These exercises should he repeated until you can consistently achieve welds of adequate strength and
good appearance. For most structural fabrication, a weld strength of not less than 75% of the strength of
the base material is acceptable, although for certain critical fabrications, effort should he made to achieve
as close to 100% as possible.
The techniques described above are for flat-surface work. Welding round material is essentially identical
in all phases.
The one primary difference is this: In welding flat pieces, the arm moves the welder in the forward
direction only; in welding round shapes, the welder has to go forward and follow in the direction of the
round shape at the same time. This, of course, requires considerable additional practice. Suggested
practice technique is using 2-inch diameter pipe, cut 1 inch long, with a bevel on one exterior end.