Did you folks even read my post, or did you just glance by it??? Again, here's what I said:
"I would have caught the test taker before they were about to deposit the cover pass and advise, or remind them that it will be unacceptable to have a weld reinforcement of over 1/8th of an inch in thickness over the surface of the base metal...
So if it looked as if they could not possibly deposit a pass with less than the prescribed allowable reinforcement by properly monitoring the test taker's progression throughout the test, I would then give them the opportunity to grind down the previous passes (I should have wrote layer instead!), so that when the test taker does begin to deposit the cover pass, it will not be over the allowable 1/8th of an inch in weld reinforcement... Then again, that's just me! ;-) Your proctor should have advised you of that if they were properly monitoring your progression throughout the test!!! ;-) ;-) ;-)"
This would be a one time pass - PERIOD! If they couldn't produce an acceptable cover pass (AWS nomenclature here!) then the test is stopped!!!
Joe Kane knows a thing or two about what is allowed for both D1.1 as opposed to D1.5, so I know that they are allowed to grind!!! What I was suggesting since we are only talking about the cover pass here folks, is to have proper monitoring going on so, that when the test taker(s) get to the hold point such as where they are about to deposit the cover pass, not after the fact, the inspector will make the call then to judge whether or not grinding should be performed at that point in the test in order to improve the chances that an acceptable cover pass can be deposited...
If the final layer is in the condition where no amount of grinding is going to help, I would then end the test, because you cannot just let the test taker grind all of the deposited weld metal out especially all the way to the root of the joint, because there is a real good possibility that the joint geometry will be altered... So in effect some, even all of the joint opening can be altered, and you're basically giving them a pass to do what they please with the joint if you allow them to perform "excessive" grinding!!!
This is why I give them only one chance, and only if I feel they are capable of achieving the objective of depositing a cover pass which will meet the code requirement according to Section 4, Part C! I would not read into section 5 since it covers fabrication, so allowing a repair for undercut as referred to by Jayelbee really has nothing to do with performance qualification, and everything to do with production!
The only part of section 5 where it is applicable is 5.24.4 which covers "Groove or Butts Welds" regarding weld reinforcement, 5.24.4.1 which covers 'Flush Surfaces' and 5.24.4.2 which covers "Finish Methods and Values" and these are referred to by note 3 in figure 4.12 for face and root bend specimens provided the test base metal is 3/8" thick... These are not referred to in any of the notes for side bends should the test be on 1" thick base metal. I hope this clarifies my take somewhat. ;)
Respectfully,
Henry