Welding is an extremely technical and labor-intensive field that requires practice and precision. Welders operate large machinery and work with delicate materials using high heat. Make sure you are prepared before you begin to learn to weld.

Large fab shops employ a multitude of value-added processes, including welding, cutting, forming and machining. As with other manufacturing processes, both human labor and automation are commonly used. A fabricated product may be called a fabrication, and shops specializing in this type of work are called fab shops.

Sometimes welders will spend the day cutting, shaping, and combining materials to make different parts for a variety of industries. Some of these may include the construction, engineering, automobile, or aerospace fields. Whichever field you choose, the tasks tend to be similar across the board.

Cold welding techniques are commonly used to make butt or lap joints, typically between aluminum and copper wires. Hot welding has more uses than cold welding but is generally unsuitable for this task. That's because thermal energy, also known as heat, is used in hot welding techniques.