I should be clear. On a SCH 80 8 inch, the small 1 inch tacks will work, but I have seen them fail. I do not tell the welder how small the tack can be. It just is cannot be longer than 2 inches. I do not change that for the 2 inch sch 80 pipe. If they put in a short tack on the 2 inch, the fit up for the second tack is easier. Most welders will put in a 3/4 to 1 inch tack on the 2 inch and a 1 -1 1/2 inch tack on the sch 80. I have found when a welder wants to get cute with the tacks it is because of inexperience. I have never seen a welder put in 2 inch tacks.
I just say do em how you like em, just dont exceed 2 inches. That puts it in the welders backyard. I dont measure tack length because to me it is irrelevant. I check angle, fit up and high/low.
And while you are right, if the welder takes the long tacks then there will not be a lot of weld in the position, remember, on SCH 80 8 inch you are only looking at 2 inches of weld total. And I get to pick where the coupons come out of the quarter!
Also while code allows 5 degrees, I do not like to tell welders plus or minus anything. If I put my promag on it and it is 43 degrees, i dont say a thing. But most of the time the darlin sets it a 25 or 30 degrees. And if the angle is at 39, isnt that close enough?
On a production weld if the fitter/tacker wants 3 inches on the bottom and 1/2 on the top, as long as the high low is ok and it does not cause a war between the fitter and the welder, welder up. And if the guy is fitting his own welds, If he cant weld what he fits, doent need either of them.
Again, this is just me.
Regards,
BABRT's