What to Look for in a Good Spot Weld

A spot weld can be visually examined for flaws.

There are many ways to inspect a spot weld; however, most of these methods are expensive or require special equipment. A visual examination is an inexpensive method, although there are some drawbacks.

Spot Welding

A spot weld is a specific type of weld made either on, or between, overlapping metal pieces, typically sheets of metal. These welds are generally small and several welds are usually required to join two pieces.

Good Signs

A good spot weld should show no cracking of any kind or trapped impurities. A good weld should also be flat and of a sufficient size to hold the pieces together, although a weld that is too large is also undesirable.

Drawbacks

A spot weld may look good, but is not actually a good weld unless it penetrates through the top layer and to the bottom layer. This cannot be determined visually; a visual inspection can only look for surface flaws.

References

• Toolingu: What is the Definition of a Spot Weld?
• The ABC's of Nondestructive Weld Examination
• Eastwood Spot Weld Gun Instructions