Abstract: Methods and apparatus for manufacturing welded metal tubes of finite length in which an almost complete, axially split tube is advanced into a welding head where one edge face at one side of the split is accurately positioned and clamped and then the other edge face at the opposite side of the split is pressed against the one edge face. The welding head comprises a retractable edge face guide for said one edge face, clamping devices for holding and applying pressure to the tube, a proximity conductor over and extending along the abutting edge faces and contacts engagable with the opposite ends of the tube adjacent the abutting edge faces and connected to a high frequency current source for electrically heating the metal adjacent the edge faces to forge welding temperature.