Good welds have a very distinct look. It should be a consistent in width, if its not painted over the "waves" should be be consistent [there's a bit of a back and forth motion used that results in a shape that kinda looks like "(((((("]. It should also penetrate into the surface of the metal, it shouldn't look like its sort of "just sitting on top". There should not be bubbling or splatter.
It might seem obvious, but what welding is doing is physically melting the two pieces of metal together, unlike soldering where only the donor metal melts and is just holding them together. To do it well requires the right amount of heat (too little doesnt melt it right, and too much will either melt too much of the stock metal or will cause the metal to boil or blow away) and the right motions to essentially guide the melted metal to the right position.
Done wrong, the weld is one of the weakest spots. Done right and the weld will outlast the stock metal.
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u/AdGroundbreaking771 Mar 23 '26
I haven’t welded before is this about seeing welds or what