This report discusses the welding behaviors of the elements tungsten@ tantalum@ molybdenum@ columbium@ zirconium@ titanium and beryllium and their alloys. For purposes of discussion@ these elements have been divided into a refractory metals group comprised of the first four elements mentioned and a reactive metals group comprised of the last three elements. The refractory metals are members of Groups V-A and VI-A in the periodic table and consequently exhibit many similar properties. Property similarities among the reactive elements are not consistent since beryllium is a member of Group 11-A and titanium and zirconium are members of Group IV-A of the periodic table. Despite the group designation@ all metals discussed share the common characteristic of reacting with the atmospheric gases@ oxygen and nitrogen