Root Openings

By bhiltz

Date 11-18-2001 22:37

Do you mean; what dictates the root opening on a particular weld joint setup? What is your setup?

By George-kh (**)

Date 11-18-2001 22:55

Root opening is not last choice. Root face has a great influence in weld penetration. I think size of uncoated electrode is a good idea and your problem has been for thin root face (I understood your weld has had excessive penetration).
However, mass of work piece and preheating influence welding penetration, too.
The more mass of work piece, the more heat sink. When heat sink increase; welding penetration decrease.
Also, Preheating decrease heat sink and increase penetration.
You can find some ranges for root opening and root face in D1.1 figure 3.4.
Best Regards

By miguel P (*)

Date 11-19-2001 14:24

What`s the joint desing? square butt joint, single v-groove or double v-groove?

By Lost Date 11-20-2001 05:06

We are using a single v-groove. As for what my question was is that we were using 1/4 mild steel plate and 1/8 E6011. It seems right that the root opening should be 1/16" which would be half the diameter of the rod. Does this hold true if using larger rod?

By DaveP66 (*)

Date 11-20-2001 08:47

on these two pieces that are beveled...are they at a knife edge? ..or is the edge ground down a little?...once you have the bevels complete...take a grinder to them both...and flatten the edge...this is called (in my class) a "land" its purpose is to hold the metal with out blowing through it...it should be only about 1/16...and your root opening.. the 1/8 is the max you should have try a 3/32.... thats what i use..and i can keep the electrode in the keyhole better with out blowing through. and also..check your amps....when i use a 1/8 6011 rod for a root pass this type of set up...i use about 68-72amps (depending on the machine) in my mind....you shouldnt have to go over 80amps.

a general rule is....the root opening should be the same as your diameter of your rod...but...some people prefer to go smaller on the root like me...dont go over the diameter of the rod..stay under.

By Lost Date 11-21-2001 20:24

I know that there is a sliding scale for rod selection for a specific metal thickness. I.E. : 1/4 " Mild steel plate, uses 1/8" E6011 rod with a root opening of 1/16". But what are the "increments" ? Question being : what is the electrode size and root opening for 1/2 mild steel plate, 1" plate? etc, etc....HELP!

By boilermaker (**)

Date 11-26-2001 01:09

The best way to get your root opening is...
Determine the size and type of rod you want for your root pass. EX....E6010,6011,7018, 3/32, 1/8, 5/32, 3/16..etc.
Also read the prints because the engineer may have a specific root opening that he wants. If you're going to have a full pen. weld, you can go a little heavy on the land to make sure you can use a bigger electrode for a larger deposit. That way you can possibly just backgrind the other side, and not have to gouge.
As far as increments for 1/2", 3/4", 1".....Use a root opening that you're comfortable with...