Welding workpiece preparation

[windson]

What are the preparation jobs have to do to the workpiece before welding?

my workpiece is a square (10cm long x 5cm width x 0.8 cm thick) mild steel.

what jobs (such as grinding , cleaning and so on...) have to do before welding the workpiece?

[6010]

Being that it is just a tad over 5/16 of an inch thick, you won't have to bevel it unless you want to. If it is not rusty you won't have to do anything to it if it is mild steel. Couldn't you find a bigger piece of metal. I couldn't even see that without my glasses.