SELF-LEARNING HOME TASK (SLHT)

Subject: TLE SMAW Grade Level: 9 Quarter: 3 Week: 11

MELC: _Deposit straight bead__________________________ Competency Code: TLE_IAAW9-12LB-IIf-j-2

Name: _____________________________ Section: _____________________ Date: _____________________

School: BUANOY NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL District: BALAMBAN II

A. Readings/Discussions

DEPOSIT STRAIGHT BEAD

A weld bead is a weld deposit produced by a single pass with one of the welding processes. A
weld bead may be either narrow or wide, depending on the amount of transverse oscillation (side to
side movement) used by the welder. As a beginner, the first type of weld that you will learn to produce
is called a weld bead.

For many people, especially those who are new to it or perhaps don’t weld every day,  stick
welding, otherwise known as shielded metal arc welding (SMAW), is one of the more difficult
processes to learn. Experienced welders who can pick up a stinger, pop an electrode in and lay down
great welds time after time can inspire great awe in the rest of us. They make it look easy. 

The rest of us may struggle with it, though. And we don’t have to, not if we pay attention to five
basic elements of our technique: current setting, length of arc, angle of electrode, manipulation of
electrode and speed of travel — or CLAMS, for short. Properly addressing these five basic areas can
improve your results.

Here are some factors that will help you in depositing a straight bead. Always keep the
CLAMS (current setting, length of arc, angle of electrode, manipulation of the electrode, and speed of
travel) points together. It may seem to be a lot to keep in mind while welding, but it becomes a
second nature with practice.

 CURRENT SETTING

  The correct amperage setting primarily depends on the diameter and type of electrode you
select. The electrode manufacturer usually indicates the electrode’s operating ranges on the box or
enclosed materials. Select your amperage based on the electrode (a general rule of thumb is 1 amp
for each .001-inch of electrode diameter), welding position (about 15 percent less heat for overhead
work compared to a flat weld), and visual inspection of the finished weld. Adjust your  welder by 5 to
10 amps at a time, until the ideal setting is reached.

If your amperage is too low, your electrode will be

especially sticky when striking an arc, your arc will keep going
out while maintaining the correct arc length or the arc will
stutter. This will result to a low-quality weld bead as shown in
the picture.
 Once you get an arc going, if the puddle is excessively
fluid and hard to control, your electrode burns when it’s only half
gone, or the arc sounds louder than normal, your amperage
might be set too high. Too much heat can also negatively affect
the electrode’s flux properties. It gives the welder a hard time to
control the melted puddle which results to a bigger and wider
bead as shown in the picture.

 LENGTH OF ARC
The correct arc length varies with each electrode and application. As a good starting point, arc
length should not exceed the diameter of the metal portion (core) of the electrode. The optimal arc
length, or distance between electrode and puddle, is the same as the diameter of the electrode (the
actual metal part within the flux covering).

Holding the electrode too closely to the joint decreases welding

voltage, which creates an erratic arc that may extinguish itself or
cause the electrode to freeze faster and produces a weld bead with a
high crown. An arc length that is too short will create greater potential
for the electrode sticking to the base material.

Excessively long arcs (too much voltage) produce spatter, low

deposition rates, undercuts and often leaves porosity.

When first attempting to stick weld, it seems natural to use too

long of an arc, possibly to help get a better view of the arc and puddle.
If you have trouble seeing, move your head, rather than lengthening
the arc. Start by finding a good body position that gives you an
adequate view of the puddle, while also allowing you to stabilize and manipulate the electrode. A little
practice will show you that a tight, controlled arc length improves bead appearance, creates a
narrower bead and minimizes spatter.

 ANGLE OF TRAVEL (ELECTRODE)

Stick welding in the flat, horizontal and overhead positions uses a

drag or backhand welding technique. Hold the electrode perpendicular to
the joint, and then tilt the top in the direction of travel approximately 5 to
15 degrees. For welding vertical up, use a push or forehand technique
and tilt the top of the electrode 0 to 15 degrees away from the direction
of travel.

When the top of the electrode leads the welding end of the
electrode, and the welding arc is pointing back toward the weld bead, the
travel angle is called a drag angle or a drag travel angle. This is also
known as backhand welding. If the welding end of the electrode points
forward in the direction of travel, the angle is called a push angle or a push travel angle. This is also
known as forehand welding.

 MANIPULATION OF ELECTRODE

Each welder manipulates the electrode a little differently.

Develop your own style by observing others, practicing and noting
which techniques produce the best results. Note that on material
1/4 inch and thinner, weaving the electrode is typically not needed
because the bead will be wider than necessary. In many instances
a straight bead is all that’s needed. To create a simple running
bead, drag the electrode slowly enough so that the weld puddle
can catch up.

To create a wider bead on thicker material, manipulate the electrode from side to side, creating
a continuous series of partially overlapping circles in a ‘Z,’ semi-circle or stutter-step pattern. Limit
side-to-side motion to two times the diameter of the electrode core. To cover a wider area, make
multiple passes or use stringer beads.

 SPEED OF TRAVEL

The travel speed is the speed at which the electrode moves

along the workpiece. To establish the optimal travel speed, first
establish a weld puddle of the desired diameter, and then move at a
speed that keeps you in the leading one-third of the puddle. If you
travel too slowly, the heat will be directed into the puddle and not
into the weld, leading to cold lap or poor fusion. 

Traveling too slowly produces a wide, convex bead with

shallow penetration and the possibility of cold-lapping, where the
weld appears to be simply sitting on the surface of the material.

Excessively fast travel speeds also decrease penetration,

create a narrower and/or highly crowned bead, and possibly
underfill or undercut, which is when the area outside of the weld is
concave or recessed. Note toward the end of the bead in the image
below how the bead appears inconsistent as if the puddle is trying
to keep up.

WELD PROFILE SUMMARY

(a)normal weld, (b)current too low, (c)current too high, (d)speed too fast, (e)speed to slow, (f)arc too long

STEPS IN DEPOSITING A STRAIGHT WELD BEAD

 Prepare the entire surface of a steel plate for welding by using a wire brush or grinder.
 Secure the work piece clamp.
 Choose an electrode.
 Set current and amperage setting according to electrode used.
 Strike to create and establish an arc.
 With the arc struck, form a “drag angle by tilting the electrode about 10‐15 degrees in the
direction of travel while maintaining an arc length of about the diameter of the electrode.
 Slowly move your electrode towards the end of the workpiece allowing the puddle to catch up
with the electrode.
 Remember to push the electrode from time to time in order to maintain the desired arc length.
 When reaching the end of the plate, before breaking the arc, pause to allow the crater to fill in.
 Clean the finished weld using a chipping hammer and a wire brush to remove the slags.

B. Exercises
Exercise 1
Directions: Write T if the statement is true and F if the statement is false on the space provided.

___1. A weld bead is a weld deposit produced by a single pass with one of the welding processes.
___2. You have to clean your weld before welding.
___3. Excessively fast travel speed decreases penetration.
___4. Excessive arc length causes electrode to stick.
___5. Set current and amperage setting according to electrode use in welding.
___6. Each welder manipulates the electrode a little differently.
___7. Cold-lapping is when the weld appears to be simply sitting on the surface of the material.
___8. The correct arc length varies with each electrode and application.
___9. An arc length that is too long will create greater potential for the electrode sticking to the
base material.
__10. To create a wider bead on thicker material, manipulate the electrode from side to side.

Exercise 2
Directions: Arrange the steps accordingly in depositing a weld bead. Put a number, 1 – 10 (1 as
the first step and 10 as the last step), according to the sequence of the steps.

____1. Choose an electrode.

____2. Secure the work piece clamp.
____3. Prepare the entire surface of a steel plate for welding by using a wire brush or grinder.
____4. Strike to create and establish an arc.
____5. Clean the finished weld using a chipping hammer and a wire brush to remove the slags.
____6. With the arc struck, form a “drag angle by tilting the electrode about 10 ‐15 degrees in the
direction of travel while maintaining an arc length of about the diameter of the electrode.
 ____7. Slowly move your electrode towards the end of the workpiece allowing the puddle to catch
up with the electrode.
____8. Set current and amperage setting according to electrode used.
____9. When reaching the end of the plate, before breaking the arc, pause to allow the
crater to fill in.
___10. Remember to push the electrode from time to time to maintain the desired arc length.

C. Assessment/Application/Outputs (Please refer to DepEd Order No. 31, s. 2020)

Directions: Read the following carefully and choose the BEST answer.

1. _______ produce spatter, low deposition rates, undercuts and often leaves porosity.
A) big arc B) long arc C) short arc D) small arc
2. Which of the following causes narrower bead?
A) fast travel speed C) short arc
B) slow travel speed D) wide arc
3. ______ will create greater potential for the electrode sticking to the base material.
A) big arc B) long arc C) short arc D) small arc
4. In the first attempt in running a bead, what arc instinctively comes to used?
A) big arc B) long arc C) short arc D) small arc
5. The optimal arc length is the same as the _____ of the electrode.
A) color B) diameter C) length D) weight
6. In CLAMS, S stands for _____?
A) Speed of travel B) Standard travel C) Travel of speed D) Travel standard
7. It is a travel angle where the welding end of the electrode points forward in the direction of
travel.
A) drag angle C) drag travel angle
B) forehand angle D) push travel angle
8. It is a travel angle that is also known as backhand welding.
A) drag speed angle C) forehand angle
B) drag travel angle D) push travel angle
9. All are effects of having an excessive long arc EXCEPT…
A) low deposition rate C) undercuts
B) spatters D) uniform bead
10. All of the following statements are true about having a correct length of arc EXCEPT…
A) The arc length should be as close as possible to the workpiece.
B) The arc length should not exceed the diameter of the metal portion (core) of the electrode.

C) The correct arc length varies with each electrode and application.
D) The optimal arc length is the same as the diameter of the electrode.
11. Which of the following is an effect of having a short arc length?
A) bead with high crown C) narrow bead
C) uniform bead D) wide bead
12. Which of the following is an effect of having an excessively fast travel speed?
A) bead with high crown C) narrow bead
 C) uniform bead D) wide bead
13. To create a simple running bead, which manipulation or method should be used?
A) dragging B) semi-circle C) stutter-step D) Z pattern
14. In stick welding, the following positions uses a drag or backhand welding technique
EXCEPT…
A) flat position C) vertical position
B) horizontal position D) overhead position
15. You noticed that your amperage is too low causing the electrode to stick in the metal, what
should you do?
A) continue to weld B) increase the amperage
C) push the electrode deeper D) turn off the machine and go home

D. Suggested Enrichment/Reinforcement Activity/ies

Here is an exercise you can practice at home for steadying your hand.

Take a stick or tong or any material that can resemble an electrode holder. Attach a pencil or a
ballpen resembling the electrode. Take a sheet of paper and move the pencil or ballpen from left to
right.

Try to make and maintain a straight line while moving your pencil or ballpen. This exercise will
help you learn to hold your hand steady at a fixed direction. It’s a highly recommended exercise that
can be practiced out side of the classroom.

References:
 http://certweldtest.com/pdf/Instructional_Welding_Lesson
 https://www.esabna.com/us/en/education
 https://www.millerwelds.com/resources/article-library/five-steps-to-improving-your-stick-welding-technique

Prepared by: Edited by:

FELIX BERNARD R. MILAN ROMMEL C. MELGAR

Reviewed by:

RENE A. BORGONIA
 GUIDE

For the Teacher: You can add any activities that will suit to the lesson.

For the Learner: Read the instructions carefully and answer the activities with the best effort.

For the Parent/Home Tutor: Guide the learners in answering the activities.