Monster Garage: How to Weld Damn Near Anything

by Richard Finch

Want to learn how to weld just like they do on Monster Garage? This invaluable guide to welding covers techniques used for Indy and NASCAR race cars, experimental aircraft, and other applications requiring high-quality welds, including welding 4130 steel, stainless and aluminum, as well as plasma cutting. Learn how to select equipment, set up your welding shop, pre-weld jigging and fitting, and how to choose the right process and fill metal for each project. Includes chapters on the latest technology in filler metals and welding rod. - The techniques used by the gearhead geniuses on the amazingly popular Discovery Channel series, Monster Garage, are brought to life in this illustrated how-to book- Includes brand-new photography from the set of Monster Garage, showing the experts using the techniques in the book- Learn the ins and outs of the hottest welding techniques in the business from established pros- Includes a section on plasma cutting, a technique used extensively on the show that has revolutionized metal working

160 pages, Paperback

First published July 31, 2004

Reviews

[Liz Marchiondo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Redundant and poorly designed/laid out. Would have benefitted from some major reorganizing.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all, this book has been very interesting to me. It has been over many different kinds of welding. Such as mig welding, stick welding, and tig welding. It also goes over the settings of the machines and how to operate the machines. The book also goes over cutting. As in oxy-acetylene cutting, and plasma cutting. Although the book didn't give the actual "How to" weld it did provide lots of great information, but I would think for a piece of paper to show you actually how to do something you know nothing about would be pretty hard.
Second, I really enjoyed how informative this book was. The book has taught me many things about welding. For half of the tools in there, I didn't know their actual name before reading the book. Even some of the tools I haven't even seen before, but now after reading this book I can recognize almost every tool in the shop when I am in there.
Next, I also liked that the book was very descriptive. On everything, the book went over it described it very in-depth. It showed me many things about welding that I never knew and probably wouldn't have known if I didn't continue my interest in the trade. The book also went over many times what machine is which and what they all are used for.
Next, the book in my eyes is for anyone. Although I could see it attracting many people with interest from the trades side of work. The book also would attract many people that are simply interested in learning new things and aren't afraid to put what they learn to use and get their hands dirty. All in all this book has been very interesting to read, it has taught me (a freshman in high school) many things about the welding trade that I did not know before reading the book.

[D. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit superficial - rather than an "essential how-to" book on welding, it gives sound advice on setting up a weld shop with gear and suitable safety measures. Different types of welding are introduced and compared with pro-and-cons for each. The photos are great, but the technical info is sorely lacking. This book will tell you what you need, how to ask for it, and what your finished work ought to look like. It will not teach you to weld any more than an hour chatting with one of these guys at a cocktail party might, but it will encourage you to seek out knowledgeable people in your community. Do not be fooled by the admittedly awesome title.
Oh, did I mention how impressive some of the photos are?

[Brent · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good information, but they kind of missed on the "How to" part. Not much instruction.

[Derek · Rating 4 out of 5]

I haven't tested it out yet. If I can actually weld, then I would raise it to 5 stars.