The filler rod should be held at what angle above the piece?

• A. 25 degrees
• B. 15 degrees or less
• C. 0 degrees
• D. 45 degrees

Answer: (B)

In GTAW with filler metal, you want a shallow, controlled feed of filler into the molten pool. Holding the filler rod at 15 degrees or less above the workpiece places the rod close to the front of the weld pool, making it easy to direct the metal where you want it and to maintain smooth wetting and deposition. A steeper angle, like 25 or 45 degrees, pushes the filler in too aggressively, which can disrupt the pool, cause poor bead shape, or lead to defects. An angle around 0 degrees can reduce fine control and make feeding the filler less consistent. So the recommended approach is to keep the filler rod at a shallow angle, 15 degrees or less, for the best control and bead quality.