AG Mechanics CDE Practice Exam

When stick welding several beads on top of each other, slag must be removed after each bead is welded or there will be ________ inside the weld.

1. gaps

2. pits

3. spatter

4. voids

The correct answer is: gaps

When stick welding several beads on top of each other, removing slag after each bead is essential to prevent gaps inside the weld. If slag is not removed, it can become trapped in the weld and create discontinuities or gaps, weakening the overall weld quality. Therefore, it is crucial to clean the slag between each bead to ensure a strong and continuous weld. Options B, C, and D are not the most fitting choices in this context. Pits refer to small cavities in the weld, spatter is the excess material that splatters around the weld area, and voids are empty spaces within the weld; none of these directly relate to the consequence of not removing slag after each welded bead when stick welding.