How to Finish the Weld

Arc welding is the process of forming a joint between 2 pieces of metal by melting the pieces and adding molten metal as filler. The joint then becomes strong when the metal cools. Making a good weld by hand is an exacting task requiring considerable precision, particularly in regard to the completed weld. The following steps will show how to finish a weld.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

1. Draw the weld to a sufficient length. The weld will be ineffective if you stop before reaching the edge of the metal. The weld should come just to the edge of the metal where it will join with another piece. The welding torch will burn a hole through the weld at the space between the 2 pieces of metal if you continue past the edge.

2. Fill in the end of the weld before removing the welding tip. Swirl the tip slightly to ensure there is enough filler at the end of the weld to prevent a pit from forming.

3. Look for overwelding. This is probably the single most common mistake in welding and may be identified by a weld that is wider than it needs to be. It increases the cost while adding little to the weld's strength.

4. Examine the weld for buildup. The bead surface should be nearly flat because there is rarely a need for more than 1/16 inch of buildup. Excessive buildup increases the weld's cost and distortion.

5. Check the penetration of the weld. The weld should enter the base metal all the way down to the bottom of the joint. A weld's penetration is usually not visible and must be empirically tested.

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