Purpose　The　purpose　of　this　paper　is　to　develop　a　build　strategy　for　inclined　thin-walled　parts　by　exploiting　the　inherent　overhanging　capability　of　the　cold　metal　transfer　(CMT)　process,　which　release　wire-arc　additive　manufacturing　from　tedious　programming　work　and　restriction　of　producible　size　of　parts.　Design/methodology/approach　Inclined　thin-walled　parts　were　fabricated　with　vertically　placed　welding　torch　free　from　any　auxiliary　equipment.　The　inclined　features　were　defined　and　analyzed　based　on　the　geometrical　model　of　inclined　parts.　A　statistical　prediction　model　was　developed　to　describe　the　dependence　of　inclined　geometrical　features　on　process　variables.　Based　on　these　models,　a　build　strategy　was　proposed　to　plan　tool　path　and　output　process　parameters.　After　that,　the　flow　work　was　illustrated　by　fabricating　a　vase　part.　Findings　The　formation　mechanism　and　regulation　of　inclined　geometrical　features　were　revealed　by　conducting　experimental　trials.　The　inclined　angle　can　be　significantly　increased　along　with　the　travel　speed　and　offset　distance,　whereas　the　wall　width　is　mainly　dependent　on　the　ratio　of　wire　feed　speed　to　travel　speed.　In　contrast　to　other　welding　process,　CMT　has　a　stronger　overhanging　capability,　which　provides　the　possibility　to　fabricate　parts　with　large　overhanging　features　directly　with　high　forming　accuracy.　Originality/value　This　paper　describes　a　novel　build　strategy　for　inclined　thin-walled　parts　free　from　any　auxiliary　equipment.　With　the　proposed　strategy,　a　complex　structural　component　can　be　deposited　directly　in　the　rectangular　coordinates　additive　manufacturing　system,　indicating　infinite　possibilities　on　the　producible　size　of　the　parts.　Moreover,　equipment　requirements　and　tedious　program　work　can　also　be　significantly　reduced.