Welding in Knox Country is no mere skill, as it’s one of the cornerstones of survival. With Project Zomboid Build 42 ushering in a new era of crafting, this major update reworked how survivors interact with heat and metal. Now, metalworking is a nuanced system that allows players to spearhead a new industrial revolution in the zombie apocalypse.

Project Zomboid Welding Skill Guide (Build 42): An Overview

In Project Zomboid Build 42, the familiar acts of building, repairing, and dismantling metal are now converged into the Welding skill. Aside from using ingredients to craft metallic objects, this skill also allows the player to barricade windows and doors using metal. Increasing this skill’s level also unlocks other actions, including repairing car parts and disassembling metal objects. Additionally, becoming more proficient in this skill allows the survivor to craft better items and allocate more HP to crafted items and structures.

Occupations Affecting Welding

As of Version 42.20, two occupations positively impact the Welding skill: Welder and Mechanic. Choosing the Welder immediately bumps the Welding skill to Level 4 when you first spawn into Knox Country. On the other hand, choosing the Mechanic only grants you Welding Lv. 1, but it offers Mechanics Lv. 4 instead. Read skill books directly focusing on Welding to increase this skill’s level. The volumes to watch out for while exploring the map are the following:

Welding Skill Books

• Welding Lv. 1 – 2: Welding I: “Basics of Welding”
• Welding Lv. 3 – 4: Welding II: “Building with Metal”
• Welding Lv. 5 – 6: Welding III: “Machining Metal: The Mass Genfac Guide”
• Welding Lv. 7 – 8: Welding IV: “Ore to Sheets: A Complete Metalworking Manual”
• Welding Lv. 9 – 10: Welding V: “Technological Fundamentals of Metal Fabrication”

How to Level Up Welding Fast

Aside from reading Welding books, players can also complete certain tasks that provide XP to this skill, such as dismantling cars. Dismantling metal objects and barricading windows and doors with metal can also yield Welding XP, but only when the sandbox option is active. So, the best ways to level up Welding fast in Project Zomboid on standard difficulties are to read skill books and to weld as many objects as possible.

Welding Crafting Recipes

Knox Country welders can unlock new crafting recipes by reading specific magazines, namely the following:

• Magazine: Welder Monthly - June 1993
• Magazine: Welder Monthly - May 1993
• Magazine: Welder Monthly - April 1993
• Magazine: Welder Monthly - March 1993
• Magazine: Everyday Smithing - June 1993
• Magazine: Everyday Smithing - May 1993
• Magazine: Everyday Smithing - April 1993
• Magazine: Small-Scale Smithing
• Magazine: Blunt Forge
• Magazine: Modern Blacksmithing at Home
• Magazine: Medieval Armory - June 1993
• Magazine: American Bladecraft
• Magazine: Iron Age Blacksmithing
• Magazine: Medieval Blacksmithing
• Magazine: Medieval Armory - May 1993

Once learned, you’ll now have access to various crafting recipes in Project Zomboid Build 42 that require the Welding skill. Below are the many blueprints you can use to take advantage of the game’s metalworking mechanic:

2x Iron Bar, Steel Bar Half, Iron Bar Quarter, or Steel Bar Quarter

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x Welding Torch and 1x (Iron Bar, Iron Bar Half, Steel Bar Half, or Steel Bar)
• Required Tools: 1x Welding Mask
• Required Skills: Welding Lv. 1
• Workstation: Any crafting surface
• XP Gained: +10 Welding XP

4x Steel Chunk

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x Welding Torch and 1x (Iron Block, Iron Block (Pierced), Steel Block (Pierced), or Steel Block (Pierced))
• Required Tools: 1x Welding Mask
• Required Skills: Welding Lv. 1
• Workstation: Any crafting surface
• XP Gained: +10 Welding XP

2x Circular Sawblade Half

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x Welding Torch and 1x Circular Sawblade
• Required Tools: 1x Welding Mask
• Required Skills: Welding Lv. 4
• Workstation: N/A
• XP Gained: +25 Welding XP

3x Steel Block

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x Welding Torch and 1x (Iron Ingot, Iron Ingot (Pierced), Steel Ingot (Pierced), or Steel Ingot))
• Required Tools: 1x Welding Mask
• Required Skills: Welding Lv. 2
• Workstation: Any crafting surface
• XP Gained: +10 Welding XP

4x Iron Band – Small

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x Welding Torch and 1x Iron Band
• Required Tools: 1x Welding Mask
• Required Skills: Welding Lv. 4
• Workstation: N/A
• XP Gained: +25 Welding XP

Draw Plate

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x Steel Bar Quarter
• Required Tools: N/A
• Required Skills: Welding Lv. 3
• Workstation: Standing Drill Press
• XP Gained: +10 Welding XP

Heading Tool

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x (Steel Bar Quarter or Iron Bar Quarter)
• Required Tools: N/A
• Required Skills: Welding Lv. 3
• Workstation: Standing Drill Press
• XP Gained: +10 Welding XP

Iron Block (Pierced)

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x Iron Block
• Required Tools: N/A
• Required Skills: Welding Lv. 2
• Workstation: Standing Drill Press
• XP Gained: N/A

Iron Chunk (Pierced)

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x Iron Chunk
• Required Tools: N/A
• Required Skills: Welding Lv. 1
• Workstation: Standing Drill Press
• XP Gained: N/A

Iron Ingot (Pierced)

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x Iron Ingot
• Required Tools: N/A
• Required Skills: Welding Lv. 3
• Workstation: Standing Drill Press
• XP Gained: N/A

Steel Block (Pierced)

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x Steel Block
• Required Tools: N/A
• Required Skills: Welding Lv. 3
• Workstation: Standing Drill Press
• XP Gained: N/A

Steel Chunk (Pierced)

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x Steel Chunk
• Required Tools: N/A
• Required Skills: Welding Lv. 2
• Workstation: Standing Drill Press
• XP Gained: N/A

Steel Ingot (Pierced)

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x Steel Ingot
• Required Tools: N/A
• Required Skills: Welding Lv. 4
• Workstation: Standing Drill Press
• XP Gained: N/A

Barbed Wire

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x Wire
• Required Tools: 1x Pliers
• Required Skills: N/A
• Workstation: Any crafting surface
• XP Gained: N/A

Steel Sheet

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x Welding Torch and 4x Steel Sheet – Small
• Required Tools: 1x Welding Mask
• Required Skills: Welding Lv. 4
• Workstation: N/A
• XP Gained: +25 Welding XP

Scrap Metal Body Armor

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x Welding Torch, 4x Steel Sheet, 6x Leather Strips, 1x Nuts and Bolts, 4x Buckle, and 2x Any Thread
• Required Tools: 1x Welding Mask, 1x Wrench, 1x Hammer, 1x Sewing Needle, 1x (Awl, Handiknife, Ice Pick, Multitool, Awl – Bone, or Awl – Stone), 1x (Steel Metal Snips or Metal Saw), 1x (Metalworking Punch or Hand Drill), and 1x (Scissors or Sharp Knife)
• Required Skills: Welding Lv. 6 and Tailoring Lv. 1
• Workstation: Any crafting surface
• XP Gained: +10 Welding XP and +5 Tailoring XP

Scrap Metal Forearm Armor

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x Welding Torch, 1x Steel Sheet – Small, 2x Leather Strips, 1x Nuts and Bolts, 2x Buckle, and 1x Any Thread
• Required Tools: 1x Welding Mask, 1x Wrench, 1x Hammer, 1x Sewing Needle, 1x (Awl, Handiknife, Ice Pick, Multitool, Awl – Bone, or Awl – Stone), 1x (Steel Metal Snips or Metal Saw), 1x (Metalworking Punch or Hand Drill), and 1x (Scissors or Sharp Knife)
• Required Skills: Welding Lv. 5 and Tailoring Lv. 1
• Workstation: Any crafting surface
• XP Gained: +10 Welding XP and +5 Tailoring XP

Fingerless Gloves – Scrap Metal

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x Welding Torch, 1x Leather Strips, 1x Steel Sheet – Small, and 1x (Fingerless Gloves, Fingerless Gloves – Leather, or Leather Gloves)
• Required Tools: 1x Welding Mask, 1x Hammer, 1x (Steel Metal Snips or Metal Saw), and 1x (Metalworking Punch or Hand Drill)
• Required Skills: Welding Lv. 4 and Tailoring Lv. 1
• Workstation: Any crafting surface
• XP Gained: +10 Welding XP and +5 Tailoring XP

Scrap Metal Helmet

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x Welding Torch, 2x Steel Sheet, and 1x Nuts and Bolts
• Required Tools: 1x Welding Mask, 1x Hammer, 1x (Steel Metal Snips or Metal Saw), and 1x (Metalworking Punch or Hand Drill)
• Required Skills: Welding Lv. 5 and Tailoring Lv. 1
• Workstation: Any crafting surface
• XP Gained: +10 Welding XP and +5 Tailoring XP

Scrap Metal Mask

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x Welding Torch, 1x Steel Sheet – Small, 1x Leather Strips, 1x Nuts and Bolts, and 1x Any Thread
• Required Tools: 1x Welding Mask, 1x Wrench, 1x Hammer, 1x Sewing Needle, 1x (Awl, Handiknife, Ice Pick, Multitool, Awl – Bone, or Awl – Stone), 1x (Steel Metal Snips or Metal Saw), 1x (Metalworking Punch or Hand Drill), and 1x (Scissors or Sharp Knife)
• Required Skills: Welding Lv. 4 and Tailoring Lv. 1
• Workstation: Any crafting surface
• XP Gained: +10 Welding XP and +5 Tailoring XP

Scrap Metal Shin Armor

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x Welding Torch, 1x Steel Sheet – Small, 1x Leather Strips, 1x Nuts and Bolts, 2x Buckle, and 1x Any Thread
• Required Tools: 1x Welding Mask, 1x Wrench, 1x Hammer, 1x Sewing Needle, 1x (Awl, Handiknife, Ice Pick, Multitool, Awl – Bone, or Awl – Stone), 1x (Steel Metal Snips or Metal Saw), 1x (Metalworking Punch or Hand Drill), and 1x (Scissors or Sharp Knife)
• Required Skills: Welding Lv. 5 and Tailoring Lv. 1
• Workstation: Any crafting surface
• XP Gained: +10 Welding XP and +5 Tailoring XP

Scrap Metal Shoulder Armor

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x Welding Torch, 1x Steel Sheet – Small, 1x Leather Strips, 1x Nuts and Bolts, 1x Buckle, and 1x Any Thread
• Required Tools: 1x Welding Mask, 1x Wrench, 1x Hammer, 1x Sewing Needle, 1x (Awl, Handiknife, Ice Pick, Multitool, Awl – Bone, or Awl – Stone), 1x (Steel Metal Snips or Metal Saw), 1x (Metalworking Punch or Hand Drill), and 1x (Scissors or Sharp Knife)
• Required Skills: Welding Lv. 5 and Tailoring Lv. 1
• Workstation: Any crafting surface
• XP Gained: +10 Welding XP and +5 Tailoring XP

Scrap Metal Thigh Armor

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x Welding Torch, 1x Steel Sheet – Small, 1x Leather Strips, 1x Nuts and Bolts, 2x Buckle, and 1x Any Thread
• Required Tools: 1x Welding Mask, 1x Wrench, 1x Hammer, 1x Sewing Needle, 1x (Awl, Handiknife, Ice Pick, Multitool, Awl – Bone, or Awl – Stone), 1x (Steel Metal Snips or Metal Saw), 1x (Metalworking Punch or Hand Drill), and 1x (Scissors or Sharp Knife)
• Required Skills: Welding Lv. 5 and Tailoring Lv. 1
• Workstation: Any crafting surface
• XP Gained: +10 Welding XP and +5 Tailoring XP

4x Steel Sheet – Small

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x Welding Torch and 1x Steel Sheet
• Required Tools: 1x Welding Mask
• Required Skills: Welding Lv. 4
• Workstation: N/A
• XP Gained: +25 Welding XP

Spiked Scrap Metal Thigh Armor, Spiked Scrap Metal Shin Armor, Spiked Scrap Metal Forearm Armor Spiked Scrap Metal Shoulder Armor, Spiked Scrap Metal Thigh Armor, Spiked Scrap Metal Shin Armor, Spiked Scrap Metal Forearm Armor, Spiked Scrap Metal Shoulder Armor, Spiked Metal Thigh Armor, Spiked Metal Shin Armor, Spiked Metal Forearm Armor, Spiked Metal Shoulder Armor, Spiked Metal Thigh Armor, Spiked Metal Shin Armor, Spiked Metal Forearm Armor, Spiked Metal Shoulder Armor, Spiked Articulated Metal Shoulder Armor – Left, Spiked Articulated Metal Shin Armor, Spiked Articulated Metal Shoulder Armor – Right, or Spiked Articulated Metal Shin Armor

• Crafting Ingredients: 1x Welding Torch, 3x Nails, and 1x (Scrap Metal Thigh Armor, Scrap Metal Shin Armor, Scrap Metal Forearm Armor Scrap Metal Shoulder Armor, Scrap Metal Thigh Armor, Scrap Metal Shin Armor, Scrap Metal Forearm Armor, Scrap Metal Shoulder Armor, Metal Thigh Armor, Metal Shin Armor, Metal Forearm Armor, Metal Shoulder Armor, Metal Thigh Armor, Metal Shin Armor, Metal Forearm Armor, Metal Shoulder Armor, Articulated Metal Shoulder Armor – Left, Articulated Metal Shin Armor, Articulated Metal Shoulder Armor – Right, or Articulated Metal Shin Armor)
• Required Tools: 1x Welding Mask
• Required Skills: Welding LV. 5
• Workstation: Any crafting surface
• XP Gained: +10 Welding XP