HOW TO JUDGE A WELD, One thousand words can tell you more than one picture.

But of course!
Edit; A raised ridge, or a depressed groove creates a stress riser, but the ridge doesn't weaken the tensile strength of the weld, whilst the depressed groove does. Both, however, create a stress riser. To use the old saw, if it looks like, feels like, it's....... Edit;
But that brings us back to the original premise. How can I tell by looking at it? I understand the qualifying, "potential problem", and the "if" of it, however, again, a person that didn't do the weld or look over the shoulder whilst it's being done, can't judge that.
I think we've been over this before..............

 

Wonderful read. Thanks.

 

You can't, and I never said you could. I'm not going to argue in circles with you again when you clearly don't get what I'm trying to point out.

Edit: If you understand the "potential problem", then you should understand my point. By presenting what I would consider a "pretty" weld, as I have defined earlier, you are limiting "potential problems". That's it. Which is why your goal should be to have a "pretty" weld from the root to the face. Mind you that it isn't a cosmetic appearance for the sake of aesthetics, but for the sake of integrity.

 

That's good. Thank you. No argument. We both agree with the premise of the thread, that the strength of a weld cannot be judged from its appearance. I'd appreciate it if you take your decorative weld discussion to another place. Thank you.

 

I'm going to edit my last post, to clarify one point.

 

Great post!!!

 

I'm not much for welding but did take a course at the local community college one summer years ago. You didn't learn anything about electric arc welding until you learned to gas weld, the way many old style hotrods were built. And yes, we did have to weld plates together in various positions and try to tear them apart in a vise to verify the quality of the welds. Sadly, work requirements selling parts to all you hot rod guys and restorers at Specialized Auto Parts made it impossible to finish up the courses but I am capable of doing the tack job so a real welder can sew it up right.
Our teacher always said that you should never learn the art of welding without knowing how to gas weld FIRST.

 

i had metal shop with Bill Burke {'73}as my instructor,and he taught me how to weld with gas and electric.......have never had a weld break.The process was explained clearly,and therefore i was able to practice knowing how to recognize good technique as well as bad.Thanks Bill

 

I carried an Journeyman Welder Helper book thru 798 Pipeliners Union for 11 years. I have worked main line and in the Fab yard.I have seen many a weld that looked good on the outside(cap)get busted out.(Ran Off).So true and informative thread.Here,Here!!!

 

Excellent point. A couple of items on my custom I took to a shop, the crossmember for the steering rack, and the spindles where I modified them...... The spindles needed to be fused with something approaching 200amps. And for certain, those welds weren't ground off for a smoothe 'look'.