What should be done if the weld is contaminated due to tungsten contacting the molten weld pool?

When tungsten contacts the molten weld pool, it can lead to contamination, which negatively affects the quality of the weld. Cleaning both the weld and the tungsten is essential to ensure that impurities from the tungsten do not compromise the integrity of the weld.

This process typically involves removing the contaminated area of the weld and re-preparing the tungsten electrode. The tungsten must be cleaned to restore its effectiveness in maintaining a stable arc and producing a clean weld bead. Ignoring this contamination can result in defects like porosity, inclusions, or weak areas in the weld joint that may not hold up under stress.

Continuing to weld without interruption would compound the issue, allowing the contamination to affect the entire weld. Adjusting travel speed or changing the filler material may not resolve the contamination problem and could lead to further quality issues if the root of the problem— the contaminated tungsten and weld pool—isn't addressed first. Therefore, cleaning is the critical step to restore welding conditions and achieve a quality weld.