AG Mechanics CDE Practice Exam

When stick welding, if the arc is too long, what characteristic is likely to be observed?

1. Dark bead

2. Porous weld

3. Splattered bead

4. Weakened arc

The correct answer is: Dark bead

When stick welding, if the arc is too long, a characteristic that is likely to be observed is a dark bead. A dark bead indicates that the welding arc was not properly shielding the weld pool, leading to incomplete penetration and an unsatisfactory weld. The other options are incorrect because: - Porous weld would typically result from issues such as contamination or improper gas coverage, not specifically from having an arc that is too long. - Splattered bead would indicate that the welding parameters are not set correctly, but specifically not related to the length of the arc. - Weakened arc is not a common characteristic attributed to having an arc that is too long; it may indicate issues with the power supply or other factors.