Clarke WE6442, Operating Manual

Page: 21 / 62

21
There are two basic types of weld beads, the
stringer bead and the weave bead.
1. The STRINGER BEAD (Figure 19) is
formed by traveling with the gun in a straight
line while keeping the wire and nozzle
centered over the weld joint. This is the easi-
est type of bead to make.
2. The WEAVE BEAD (Figure 20) is used
when you want to deposit metal over a wider
space than would be possible with a stringer
bead. It is made by weaving from side to
side while moving with the gun. It is best to
hesitate momentarily at each side before
weaving back the other way.
WELDING POSITIONS
There are four basic welding positions: flat,
horizontal, vertical, and overhead.
1. The FLAT POSITION (Figure 21) is the
easiest of the welding positions and is most
commonly used. It is best if you can weld in
the flat position if at all possible as good
results are easier to achieve.
2. The HORIZONTAL POSITION (Figure 22)
is next in difficulty level. It is performed very
much the same as the flat weld except that
angle B (see HOLDING THE GUN - p.19) is
such that the wire, and therefore the arc force,
is directed more toward the metal above the
weld joint. This is to help prevent the weld
puddle from running downward while still
allowing slow enough travel speed to achieve
good penetration. A good starting point for
angle B is about 30 degrees DOWN from
being perpendicular to the work piece.
3. The VERTICAL POSITION (Figure 23) is
the next most difficult position. Pulling the
gun from top to bottom may be easier for
many people, but in some instances it can
be difficult to prevent the puddle from
running downward. Pushing the gun from
bottom to top may provide better puddle
control and allow slower rates of travel
speed to achieve deeper penetration. When
vertical welding, angle B (see HOLDING
THE GUN - p.19) is usually always kept at
zero, but angle A will generally range from 45
to 60 degrees to provide better puddle
control.
Figure 22. Horizontal Position
Figure 21. Flat Position
Figure 19. Stringer Bead
Figure 20. Weave Bead
Figure 23. Vertical Position