Shane, you are right. I freely admit I got carried away a bit with the acceptance criteria. There was no reason for my sarcasm. However, I would like to refer readers to API 1104-2005, clause 6.3.1 for multiple qualifications. In particular I would like to direct them to the fifth paragraph regarding burn-through.
Just because some welder gets his undies in a twist because he couldn’t pass a qualification test is no justification for me to carry on. After all, he might be right on all counts. I wasn’t there to witness the test or to mediate the situation that existed between the inspector and the welder. It could be that the welder's attitude simply pissed the inspector off. Anyone that has tested welders for more than a few weeks has run into a few that thought they could fix anything other than the crack of dawn or a broken heart. They are usually the ones the fall flat on their nose in short order.
I wish I kept track of how many welders I’ve tested that were insulted because they had to test on the job site regardless of their previous qualifications. It is usually the case that the ones that object the loudest are the ones that blow a hole in the backing bar, burn through the root and leave a keyhole the size of a dime, complain about arc blow, whine that their machine wasn’t hitting on all cylinders, or talk about the hard night of drinking the night before the test. That fact that they failed the test was because the stars weren’t aligned correctly or it was everyone else’s fault other than their own.
My point is that it isn’t the inspector’s fault if the welder isn’t in tip top shape to pass the test. Nor is it the inspector’s fault if the equipment the welder supplies aren’t operating properly. It is the welder’s responsibility to make sure he is ready to test when he shows up for the test. The test is the welder’s opportunity to demonstrate he possesses the minimum skills required to pass the test. If he fails to do that, there are few to blame other than himself.
Just in case anyone asks; yes I did burn rod for a living before passing the CWI examination and yes I did pass my pipe qualification as well as my plate tests on carbon steel, aluminum, stainless, nickel, and titanium. Yes, I passed my qualification tests using SMAW, GMAW, GTAW, FCAW, and SAW at different points in my career. During that time I never found it necessary to blame the inspector for any of my shortcomings. Then again, I did do a pretty darn good job of taking care of Dawn.
Best regards - Al