Weave bead welding involves making a weaving pattern to cover a larger area in the joint. This technique is very popular among welders and can be noticed both during in-progress welding and after weld completion. A stringer bead is easily achieved by either pulling or pushing your torch along the weld joint. There should be almost no side-to-side movement.

So, you may wonder, what is the big deal? Well, it all depends on the welded joint service. For critical applications such as dynamic or pressurized welded joints, weave bead welding is not a good idea. Weave bead welding increases the heat input due to its longer/slower path along the joint when compared to stringer beads. This undermines the mechanical properties of the joint by enlarging the heat-affected zone (HAZ). Also, if Charpy v-notch impact toughness is required, multiple stringer beads will have a higher likelihood to pass the test.

Solution: read your welding procedure and follow the essential variables. Otherwise, your weld may not be as sound as you think.