Troubleshooting
Why is my stick welding lack of fusion?
Quick answer
Lack of fusion in stick welding usually means too cold, too fast, or welding over mill scale without penetration. For this process, raise amps; a long lazy arc fuses nothing before touching anything else.
The specific fix
Raise amps; a long lazy arc fuses nothing. The general rule: raise amps, slow travel, grind to bright metal, watch the wetting at the edges.
Process checklist
- Arc too long — stick wants a rod-width gap or less
- Dragging too fast, leaving thin, weak, undercut beads
- Not chipping and brushing slag between multi-passes — slag inclusions
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