Modern Welding, 13th Edition

 The Modern Welding, 13th Edition is a comprehensive and authoritative textbook intended for students, instructors, apprentices, and professionals in welding and related trades. Published by Goodheart‑Willcox, the revised edition is tailored to span a full two‑year welding curriculum, covering both foundational theory and advanced techniques. It is aligned to meet the requirements of AWS SENSE Level 1 and Level 2 certification programs. The content includes detailed treatment of all major welding and cutting processes currently used in industry: shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), gas metal arc welding (GMAW), flux‑cored arc welding, gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW), oxyfuel gas welding and cutting, and various thermal cutting methods. In addition to process instruction, the book includes sections on welding inspection and testing, print reading, welding symbol interpretation, safety, and nonstandard (trade) terminology. This edition also emphasizes practical, applied learning. It includes 30 step‑by‑step procedures that guide students through challenging welding‑related operations. Safety is heavily underscored: general shop safety and safety attitudes are introduced early, and safety information is highlighted in bold red throughout the text. The manual also provides numerous tables and charts (e.g. for recommended amperage, voltage, electrode size, welding speed, gas pressures, etc.), which serve as quick references for students and practitioners. Visually, Modern Welding, 13th Edition is richly illustrated with full‐color photographs and color‑coded drawings that help clarify each process and its equipment. The layout allows flexibility: chapters can be studied sequentially, or specific welding processes can be studied in isolation, depending on instructional needs. Metric (SI) and U.S. customary units are used throughout. Overall, this edition combines theoretical background, hands‑on technique, industry standards, and safety practices into a single, up‑to‑date resource, aiming to prepare students for both on‑the‑job performance and AWS certification.

Key aspects:

• Comprehensive Welding Coverage
• Aligned with AWS SENSE Standards
• Strong Emphasis on Safety
• Welding Symbols and Blueprint Reading
• Inspection and Testing
• Customary and Metric Units
• Flexible Curriculum Integration
• Career Readiness Focus

Highlights:

• Updated to Reflect Current Industry Standards
• 30 Step-by-Step Weld Procedures
• Color-Coded Visuals & Diagrams

About Authors

William A. Bowditch – has an extensive teaching and welding background. He has been a teacher, department head, and supervisor of special needs and vocational programs. In addition to his formal college training in preparation for teaching, Bill has taken several specialized courses in industry, such as the Hobart Welding School and American Welding Society courses. He is a member of the Association for Career and Technical Education and a life member of the American Welding Society. As a coauthor of Modern Welding, he has guided this Goodheart-Willcox book through many revisions to keep it up to date and technically correct in order to maintain its value as an authoritative welding text. He is also a coauthor of Welding Fundamentals.

Kevin E. Bowditch – Kevin E. Bowditch is a retired welding engineer specialist for Subaru of Indiana Automotive Inc. His welding experience includes working for two automotive firms, two aerospace firms, a construction company (building nuclear plants), and a precision sheet metal firm. His initial welding training was at the Hobart Institute of Welding Technology. He earned his bachelor’s degree in welding engineering from The Ohio State University, and has attended specialized conferences and courses sponsored by the American Welding Society, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and American National Standards Institute. At Subaru, he helped develop and validate welding parameters to make over one billion spot and arc welds per year. Kevin Bowditch joined his father as a coauthor of Modern Welding, beginning with the 1984 edition, and has been a coauthor of Welding Fundamentals since its first edition was published in 1991.

Other Works:

• Welding Fundamentals, 6th Edition
• Pipefitters Handbook, Third Edition