Sculpting with Welding with Hunter Herman, Vol. 1: Focus on SMAW (Stick)

In this no-nonsense tape, sculptor and welder Hunter Herman gives budding artists the blow-by-blow on the technical aspects of shielded metal arc (SMAW), or stick, welding. He discusses power sources, set-ups, arc distances, travel speeds, electrode positions, various welding "moves," metal grinding, oxy-fuel and plasma cutting, pneumatic and hand tools, storage options, and finishing techniques. He ends the tape by fabricating and assembling a metal sculpture using the procedures outlined in the program. In addition to all that, Herman spends a lot of time (at least 20 minutes, altogether) discussing the safety requirements for this activity. And well he should: between the light flashes, flying metal, noise, toxic fumes, EMF exposure, gas tanks, heavy equipment, and nuclear-level heating, you've got to be dead serious in order to take on this medium as either vocation or hobby. Maybe that's why Herman is so very staid on camera: his delivery is completely without expression or humor; in fact, he appears to be reading a script for the entire 84 minutes. Still, he gets the job done, and his tape is recommended for arts and crafts and vocational programs. A second volume covering gas metal arc welding (GMAW), and a third devoted to gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW), are also available for the same price. Aud: H, C, P. (K. Glaser)