For rebar puddle welding: A welder manually creates a molten puddle on the steel surface using a stick electrode (e.g., E7018). The preheated rebar is then thrust into the puddle and held until solidification.

Puddle welding is a type of arc welding that involves creating a pool of molten metal, or a "puddle," to join two metal pieces together. The process uses a consumable electrode, typically made of a filler metal, to generate the arc.

While these terms are often used interchangeably in casual shop talk, they are distinct in engineering and standard codes like those from the American Welding Society (AWS).

An electric arc is struck between the end of the stud (or a consumable ferrule) and the base metal. The arc melts a localized pool (puddle) of base metal and the tip of the stud. The stud is then forcibly plunged into the molten puddle, and the arc is extinguished. The molten metal solidifies, forming a full cross-sectional fusion weld.

From that day on, Jack approached welding with a newfound respect and appreciation for the craft. He knew that puddle welding was more than just a technique – it was a way of working with steel, of coaxing strength and beauty out of raw metal.

It was a sunny day in late spring when Jack, a young and ambitious welder, arrived at the construction site of a new bridge. He had been hired to work on the steel framework, and his task was to join the massive girders together using a technique called puddle welding.