What would a dirty line or sharp bends in the whip cause?

• A. birdnesting or arc hunting
• B. stable arc
• C. short circuiting
• D. inconsistent penetration

Answer: (A)

A smooth, clean wire path is essential for stable wire feeding and a steady arc. If the welding whip has dirt on it or if there are sharp bends, the wire can’t move evenly through the drive system. That extra friction and abrupt changes in direction can cause the wire to momentarily stall, kink, or tangle as it feeds, which is why you can end up with a birdnest of wire near the contact tip. At the same time, the irregular feed makes the arc wander and become unstable, which is described as arc hunting. In short, a dirty line or sharp bends disrupts consistent feeding and arc stability, leading to birdnesting and arc hunting.