Puddle — Welds |work|

The term "puddle" refers to the molten weld pool that forms in the hole, which solidifies to form the joint. Unlike continuous seam welding, puddle welds are intermittent, circular connections.

| Parameter | Typical Value / Rule | |-----------|----------------------| | Hole diameter (D) | Equal to the thickness of the top plate (t), but not less than 8 mm (5/16") for structural steel. For thin sheet, often 5–8 mm. | | Minimum hole diameter | Should be at least the thickness of the top plate + 1.6 mm (1/16") to allow access. | | Maximum hole diameter | Should not exceed 2.5 × thickness of the top plate, or the weld pool becomes too large to control. | | Plate thickness range | Best for top plates ≤ 10 mm (3/8"). For thicker top plates, bevel the hole edge. | | Spacing between welds | Typically 4× to 6× the hole diameter center-to-center. | | Edge distance | At least 1.5× hole diameter from the edge of the sheet. | puddle welds

1. Definition and Basic Concept A puddle weld is a welding process used to join two or more overlapping metal components, typically sheets or plates, by depositing weld metal into a pre-drilled or pre-punched hole in the top layer(s). The weld penetrates through the hole and fuses with the bottom layer, creating a solid, localized connection. The term "puddle" refers to the molten weld