Fill Pass

Term from Welding industry explained for recruiters

Fill Pass is a basic welding term that refers to the middle layers of a multi-layer weld. Think of it like building a sandwich - if the first layer (root pass) is the bottom slice of bread, and the final layer (cap pass) is the top slice, the fill passes are all the ingredients in between. Welders use fill passes to build up the strength and thickness of a weld when joining thick materials. This is a common skill that appears in welding job descriptions, especially for industrial and structural welding positions.

Examples in Resumes

Performed multiple Fill Pass welds on heavy industrial pipes following WPS specifications

Executed proper Fill Passes on structural steel components for high-rise building projects

Applied consistent Fill Pass techniques while welding pressure vessels

Typical job title: "Welders"

Also try searching for:

Certified Welder Structural Welder Pipe Welder Industrial Welder Construction Welder Fabricator

Example Interview Questions

Senior Level Questions

Q: How do you determine the number of fill passes needed for a thick material weld?

Expected Answer: An experienced welder should explain that it depends on material thickness, joint design, and welding procedure specifications (WPS). They should mention calculating the total volume needed and how they ensure proper fusion between layers.

Q: What common problems might occur during fill passes and how do you prevent them?

Expected Answer: They should discuss issues like lack of fusion, trapped slag, and proper temperature control between passes. Should explain preventive measures like proper cleaning, maintaining correct travel speed, and voltage/amperage settings.

Mid Level Questions

Q: Explain your process for performing fill passes on a V-groove weld.

Expected Answer: Should describe the step-by-step process including cleaning between passes, maintaining proper temperature, and ensuring even build-up of the weld layers.

Q: What techniques do you use to ensure consistent penetration in fill passes?

Expected Answer: Should explain maintaining proper travel speed, watching the weld puddle, and using the correct electrode manipulation techniques.

Junior Level Questions

Q: What is the purpose of a fill pass in welding?

Expected Answer: Should explain that fill passes are used to build up the weld metal in layers when joining thick materials, filling the space between root and cap passes.

Q: What basic preparation is needed between fill passes?

Expected Answer: Should mention cleaning the previous pass, removing slag, checking temperature, and ensuring no defects before continuing to the next pass.

Experience Level Indicators

Junior (0-2 years)

  • Basic fill pass technique
  • Following welding procedures
  • Basic material preparation
  • Simple multi-pass welds

Mid (2-5 years)

  • Complex joint preparation
  • Multiple position welding
  • Quality control checking
  • Reading and following WPS

Senior (5+ years)

  • Advanced multi-pass techniques
  • Problem-solving complex joints
  • Training junior welders
  • Quality assurance

Red Flags to Watch For

  • Unable to explain basic fill pass procedure
  • No experience with multi-pass welds
  • Lack of knowledge about proper cleaning between passes
  • No understanding of temperature control between passes