A welder completes a fillet weld six inches long, and inspection reveals unacceptable areas. What action must he take?

In the scenario described, the appropriate action for the welder to take is to remove only the unacceptable area of the fillet weld. This approach aligns with the principles outlined in the AWS D1.1 Structural Welding Code, which emphasizes the importance of ensuring that welds meet the required quality standards without unnecessarily redoing the entire joint if only certain areas are flawed.

When a weld is found to have defects, targeted repair of the specific unacceptable sections allows for a more efficient use of resources and time, while still adhering to quality standards. The welder can then proceed to re-weld the affected area after its removal, thereby minimizing waste and not compromising the integrity of the sound portions of the weld.

Retaining the unaffected sections of the weld helps maintain the strength and integrity of the overall joint, as the majority of the work remains intact. This method also typically involves a post-repair inspection to ensure that the corrective action has effectively addressed the defects.

Other choices such as re-welding the entire joint or leaving the weld as is would not be acceptable, as they either waste material and time or allow unacceptable flaws to remain, compromising the integrity of the structure. Re-inspecting the entire weld could be an action taken after the repair, but it does