Undercutting may be a very serious defect.

To prevent any serious effect upon the completed joint,

it must be corrected before depositing the next bead. A well rounded chipping tool is used to
remove the sharp recess that might otherwise trap slag. If the undercutting is slight and thc welder is
careful in applying the next head, it may not be necessary to chip.

Undercutting at the surface of a joint should not be permitted since it materially reduces the
strength of the joint, Fig. 28’105. For example, on material less than 1 inch thick, undercut shall not
exceed ‘32 inch deep. There is an exception if the undercut is ‘m inch deep and is less than 2 inches
long; these 2 inches can be cumulative as well; in any 12-inch length of weld it will be acceptable. If
the weld being inspected is part of a primary membet and the weld is transverse to the tensile
stress, then undercut shall be no more than 0.010 inch in depth. Special undercut gauges are made
for making this very precise measurement. All other undercut on primary members should not
exceed