A welding system (100, 1000), comprising: a welding power converter configured to receive an input power and configured to output a welding waveform to a welding electrode for a welding operation on a workpiece; a short circuit detection circuit configured to detect a short circuit event between said electrode and said work piece and configured to detect a short clearing event between said electrode and said work piece, and a variable polarity circuit configured to change the polarity of said welding current during said welding operation, wherein said welding waveform comprises: a background portion with a first polarity and a background current level; a short circuit clearing portion which is initiated when said short circuit detection circuit detects a short circuit event, where said short circuit clearing portion is in a second polarity; a current pulse having said first polarity and having a peak current level in said first polarity, where said current pulse occurs after said short circuit clearing portion; and a tailout portion having said first polarity and which occurs after said current pulse characterized in that said short circuit clearing portion comprises a droplet engagement portion having a second polarity and an engagement current level which is maintained for a first duration, where said droplet engagement portion occurs after said short circuit event is detected; a first ramp rate portion at said second polarity with a first current ramp rate; and a second ramp rate portion at said second polarity with a second current ramp rate and a peak current at said second polarity, wherein said second ramp rate is less than said first current ramp rate and said second ramp rate occurs after said first ramp rate portion. a welding power converter configured to receive an input power and configured to output a welding waveform to a welding electrode for a welding operation on a workpiece; a short circuit detection circuit configured to detect a short circuit event between said electrode and said work piece and configured to detect a short clearing event between said electrode and said work piece, and a variable polarity circuit configured to change the polarity of said welding current during said welding operation, wherein said welding waveform comprises: a background portion with a first polarity and a background current level; a short circuit clearing portion which is initiated when said short circuit detection circuit detects a short circuit event, where said short circuit clearing portion is in a second polarity; a background portion with a first polarity and a background current level; a short circuit clearing portion which is initiated when said short circuit detection circuit detects a short circuit event, where said short circuit clearing portion is in a second polarity; a current pulse having said first polarity and having a peak current level in said first polarity, where said current pulse occurs after said short circuit clearing portion; and a tailout portion having said first polarity and which occurs after said current pulse characterized in that said short circuit clearing portion comprises a droplet engagement portion having a second polarity and an engagement current level which is maintained for a first duration, where said droplet engagement portion occurs after said short circuit event is detected; a first ramp rate portion at said second polarity with a first current ramp rate; and a second ramp rate portion at said second polarity with a second current ramp rate and a peak current at said second polarity, wherein said second ramp rate is less than said first current ramp rate and said second ramp rate occurs after said first ramp rate portion.