Uneven weld on one side

[thunder85]

What can cause the upper side of a mig weld to be uneven. The fillet weld is perfectly straight on the lower side with good wetting but the upper side is like smalls waves. Could it be just the transversal angle that is not quite right?

[ronsii]

Pics?

What if any... are the differences in the two sides for material mass??

[Welder Dave]

Pics. would help diagnose the problem.

[G-ManBart]

As mentioned....pics, plus more details.

Are both pieces the same thickness? It could simply be a setting/torch angle issue as well...did you try to change things and see no difference?

[albrightree]

Pics?

What if any... are the differences in the two sides for material mass??

If doing a fillet weld between 16 gauge sheet, and a 1/2" plate. Yes gun angle, and motion can make a big difference, as well as heat setting. How its positioned can add difficulty too .Obviously you want most of the arc force going toward the thicker member which hopefully is on the top.
Pic's are always helpful.

[farmersammm]

Most of the welding I do.................the top leg is determined by the angle of the gun/rod against the vertical plane.

I look at that leg(top toe), and keep my angle at the proper degree to maintain the straight line on that leg. This is my reference point.

To establish a straight line on the lower toe, I gently move the arc force away from the vertical plate to make the bottom toe even.

Throughout the entire process, I'm gently oscillating the arc from the top line to the bottom line.

For a straight drag, no oscillation weld..................I simply aim the electrode at the vertical wall, and let the puddle flow down onto the bottom toe, while closely watching that bottom toe. With this technique, gravity is the only thing maintaining the straightness of that bottom toe. It takes more concentration.

I prefer oscillation because it wets both toes in better, because you're moving the heat between both toes.

Another note.................It's hard to make a good weld by just pointing the electrode at the root of the weld at a 45* angle. You really need to move that heat out to the toes to wet them in properly.

The movement is very gentle, and almost imperceptible..............try it for a while, and you'll catch on in a heartbeat.

[thunder85]

Thanks to all of you. I agree with you farmersammm, the oscillation help a lot by spreading the weld equally on both side. But making stringer bead is harder for me and that's why I want to practice stringer more than weaving. So again thanks to you ,I'm sure now my angle was the problem. Thank you again.

[Welder Dave]

Never a bad idea to do a slight weave with Mig on anything over 1/8" thick. Mig can look good but have cold lap. Weaving or cursive E's help eliminate cold lap by directing the arc to each side of the joint.