Puddle Welding -
Then, on the 15th attempt, you will see it: a clean, flat, slightly overlapping series of dimes. No undercut. No slag traps. Just solid metal where a hole used to be.
In the polished world of modern welding — where robotic arms trace flawless laser seams and certified welders chase radiographic perfection — there exists a grimy, rain-soaked cousin. It has no ISO standard. It rarely appears in textbooks. Yet it has kept tractors running, bridges standing, and pipelines flowing for nearly a century. puddle welding
For stick (SMAW): run 10-15% below recommended. For MIG: drop voltage until the arc is soft. For TIG: low amperage, small tungsten. Then, on the 15th attempt, you will see
moving before the puddle freezes. That creates a “wagon track” — a groove full of slag and porosity. Wait until the red glow fades to black. 5. The Great Debate: Art or Crutch? Among welding purists, puddle welding occupies a strange moral category. Just solid metal where a hole used to be