Troubleshooting
Why is my stick welding porosity?
Quick answer
Porosity in stick welding usually means gas shield interrupted — wind, empty bottle, loose fittings, or dirty/oily steel. For this process, dry your rods — damp flux is the usual culprit before touching anything else.
The specific fix
Dry your rods — damp flux is the usual culprit. The general rule: check gas first: flow, leaks, leaks at the regulator; shelter the arc; clean the joint.
Process checklist
- Arc too long — stick wants a rod-width gap or less
- Dragging too fast, leaving thin, weak, undercut beads
- Not chipping and brushing slag between multi-passes — slag inclusions