Ending a weld bead

[Jerry/MT]

It's been a while since I took a welding course but there were two things I never learned from the course; welding vertically and ending the weld bead.

I took the course to learn how to weld and most of the guys in the course were getting ready to get certified so the instructor spent all his time with those guys. Guess that's to be expected when they were trying to earn a living and I was just learning to weld so I could fix and fab stuff on the ranch.

I have a a few welding books but they just gloss over the how to finish the weld bead at the end of a weld so I thought I'd seek some advise from the folks on this forum. My endings all look like an "open puddle" and there is some burning or notching of plate or strip at the edge. the welds have never broken but they don't look very nice.

Any and all information woud be apreciated.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Shield Arc]

What I try to do when ending a weld. Now that's not including the times when I will continue the bead, but stopping all together. I turn the rod or gun more to a 90-degree angle to the plate, and backup 3/8 to 1/2-inch, and let the puddle fill.


Look at this spray arc weld, see how the puddle is almost full? And see how far back the puddle is? Now take note, this weld was run screaming hot! 207-amps on 1/4-inch plate is HOT!

 

[dstig1]

What SA said. Back up over the end of the weld a short bit and pause very briefly. It adds a bit more filler to the stop to prevent the crater.

 

[Jerry/MT]

Thanks guys. I thought it would be something simple.

 

[rcowan]

My O/A instructor told me to "Dip faster" as I got near the end/edge.

RC