Abstract: Workpieces to be joined by welding are held in juxtaposition to provide a joint location to which welding wire is to be fed. The welding wire is fed to the joint location from a passage in a welding wire feeder that is guided for movement relative to the workpieces and the joint location. As the welding wire feeder is moved relative to the joint location, welding wire passes from a groove in the feeder through an arcuate passage directed toward the joint location. During welding the feeder is moved relative to the workpieces along the weld line. The welding wire is melted at the joint location by being heated, such as by connecting a workpiece and the welding wire feeder to an electric circuit for producing a welding arc between the welding wire and the workpieces at the joint location.