Which welding technique decreases penetration by pointing at the weld bead and pushing away from it?

Which welding technique decreases penetration by pointing at the weld bead and pushing away from it?

• A. Pull
• B. Push
• C. Drag
• D. Sweep

Answer: (B)

Pushing the MIG gun while aiming the electrode toward the weld bead and moving away from it reduces heat input into the joint. This causes the arc to spread heat more along the surface, producing a wider, flatter bead with shallower penetration. That lower penetration helps prevent burn-through on thin sheets, which is often desirable in collision repair work. In contrast, pulling the gun toward you concentrates heat into the weld pool, leading to deeper penetration and a taller bead. The terms drag or sweep describe different motion styles, but the push technique specifically lowers penetration by directing the heat away from the joint as you travel.

Pushing the MIG gun while aiming the electrode toward the weld bead and moving away from it reduces heat input into the joint. This causes the arc to spread heat more along the surface, producing a wider, flatter bead with shallower penetration. That lower penetration helps prevent burn-through on thin sheets, which is often desirable in collision repair work. In contrast, pulling the gun toward you concentrates heat into the weld pool, leading to deeper penetration and a taller bead. The terms drag or sweep describe different motion styles, but the push technique specifically lowers penetration by directing the heat away from the joint as you travel.