Reading the Puddle?

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I'm a bit confused here so If someone would clarify and help me out that would be great . I often here people saying "what's your method?" whip and pause, circular motions, little e's, timing patterns and what not. Yesterday I was reading some old threads and someone mentioned reading the puddle. Before yesterday I've heard about "reading the puddle" but I had no idea what that meant. Then yesterday it dawned on me  and I understood what "reading the puddle" was!!! looking at the width of the puddle, direction your headed, the slag being deposited and what not. Although which of these methods is best? Right amount of penetration, easy removal of slag, and overall a better looking weld? I think I might stick to the "reading the puddle" method what do you guys think?
Reply:I'm not sure what you're asking.Watching the puddle is done every time you weld. It's not a method of welding."What's your method" is usually referring to a specific technique or process. For example, when putting in a root pass with a 6010, most people use the "method" to whip and pause the rod. When doing mig, some use the technique of making cursive e's.Last edited by akabadnews; 09-05-2013 at 08:18 PM.Reason: derp
Reply:Originally Posted by aav1996I'm a bit confused here so If someone would clarify and help me out that would be great . I often here people saying "what's your method?" whip and pause, circular motions, little e's, timing patterns and what not. Yesterday I was reading some old threads and someone mentioned reading the puddle. Before yesterday I've heard about "reading the puddle" but I had no idea what that meant. Then yesterday it dawned on me  and I understood what "reading the puddle" was!!! looking at the width of the puddle, direction your headed, the slag being deposited and what not. Although which of these methods is best? Right amount of penetration, easy removal of slag, and overall a better looking weld? I think I might stick to the "reading the puddle" method what do you guys think?
Reply:Originally Posted by akabadnewsI'm not sure what you're asking.Watching the puddle is done every time you weld. It's not a method of welding."What's your method" is usually referring to a specific technique or process. For example, when putting in a root pass with a 6010, most people use the "method" to whip and pause the rod. When doing mig, some use the technique of making cursive e's.
Reply:I tend to try and separate "reading the puddle" for what I call "timing patterns". With a timing pattern the person is simply making a series of practiced motions that often have little or nothing to do with the end result. Even if you are making pretty welds, you don't actually have control over what is happening. A person who can read the puddle can react and adjust for changing conditions. If a gap is to wide, you can change how you manipulate the rod to maintain the end result you want. If the gap then closes up, you again adapt based on what you are seeing happen. A person doing a timing pattern won't do this. They keep doing that 1...2...3...4... or what ever pattern they employ, but the changing conditions means they will end up with poor results.Whip and pause,  oscillation an weave is just a name for a certain rod manipulation. A person who is reading the puddle varies say a whip and pause based on what they are seeing and the result they are getting. If your keyhole is opening up to much, you alter the whip and pause to cause you to deposit more material and dig less. If the joint has closed up, you whip more to dig and develop that keyhole that you want and deposit less material.It sounds like you are starting to have an understanding of the puddle, but haven't quite got that "Ah HA!" moment quite yet. Some times it takes a bit until your mind registers what your eyes are seeing..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan