What weld bead pattern is used for wider welds?

• A. Weave pattern
• B. Stringer bead
• C. Crater fill
• D. Circular bead pattern

Answer: (A)

When you’re welding a wide joint, you want the heat and filler spread across a larger area to ensure proper fusion along the edges and to control heat buildup. The weave pattern achieves this by oscillating the electrode side to side, creating a wider bead in a single pass. This wider deposition helps cover the joint more evenly, reduces the risk of lack of fusion at the toes, and minimizes burn-through that can occur if you lay a long, straight pass on a broad gap. A stringer bead is a straight, narrow pass better suited for narrow joints, not wide ones. Crater fill is about filling the crater at the end of a weld, not increasing width, and circular bead patterns are not standard for broad joints. So the weave pattern is the best choice for wider welds.