Ride the Wave, Not the Puddle
Ride the Wave, Not the Puddle
The GMAW flat (S-class) is your first qualifying position鈥攁nd one of the most commonly failed because it seems 鈥渆asy.鈥 In this video, Kevin Roy shows exactly how to pass it: control your arc and travel speed, manage starts/stops, and鈥攎ost importantly鈥攔ide the wave, not the puddle to get penetration.
What you鈥檒l learn
- Test plan & setup: Two starts/stops; square side 鈫 bevel side workflow
- 鈥淩ide the wave鈥 principle: Stay ahead of the puddle to ensure penetration
- Backer bar advantage: Use the entire bar to preheat, stabilize, and avoid low ends
-
Root technique:
- Small, hot first pass; move quickly; don鈥檛 encroach on the bevel side
- On the second root pass, start way back, use the material to heat the backer & coupon
- Edge control: Watch the edge melt away, then move鈥攏o dwelling
-
Restart strategy for cold starts (MIG):
- Do not start at the crater and go backward
- Start behind the stop where the puddle solidified, let the arc settle, tie in, small pause, go
- Interpass cleaning: Wire-wheel between passes to remove silica/dirt
- Capping & profile: Keep edges maintained, avoid excessive width/height; fix undercut/underfill with an extra pass if needed
Welding Fundamentals
Welding Fundamentals
Fundamentals of Porosity
Exploring the details of weld metal porosity
Videos
Videos
What's New in CSA W47.1 2025
A breakdown of the CSA W47.1 welding standard updates for 2025
Stick vs. Push-Pull MIG on Aluminum
Kevin Roy provides a walk-through