Put on welding helmet, gloves, flame-resistant clothing, and safety boots
Work in a well-ventilated area
Clear the area of flammable materials
Inspect the welder, cables, torch, clamps, and electrodes
Clean the metal surfaces to remove rust, paint, oil, and dirt
Secure the workpieces with clamps
Set the correct welding process, polarity, voltage, amperage, and wire speed
Attach the ground clamp to clean bare metal
Strike the arc or start the torch according to the welding type
Hold the correct angle and maintain a steady travel speed
Keep the proper arc length
Move the weld along the joint in a consistent pattern
Stop periodically if needed to control heat and distortion
Let the weld cool safely
Inspect the weld for cracks, porosity, undercut, and incomplete fusion
Clean slag or spatter from the weld if required
Repeat passes if a thicker joint needs multiple layers
Turn off the machine and store equipment properly