[nickn372]

They arent gonna check your gap before you put the root pass in unless you show up with some kind of jerk attitude. Usually the wps will say 1/16" +/- 1/32". A dime is prolly perdy close. I always used some cut length pieces for the gap but once in a while they get difficult to get out. I know there are wedge spacers out there that come out really easy. A small screwdriver will work too if you know how deep to put it into the root. Just dont get so hung up on the spacer as much as you make sure the root lays in nice and even. If its an xray test they will see the whole profile of the weld and even if you leave some undercut. It all starts at the root. Crappy root crappy fill and cap.

[bunk]

Ok buddy, thanks for the info. I'm gonna set up some pieces in the morning with a little smaller gap and go at it some more. i think i gotta cut straps out and bend them. I'm not to sure what else they'll have me do. I do know its not an x ray though. thanks again bud. Phil.

[nickn372]

Bend tests are pretty easy to pass compared to xrays. I know if you have to test for any of the gas utilities its all xray. Do you know if this is union or not? I'm gonna be up your way tomorrow too if you aren't busy maybe we can catch up around lunch.

[bunk]

Yea, give me a call bud

[bunk]

Hey buddy, did you ever get a hold of that guy and get any more info out of him. I am kinda wandering how long they are gonna be runnin pipe around here. well ya get a chance hollar back at me or just text me. Wanted to say thank you very much for comeing over and helping me today bud, i do appreciate it very much. Thanks again bud. Bunk

[nickn372]

No I didnt call him yet. I will later this week probably. As far as I know from who I know and have talked to the pipe aying will be runnin full bore for the next 10+ years or as long as the shale gas boom holds out. I'll let you know what I can get out of him. No prob for stoppin by. One thing I thought of after I got drivin down the road... copper wound welders weld differently than aluminum wound welders. I've seen as big as 30-35 amps difference from one welder to another with copper windings being the main difference. Your SA is all copper and that 305 ranger would be aluminum. So with the 3/32 on the SA we were around 60-65 amps. If we would jump to that ranger we would need to be up in the 80-85 range. Hope that helps you in the future. I'll be in touch.

[birdkiller]

Here is a sad story.....I worked for a city out here in California as a welder in a water dept. We had an old SA Machine rusting in the back of our yard for years. It worked fine just had 2 flat tires and a dead battery. I offered to buy that bad boy a million times and was turned down due to conflict of interest. The city ended up selling it at auction and some guy paid $100 for it. He rolled into the yard pulled the old wheels off, threw 2 new ones on, dumped in gallon of gas or two and a battery and it fired up. He smiled said thanks have a nice day and drove off. I was pissed I wanted that machine so bad. The only downfall was that the really old gas driven machines were DC only; even the generator. The diesel driven were DC but had an AC generator.

[delraydella]

You're right, that's a sad story. And all for just a $100!


Other Steve

[nevans140]

Hey Nick who are you testing for in Ohio I live in Ohio and work for bilfinger westcon looking to test for a pipeline company tho.

[weldin mike 27]

Very old post. Be careful of that.

Mick

[Boomer63]

I know this is an older thread, but ....! On any of my gas engine driven welders I used to install a fuel shut off valve. When I would shut the machine down at the end of the day, I would turn the fuel off and let the machine run dry. This kept the carb very, very clean.

[dsmabe]

That's not a bad idea, especially with the ethanol in the gas now!