Ignite Your Welding Skills 2026: Conquer GMAW, FCAW & MCAW with Confidence!

For a horizontal 2G weld, the fill pass is best done with a slight forehand travel and a shallow torch angle. Keeping the angle around 0 to 10 degrees helps push the molten metal smoothly into the groove, promoting even wetting along the joint and a flat, well-formed bead. This small forward tilt avoids over-tilting the puddle, which can cause excessive buildup at the toes or sagging on a horizontal surface. A backhand approach or a much steeper angle tends to affect puddle control and bead geometry unfavorably in this position, making the weld harder to fill cleanly. So, forehand with a minimal angle of 0–10 degrees provides the best balance of control, deposition, and bead shape for the fill pass in the 2G position.