1 Introduction The Gas Tungsten Arc Welding Handbook is designed to impart the knowledge and skills required to begin a career in welding. The text includes information about safety, equipment, processes, techniques, materials, and quality control in order to teach you to make successful welds. This text presents basic skills and proper procedures in easy-to-understand language. Welding terms used in the text comply with the AWS Standard Welding Terms and Defi nitions publication. Tables and charts within chapters offer useful data, including dimensions, information about materials, and problems and corrective measures. Hundreds of illustrations help guide your learning, including many images of welds in the process of being made. The chapters lead you through GTAW principles and practices in a logical sequence. The following areas are included in the text: • welding hazards and safety procedures • power sources and auxiliary equipment • weld types and joint design • shielding gases and fi ller metals • tooling • setup and maintenance of equipment • techniques and procedures for welding various types of metals • pipe welding • semiautomatic and automatic welding systems • inspection, testing, and repair of welds • qualifi cation and certifi cation • employment • estimating cost A Reference Section, located at the back of the text, contains many useful tables and charts. You will also fi nd an extensive Glossary of Welding Terms, which contains the defi nitions of the key terms presented in each chapter. Every weld you will make represents your skill as a welder. Take pride in your work and make each weld as if your career depends on it. The Gas Tungsten Arc Welding Handbook will provide you with the information you need to make that weld. Acknowledgments The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance of the following companies who contributed suggestions, ideas, photographs, and information to this textbook. Aquasol Corporation Aronson Machine Co. Ceramic Nozzles, Inc. CFM/VR-TESCO LLC CK Worldwide, Inc. Dow Chemical Co. International Magnesium Assoc. Jetline Engineering Junction Tool Supplies Pty. Ltd. Lincoln Electric Company Magnafl ux Corp. Miller Electric Mfg. Co. Qualitest International LC Techalloy Maryland, Inc. The Harris Products Group Tinius Olsen VJ Technologies Walhonde Tools, Inc. Weldcraft, Inc. Welding Material Sales, Inc.