When welding stainless steel more than 1/4 inch thick using GMAW, a slight side-to-side movement should be used.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not necessary
• D. It depends on the weld position

Answer: (A)

The technique being tested is using a slight side-to-side weave to place heat and filler over a wider area. When stainless steel is thicker than about 1/4 inch, a small weave helps distribute heat more evenly across the joint, which improves fusion and reduces the risk of burn-through or underfill. It also helps build a wider, flatter bead and promotes consistent shielding gas coverage along the weld pool. While straight, non-weaving passes can work for thinner sections or specific positions, for thicker stainless steel the weaving motion is the practical, recommended approach to achieve a sound weld.