sa200 pipeliner

Date 10-14-2008 01:33

I am teaching myself to weld pipe with a 73 sa200 and cant seem to narrow down where my heat should be set for different size rods. what gear and heat setting would you fellas run with 1/8" 5p on the root of a 6" sched. 40 pipe? likewise with the hot filll and cap and also where would you run it if you were using 5/32" rod. i know every machine is different but i just want a general idea. it doesnt seem like the heat is where my machine says it is. but then again i could just be reading the dials wrong. i have already went through the machine and set the high idle at 1550 and at that setting im getting around 91ocv with the heat turned all the way up. i think i may be in the wrong ranges though because sometime i break the arc more with this machine when trying to long arc it than any other shop machine ive ever used? thanks in advance

By raftergwelding (*****)

Date 10-14-2008 02:10

i'm not a pipeline but i have asked the saame question many times to different guys and they all say on the root run it in 3rd gear at 70-90 fromwhat i've been told by different pipeliners you have to burn each pass hotter than the last until you get to the cap then turn it donw a notch or 2 and run it the pipe you are playing with is to thin for 5/32 you'll burn thru it but try the root at 4th geard around 60 and the hot pass at 75 or so all in all you really need to just play with it until you get your machine figured out 91 ocv turned all the way ? please explain how you are setting it

By lttlerv (*)

Date 10-14-2008 02:19

i get 91 ocv when the machine is in high idle and i put a multimeter across the pos and neg studs on the front of the machine. it is measured in dc voltage. i get this with the machine in any gear it has with the heat selector turned all the way up. ocv's go down drastically when you turn heat down

By raftergwelding (*****)

Date 10-14-2008 02:25

91 is a lil hot but thats just me just practice man and get some thicker pipe if ya can like sch. 80 or better it carries the heat alot better

By JohnJohn (**)

Date 10-14-2008 02:38

Try 190-40 for root + 10 or so for fill and cap for starters. If its too hot go to 130 range and 50 on 1/8. Anything below 50 will keep the arc more forceful(low OCV) for root. Above 50 is more smooth for fill and cap. I'm no Golden Arm but it works for me at these settings.

JohnJohn

By JTMcC

Date 10-14-2008 02:41

Just about any old 200 will run in this neighborhood plus or minus:

5/32" bead at a starting point of 250 (to the old timers) post and 40-50 fine. You can run the remote from minimum to max on a bad fit, but with decent space 40-50 is just wonderfull.

3/16" hot pass at 70-maxine

3/16" fill at around 60-70

Cap at around 40 - 60 depending on personal preference.

You can easily weld that size pipe with 5/32" bead and 3/16" fill/cap. Starting out you might want to use smaller rods till you get the hang of it.

With the ocv you're running, those will be pretty close numbers.
A lot of machines will tend to break arc with the remote under 35 or so. If you're having that problem try dropping a range and running higher in the fine adjustment. If breaking arc is a real bad problem you need to bump the ocv up just a bit till it gets better and weld in the suitable range.

I'll add that the fastest firing line hands on the planet will come off the top on the cap at 80- maxine and drop heat all the way to the bottom. I've never really took a liking to that method but it is super fast.

JTMcC.

By lttlerv (*)

Date 10-14-2008 02:56

Thank alot ill have to give those ranges a try, i was running them close to that but not quite there. i am also trying to teach myself downhill pipe so its kinda hard right now. there is a new natural gas line going in the town i live in and its all 798 hands, what do you fellas think my chances of getting one of them to help me out one day and show me some tricks?

By 52lincoln (***)

Date 10-14-2008 03:01

i'd say 50/50.some will talk to you.and some look down there nose at ya.

By JTMcC

Date 10-14-2008 03:53

Those guys are working (at a minimum) 6/10's, they have families, one day off per week and shopping to do, new tires on the truck, wash the truck, get the oil changed, find a good resteraunt, buy a new razor, stock up on groceries, ect, ect.
The workload has been such that a lot of guys have been out for many months now.
The odds of finding one with the time or inclination to spend their one day off per week helping a guy learn to weld is almost zero.
Spend several months out, with one day off per week maybe, and you'll understand.

JTMcC.

By TRC

Date 10-14-2008 22:10 Edited 10-14-2008 22:16

Try using 5P+ on the root it runs a lot easier and 5P on the rest