The dime weld is the gold standard of weld aesthetics — learn how to stack dimes consistently and use AI to measure your progress.
Score My Dime Welds →A dime weld (also called "stacking dimes") is a welding technique where each ripple in the weld bead overlaps the previous one by roughly the diameter of a dime — about 17–18mm. The result is a uniform, coin-stacked appearance that has become the benchmark for clean, controlled welding.
The term is most closely associated with TIG (GTAW) welding, where the welder rhythmically dips filler rod into the puddle while moving the torch forward. Each dip creates one "dime." The spacing between dips, the size of the puddle, and travel speed all determine how clean and consistent the stack looks.
While not every weld needs to look like stacked dimes — many structural welds are made with single-pass techniques that don't produce this pattern — mastering the dime weld is a clear sign of torch control and technique consistency.
TIG welding is the primary process where stacking dimes matters. Here's how to build consistent, evenly-spaced ripples:
Use roughly 1 amp per 0.001" of material thickness for mild steel. Use a foot pedal to modulate heat as you go — lighter at the end of the bead to avoid blow-through.
Count in your head: dip — move — dip — move. Consistent timing between filler dips is what creates even dime spacing. Most welders find a 1-second rhythm works well for 1/8" steel.
Keep the tungsten tip about 1/8" from the puddle. Too long = wide, flat bead with poor penetration. Too short = tungsten contamination and erratic arc.
Use 100% argon at 15–20 CFH for steel and stainless. Argon gives you the clean, bright ripples associated with dime welds. Contaminated gas = gray, oxidized beads.
| Material Thickness | Amperage | Filler Rod | Gas Flow |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/16" (1.6mm) | 60–80A | 1/16" ER70S-2 | 12–15 CFH |
| 1/8" (3.2mm) | 100–125A | 3/32" ER70S-2 | 15–18 CFH |
| 3/16" (4.8mm) | 140–175A | 1/8" ER70S-2 | 18–20 CFH |
| 1/4" (6.4mm) | 180–220A | 1/8" ER70S-2 | 18–22 CFH |
True stacked dimes are a TIG trademark, but MIG welders can achieve a similar rippled appearance through technique adjustments:
Instead of a continuous straight travel, briefly pause the torch every 1–1.5 seconds to let the puddle build slightly before moving forward. This creates defined ripple marks in the bead.
A tight "C" or circular motion while traveling creates overlapping ripples. Keep the motion small and consistent — large weaves create wide, flat beads, not dimes.
If your settings are off (too hot, too much wire feed), no technique will save you. Get clean, consistent straight beads before attempting dime aesthetics with MIG.
Caused by inconsistent travel speed or filler dip rhythm. Your filler hand and torch hand must move in sync. Practice the motion dry (no arc) until the rhythm is automatic.
Heat builds up as you weld — the puddle gets larger and travel needs to speed up. If you don't adjust (or reduce amperage via pedal), your dimes get flatter and wider at the finish.
Touching the tungsten to the filler rod or puddle causes contamination — the arc goes erratic and dime spacing is destroyed. Maintain strict arc length discipline and pre-position your filler hand before striking an arc.
Shiny, bright ripples indicate clean shielding. Dull gray or brown ripples mean contaminated gas, a leaky cup, drafts in the shop, or welding too fast out of the gas envelope. Check all fittings and cup size.
Dime welds should have uniform width from start to finish. Wandering width usually means your torch angle is changing unconsciously. Brace your elbow and keep the torch angle fixed throughout the bead.
Snap a photo of your weld bead and our AI analyzes ripple consistency, bead width uniformity, and overall quality — giving you a score from 0–100. Track your improvement over days and weeks as your dime stacking gets tighter.
DimeVision is the only app purpose-built to grade weld quality with the same standards used by AWS and ASME inspectors. Know exactly where your technique breaks down.
Try DimeVision Free → Download on iOS →A dime weld is a weld bead where each ripple overlaps the previous one by roughly the width of a dime (~17–18mm). This stacked, coin-like pattern is the hallmark of clean TIG technique and excellent torch control.
The dime-stack appearance is most associated with TIG welding due to the manual filler dipping rhythm. However, skilled MIG welders can produce a similar look using consistent pause or slight weave techniques.
For mild steel: ~1 amp per 0.001" of thickness, 100% argon at 15–20 CFH, 1/8" arc length. The most important factor is your dip rhythm — timing must be perfectly consistent beat to beat.
Use DimeVision's AI weld scoring app. Photo your bead, and the AI analyzes ripple spacing, bead width consistency, and quality — giving a score from 0–100 with highlighted defect areas.