Have you done this type of heavy girder/structural welding before? Contractor Superintendents are always in a big hurry. My experience with them is they are usually old scraper operators used to driving the dirt machines pedal to the metal. All they know of welding is the mechanic that had to scarf off the sheet metal that (they) was torn off from abuse and gummed in some new plate. You have the equipment, papers (certs), insurance and skills. If not, Mr. git-r-dun yesterday would have have welded it already. Politely (while you explode inside) inform him you are doing the best job you can in a timely manner and that these are critical members requiring highly specialised and technical proceedures. In answer to your query, it takes as long as it takes... period. Of course, if the repairs have to be repaired......................
I have put girders together before but it has been a few year, I am welding the root with 1/8 and filling it up with 1/4, I think we are going pretty good on them, I was just wondering if we were making good time its taking between 4 to 5 hrs from start to finish.These are new beams(girder).
You didnt say what process you are using. SAW would be the prefered method but if you are in the field, thats out of the question. I assume (dangerous word) that you are using SMAW. (5/32 rod flat) Considering preheat requirements, joint prep, cleaning between passes etc. there isnt a formula to determine exactly how long it will take. Every welder is different. The proof in in the UT. If your welds are passing UT,the GC shouldnt be upset unless he has witnessed milking the job. If there is a CWI on the job he should be able to back you up.
JMHO.
Dave
i would think that you would want to use fcaw-ss, maybe 232. are you radiusing (sp?)the run-off tabs, or removing the btm backing bar? i agree with dm that if your passing ut then however long it takes is quicker that repairs. being a thicker weld and ground flush, the ut guy will be able to distinguish more and the testing is a little tougher (typically). i would guess that it should take a good part of a day to complete. just a guess
I wish we could fcaw the flanges but here in GA. field work on bridges can only be done with rods.
Using 1/8 and 1/4 7018 hobart.Doing everything right passing ut contract still not happy. Told him if he can find any body faster go a head, be glad to get off night shift.
Good reply! Good for you.
A man can take so much,I been doing this can of work for many years,and this man is the first one that thinks me and my partener are going to slow. I hate to lose a big job like this. But quality come before speed. And some jobs are better to walk away from before you get a bad reputation.
Your minds in the right place. Remember quality is long term safety. Pinching a dime now, could cost lives and muchos dinero later.
M2cents,
Gerald
Remind him that "SPEED COSTS MONEY!" Then politely ask him "How fast is your wallet?"
You can most certainly go faster with some adjustments in your program, additional personel, advanced processes, etc! I am sure furhter questioning will reveal that he is running now at the max his wallet will allow. As with anything else fast on the planet, the gains in elapsed time are tiny but cumulative and come with a exponential increase in spending.
This kind of bull seems to be the flavor of the month. I now ask him ( Mr.Superintendent Superstar) how fast his wallet....... the second I begin to hear that whole hurry up thing. Usually sobers them up in a quick minute. More than likely this is because they are now over the ridiculous time and money budget for that section of the project. Recently, I have worked on an increasing number of projects where some scheduling genius completely forgot to include time for field welding in any part of the project schedule. That surely starts the whole "Rapidamente!" remarks headed my way.
I would soon get My a** up and hand the guy the stinger and My hood and ask Him to show Me how He wants it done.
Like I said earlier, as long as the UT's are good; no repairs or repairs of repairs... 4-5 hours sounds plenty fast to me. I know it's hard not to just cut loose on these jerks and my mouth has cost me a couple of jobs and top billing on the black list. Sometimes that welding cap flap just don't cover up our red necks!
Remember the 3 rules of the rig welder:
The job sux
The boss sux
and it don't last 4ever.
Good luck and happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
cwf07,
If I remember correctly, 5/32" E7018 has a deposition rate of 5LBS per hour with an efficiency rate of 50%. Meaning for every 1 pound of filler metal welded only 50% is actually deposited metal. If your beating UT I would say your doing great.
Jim
If this is a bridge job, it is either City, County of State work? And if you're successfully doing this work for that jurisdiction, well done! Contractor no doubt bid hard money on this job and every minute he can squeeze out of you is money in his pocket. But as a member of the public that will likely use this bridge, I say thank you for doing it right! Remind Mr. Contractor of lawsuits from bridge failures.
If the contractor underestimated the welding requirements (and this happens a lot), then he is experiencing a learning epiphany. You could ask the contractor to speak to his estimator to see how much time was budgeted for welding.
Bob
you could offer your services as a welding consultant if this is a common issue for him
This is a state job the bridge is on a interstate (I20) Augusta Ga. We told the company we would do 7 slices for $1500.00 a slice to see how much it would take $1500.00 is what we can do 36" beams for these are 36" girders.We did 7 everything ok on work done ut ok. Now they don't want to pay new price $2300.00 a slice on last 7. We found out later they had as much as $2500.00 a slice in thier bid.These are 36" beams
ask him to split the difference or walk
nice job btw
I gotta say if its a bridge this is fracture critical material.
Your supper is or will have no choice but to follow your state guide lines.
You have no choice but to follow the approved procedure.
Research the PQR and WPS thats what they are there for!!
It's state work the state inspector talk to the head state inspector that will be doing the UT on the welding and he told him not to worry he knows me and he didn't have nothing to worry about. They are just 3 of us in the state of Ga that the state will let weld bridge beam and not have to come out and watch us.Because all 3 of use have had to redo beam that other bridge contactor let other welder weld them that try to weld them to fast or just don't know how to weld. I ask the inspector how they got a state card to weld on bridges, I suggested that when welder take the test to change it up so they can't practace for that 1 test. I said if they can weld they will have to learn to adapt to the job because in the feild you never know what you are going to run into.
David Lee
This doesn't look like a Fracture Critical Bridge to me.
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