www.parweld.com
12
problem
Cause/Corrective action
Incomplete fusion to base metal
Work piece dirty. Remove all
grease, oil, moisture, rust,
paint, coatings, and dirt from
work surface before welding.
Insufficient heat input. Select
higher voltage range and/or
adjust wire feed speed.
Improper welding technique.
Place stringer bead in proper
locations) at joint during
welding.
Adjust work angle or widen
groove to access bottom
during welding.
Momentarily hold arc on
groove side walls when using
weaving technique.
Keep arc on leading edge of
weld puddle. Use correct gun
angle of 0 to 15 degrees.
Excessive Penetration – weld
metal melting through base
metal and hanging underneath
weld.
Excessive heat input. Select
lower voltage range and
reduce wire feed speed.
Increase travel speed.
Lack Of Penetration - shallow
Fusion between weld metal and
Base metal.
Improper joint preparation.
Material too thick. Joint
preparation and design must
provide access to bottom of
groove while maintaining
Proper welding wire extension
and arc characteristics.
Improper weld technique.
Maintain normal gun angle of
0 to 15 degrees to achieve
maximum penetration. Keep
arc on leading edge of weld
puddle. Ensure welding wire
extends not more than 13 mm
beyond nozzle.
Insufficient heat input. Select
higher wire feed speed and/or
select higher voltage range.
Reduce travel speed.
Burn-Through - weld metal
melting
Completely through base metal
Resulting in holes where no
metal remains.
Excessive heat input. Select
lower voltage range and
reduce wire feed speed.
Increase and/or maintain
steady travel speed.
problem
Cause/Corrective action
Excessive Spatter - scattering of
Molten metal particles that cool
to solid form near weld bead.
Wire feed speed too high.
Select lower wire feed speed.
Voltage too high. Select lower
voltage range.
Electrode extension (stick out)
too long. Use shorter electrode
extension (sick out).
Work piece dirty. Remove all
grease, oil, moisture, rust,
paint, undercoating, and dirt
from work surface before
welding.
Insufficient shielding gas at
welding arc. Increase flow of
shielding gas at regulator/flow
meter and/or prevent drafts
near welding arc.
Dirty welding wire. Use clean,
dry welding wire. Eliminate
pickup of oil or lubricant on
welding wire from feeder or
liner.
Wire feed unit operates but no
gas flow .
Gas cylinder empty
Gas regulator closed
Faulty solenoid
Restriction in torch cables
Wire feed unit operates, but
does not feed
Insufficient drive roll pressure
Incorrect drive rolls
Excessive wire spool brake
tension
Incorrect liner
Blocked liner
Bird nesting
Burn back
Bird nesting
Excessive feed roll pressure
Incorrect or blocked liner
Incorrect contact tip size
Contact tip overheating
Restriction in torch cable
Misaligned drive rolls or wire
guides
Excessive cable kinkage
Burn back
Improper voltage setting
Improper stick out
Erratic wire feed
Incorrect or blocked liner
Contact tip overheating
Excessive cable kinking
