What is the difference in what you discribe and a verticle weave?
There sure is a lot of high pressure pipe welded with some pretty wide weave passes.
Have you ever noticed when you lay down a nice smoothe pass how the slag releases and drops off if you look at it real hard?
The heat and arc dig in below the tiny bit of slag (very thin) at the top of the pass.
-I haven't personally qualified a procedure this way, and I don't know if anyone has, or if it is feasable to do so.
-I have no technical backup whatsoever. I do know that good welders can make UT and X Ray using this method.
-Yes it does appear to be illegal acording to D1.1.
-The client's were happy that we were progressing quickly!
- It seems more a matter of convienience rather than flat out speed, it doesn't really take long to wire brush a weld with a small or medium size grinder. It is inconvienient sometimes, especially when going in circles around a pipe pile, working from a plank, over water.
This really seems to be a technique applied in the field, probably in violation of code. But good and experienced welders can and do do it regularly. Sorry I can't be of more help. Keep us informed.
JTMcC.