Standard Welding Terms and Definitions
Backing - It is the material placed on the root side of a weld for supporting of molten metal until it solidifies and facilitates complete penetration.
Base metal - The metal to be joined.
Bead (weld bead) - It is a deposit of weld metal during single pass welding.
Cap - It is the last bead of weld joint.
Crater - The depression on weld at the point where the arc strikes the base metal.
Deposition rate - The rate at which welds metal is deposited on the base metal. It is expressed in kg/h.
Flux - Material that used to avoid weld defect.
Penetration - The maximum depth at which molten metal penetrates on base metal and then combines them. It is measured from the top surface of the joint.
Paddle - The hole in the weld joint created by the heat of welding. It is used when the sheet metal needed to weld together.
Root - The nearest points between the metal to be joined.
Tack weld - A small temporary welding to hold workpiece together during the actual welding.
Toe of weld - The junction between weld metal and base metal.
Torch - A device to deliver flames during the welding.
Weld face - The exposed surface of the weld joint.
Weld metal - Metal that solidifies to join metal, it may be base metal or base metal along with filler metal.
Weld Pass - The single movement of the electrode or torch that results weld bead.
Weld bevel - Angle cut at the edge of base metal to assist penetration of molten metal.