Finally passed my UA 41 weld test on the third try, and the fix was honestly embarrassing
I failed my UA 41 cert test twice at the hall in Toledo before it finally clicked last Thursday. First two times I was so focused on my travel speed and rod angle that I kept long arcing the root without noticing it. An old timer watching me practice asked one question, how far off the plate is your stinger, and I was probably a good half inch out. I shortened that up, kept the arc tight, and passed the bend test clean with no rejects. Any of you guys catch yourselves running too long on the root when you get nervous?
Long arcing on the root is not some big secret problem that needs a deep fix. Half inch off the plate is a lot, yeah, but that is just basic arc length. Every guy learning sticks deals with it. Not saying your old timer was wrong, he gave you a solid tip. Just seems like you are making it out to be some huge embarrassing thing when it is really just normal stuff that happens when you get in your own head. Three tries on a cert test is nothing, plenty of good welders took more than that. Tight arc is rule one and sometimes you just need somebody to say it out loud.