Informal name for the weld pool, the small volume of molten metal that forms under the arc and freezes behind it. Welders read the puddle for its size, fluidity and how it wets the edges, adjusting travel speed and angle to keep its shape right. Codes and textbooks say weld pool; nearly everyone in the shop says puddle.
Watch the puddle, not the arc, let it wet both toes before you move.
Also heard as
- weld pool
- pool
- molten pool
Related terms
Tie-in
How well a weld fuses into the base metal, the bead beside it, or the end of an earlier weld.
Burn-in
Shop word for how deeply a bead melts into the base metal or sidewalls, especially at the root and toes.
Stacking dimes
Slang for a weld bead with even, tight ripples that look like a row of overlapping coins.
Travel angle
The tilt of the electrode or gun along the direction of travel, described as push or drag.