Ok, I continue to recieve beligerant email so I will make one last effort make my position clear.
I have not disagreed with any post made in this thread.
I have not "attacked" anyone who has posted on this thread.
I am not playing "games" with anyone who has posted on this thread.
I'm in total agreement that one of the reasons factory seams are offset when welding pipelines is to avoid failure in one joint of pipe from extending into multiple joints.
I posted my somewhat related anectdotal observations because I find it interesting, and think that others posting on the original topic might as well.
To denegrate my welding ability, and the ability of my little company to complete a job, based on the fact that I've made multiple repairs to a pipeline that was laid while I was attending the 3rd grade almost 1200 miles away (and in defense of the old timers who DID weld that line, none of those failures were weld failures, they were worn out pipe failures) is illogical.
So, Ed Trotter or NDTIII or whoever you are, do me a favor and stop emailing me.
JTMcC.