vulnerable enough too. When both pieces pool with orange and gold, however long it takes to hold the torch, they will spark, then you can merge them into one solid body.