The last pipe job I was on the guy from the gas company that I always work with said that I was faster than years earlier. I credit more experience, better rod control/puddle control. Still grind my root, wire each pass. All my tools are hanging on the pipe right where I need them, safety glasses under hood for quick changes.
Some speed on smaller pipe comes from bigger rod. I've heard of guys that like to use 5/32-3/16 rod on a 4" pipe. For me it always seems a bit excessive, heat wise, not saying it's wrong but there are several seasoned welders around here that I've talked to years ago that said the same thing, "why do you want to use a rod that big?" I'm no metalurgist though so can't tell if there is or is not an issue.
I agree with the steps, having things in there place is key. Minimum amount of movement and standing around thinking about what you need or need to do.
For me, I can't weld over a pile of slag and just burn it out. Not saying I can't do it but in my eye it's just not right. As somebody said "procedures" and mine say clean each pass. That's what they want me to do then there is a reason for it. Besides that I don't want to leave anything for that one time that something does go wrong. Shortcut long enough and its a matter of averages before something happens.
Joe,
When I first started welding I worked with a guy on some chiller pipe. That's what he told me to do. Just but them together and weld them out one pass, "It's just chill pipe" he'd say. I just said, "huh". Pretty much ignored the guy and beveled, open rooted it and welded it properly. Took longer as I was severely green but he was only on the job for a day or two then he was gone. I just could not do it. I'd let my imagination run and an earthquake would run through my mind, all the welds would crack and little kids would be getting soaked in school from chill water. Then they'd wonder why and it would lead back the mechanical company and ultimately.....me. Worked with a guy once and watched him weld up air line with 6011, 4" air line at a large factory, think he beveled it but just threw a heavy 7018 root, fill, cap in one pass with them butted together. That was another time I just sat back and said, "huh".
Fitter;
You hit the nail on the head. Different codes, different requirements, different techniques.
I've seen som "fast welders" in my time as an inspector and spent weeks cutting them out and repairing them.
API 1104 has rather liberal acceptance criteria when compared to others such as B31.1, but even that is a cake walk compared to B31.3 High Pressure.
Don't get me wrong, I doff my hat to the experts that can weld quickly and still meet the code requirements, but not all codes are created equal.
I had one welder test with me several years ago. He cut the nipples from a length of pipe of 6 inch schedule 40, ground the bevel, and welded it out in a little less than an hour. He met B31.3 for Normal pipe with no problems. I was impressed to say the least. The man was all business, knew what to do, and how to do it. No bravado, just great skills. He was truly exceptional.
Best regards - Al
Hi Al and Joe, I wasn't trying to say anything bad about how people weld, if it sounded like that then i am sorry. What I was trying to say is exactly what Al said about different codes. I did however see welders who would try to cut every corner and just do **** work, no bevel no square , or level and so on.Did a job on a coal fired way back when and the guy running the job said we were taking to long. 2 inch sockets for drains, so he took every level on the job so we had to eyeball the pitch. Two weeks after we left the pipe had split do to water in it freezing from being back pitched and exposed to frigid temps. Made everyone look really bad.
Id rather take the time and do it right Bevel both Pipes square ends with grinder , grind landing to be equal all the way round
the pipe. Fit pipe with proper roogt opening all the way round the pipe. weld root, lightly grind, weld hot pass wire wheel,
weld fill wire wheel, weld cap wire wheel grind buttons. In reality what you get in hvac is one side of joint butt tight other side
3/16 gap. don't have time to run back and forth turning up machine no remote weld the 3/16 gap up hill root butt tight side
downhill 1/8 . Hot pass downhill with 1/8 flush out at same time . Cap 5/32 down hill never touch the machine not sayen its right by
any means . Got laid off once for fefusing to fill a 3/8 gap with allthread rodand this was a ua union contractor!!
I hear ya Joe. Been asked many times, "you can weld that right?" And I've told them many times sure if I was home and this was some bbq grille repair.