Arc Welding Processes I

Welding Technology · Level 6  ·  3 Chapters

▣ What this unit covers

In this unit, you will be able to confidently set up and operate arc welding equipment to create strong, precise welds on steel, all while keeping yourself and others safe through strict health and safety practices. You’ll learn to read and interpret welding drawings accurately, prepare materials and machines properly, and maintain your tools to ensure smooth, efficient work. By the end, you’ll not only perform quality welding in various positions but also keep your workspace clean and safe, ready to take on real-world welding challenges with skill and professionalism.

■ Where this takes you

When you master the arc-welding skills in this unit, you’ll find yourself in demand across many Kenyan workplaces that rely on strong, safe metal joins. Whether you join a large construction crew, run your own mobile workshop, or keep critical equipment humming in a factory, the abilities you develop open doors to steady income and career growth.

  • Construction sites in Nairobi’s CBD and emerging towns such as Eldoret and Kisumu - you read structural welding drawings, set the correct arc parameters, and join steel columns and beams up to 6 mm thick, earning a daily wage or contract fee while ensuring site safety through strict H&S practices.
  • Metal-fabrication workshops in Kiambu, Nakuru and Mombasa - you assemble welding machines, prepare steel plates, and produce gates, frames, and water tanks, charging clients per piece or per hour for your precise flat- and horizontal-position welds.
  • Road-construction and bridge-building projects in the counties - you perform on-site welding of reinforcement steel and steel plates, follow housekeeping rules to keep the work area tidy, and receive payment through project-based contracts or subcontractor agreements.
  • Agricultural-machinery repair centres in Nakuru and Kitale - you set up arc welders, cut and prepare parts, and repair faulty welding tools using manufacturer manuals, earning service fees for each tractor, harvester or irrigation pump you restore.
  • Ship-repair yards and boat-building yards along the Kenyan coast (Mombasa, Malindi) - you interpret marine-grade welding drawings, maintain welding equipment, and execute clean, strong welds on hull sections, receiving daily wages or piece-rate payments for each repair completed.
  • Manufacturing plants in Thika and Athi River (metal furniture, automotive body shops) - you conduct preventive maintenance on welding machines, keep the workshop clean, and perform welds on steel frames, earning a salaried position or overtime for meeting production targets.
  • Municipal maintenance departments in county capitals - you carry out routine welding of street-light brackets, fence repairs, and small-scale infrastructure, being paid a regular civil-service salary while applying strict safety and housekeeping standards.
  • Self-employed mobile welding service operating across the Rift Valley - you travel to farms, small factories, and residential sites, bring your own assembled equipment, set parameters on the spot, and charge clients for each welding job, pipe repair, or custom steel fabrication you complete.

Your ability to read drawings, set up equipment safely, keep workspaces clean, and maintain your tools makes you a versatile professional ready for Kenya’s growing infrastructure and manufacturing sectors. Keep practicing, stay safety-focused, and the opportunities will keep welding together!

Chapters

Practise this unit

Revise this unit

3 more for this unit

Beyond the syllabus