Important question please help!

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Ok the question is...when stick welding in the horizontal position does it matter if you stack the beads from top to bottom or bottom to top? Reason for question is when I first started welding school they started us just stacking beads in each position on plate. When I was showed how to stack beads in the horizontal position I was showed bottom up and top down. Stacking them top down is easier for me in that position they look great and hol iys a strong weld. I passed doing it that way. Well now less than two weeks away from graduating and 4 different teachers and new students every one in the class flipped out when they saw me practicing horizontal since I haven't welded that position in a while they flipped seeing me weld it top down said that its not possible that when getting certified it will be an automatic fail that it has to be done botrom up. Now I know with vertical you weld bottom to top but never heard of it with horizontal. Teacher says it doesn't matter with horizontal just going bottom to top is easier cause gravity causes the weld to sag and it gives yoo something to stack on. And going top down you have to control your puddle and speed more and its more difficult. None of my beads sag they look perfect like I welded them flat. So what's the difference is horizontal like vertical and can mainly only go bottom up?
Reply:I haven't seen any code work that says to stack from top down. I wouldn't know why you would unless maybe you were hardfacing something in position. I don't know why you would need to either. I was always taught to stack from the bottom up. That was on anything as well you just need to learn how to manipulate the puddle to keep the weld stacking in on top of the other bead and not have it wash out.I'm not sure but on any code work that I have ever done it was done stacking bottom up. Maybe someone else will chime in soon to give their experiences. Again I'm not an inspector so I'm not up to date on all the code work out there but I have never seen it done that way in the field.1973 Lincoln SA 200, Already replaced shunt coils, Idle board (SOLD)1984 Miller Dialarc 250HF, Miller water cooler, 250 AMP water cooled torch, you know the worx.
Reply:If you are stacking from the top to the bottom there is a real good chance of trapping slag. Gravity wants to pull everything down. When you stack from the bottom the majority of your heat is at the top of your weld puddle...that if your holding the proper 15 degree angle. If you hold that angle your beads will stack real nice.I have never seen it done top to bottom. I was taught bottom to top. Suppose to be a stronger weld.Hope this helps you some. My hood and I... Till death do us part
Reply:"Horizontal Weld" isn't very descriptive... Your welding school should instruct you better than that.  Are you referring to a 2G?If you ARE asking about a 2G weld, then I agree with both members ahead of me.  I was taught to stack bottom to top also.  Never seen a 2G stacked top to bottom.  Don't know WHY you would either.Welding the Hot Pass and Fill Passes from the bottom up you can USE gravity and rod manipulation to hold the puddle while you burn out impurities and slag and you can easily control weld deposit.  Stringer cap could be stacked top to bottom (Using a technique similiar to a 4F) but given the tight tolerances for height of buildup for a 2G it isn't worth the effort.Your mileage may vary.Later,Jason