Which bead pattern is typically used for wider welds?

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

Answer: (A)

When you need to fill a wide joint, you use a weave pattern. Moving the electrode or torch back and forth in a zigzag as you travel along the joint spreads heat and filler metal across a larger area, creating a wider bead and ensuring good fusion at both edges. This approach helps manage heat input, reduces the risk of burn-through on thinner metal, and minimizes distortion. A straight stringer bead stays narrow and is best for precise, narrow passes, not wide joints. Crater fill is about finishing the end of a weld, not widening it, and a ring pattern involves circular motion that isn’t typically used to cover a wide weld.