Welding Tips and Tricks

Did my 6 monthly requal yesterday to keep my cert current.
2" Sched 160. 3/32" gap, 30* bevel, knife edge, 3/32" er70S wire.

Pic from inside, sorry for quality, couldn't get a proper focus with the phone.
Root pass
Second pass
2 stringer cap
Test Report extract A couple of things:
Our Aussie test standard (AS3892) was revised late last year. Requal test now only requires a macro (passing) whereas previously x-ray was required as well. Win for me, keeps the NDE costs down.

Secondly, our standards changed a couple year ago regarding reinforcement. Previously we followed other standards like AWS etc for 1/8" (3.2mm) allowable reinforcement. That has been reduced to 2mm apparently to reduce stress raisers as reinforcement contours onto parent metal by reducing angle of approach. For me that makes root passes tread a finer line between excessive penetration and suck back so I tend to keep my penetration closer to the 2mm mark. The cap, anything above flat is good because its easy to over reinforce.

Your very lucky to get to test your skill....and exceed at it!. Great Job! .....from a bottom feeder

Nice, feels good to get those damn tests over..lol You do a forward back style motion on the root, laywire? I find if I laywire the root I tend to keep it fairly flat with limited reenforcement, watching it keyhole and dabbing I can push a little more through and its controllable.

My last test they required me to walk the cup...

Yes I use laywire when fitup is right on. Faster and neater. If you use s2 wire, flat root is the result. If you use s4 or s6 wire it flows and penetrates better. S2 is in my personal catagory of junk, also good for hanging paint tins from ladders.
The wps is my own and qualifies me for single side butts to 17.4mm thickness. I use it where customer has no procedure which is most of the time. Rarely walk the cup, mostly no room or too awkward. Most of the time I have the button back cap on and stubby lense just to get around.

Coldman wrote:Yes I use laywire when fitup is right on. Faster and neater. If you use s2 wire, flat root is the result. If you use s4 or s6 wire it flows and penetrates better. S2 is in my personal catagory of junk, also good for hanging paint tins from ladders.
The wps is my own and qualifies me for single side butts to 17.4mm thickness. I use it where customer has no procedure which is most of the time. Rarely walk the cup, mostly no room or too awkward. Most of the time I have the button back cap on and stubby lense just to get around.

Yeah, that's how I roll too...stubby lens and cap, give me as much room as possible, I've even stole a trick from Steve and sanded my cup down to grab a tad more of needed. I'm not a huge fan of -2 either, typically -6 here.

I was shocked to have to walk but that's what they wanted, I also did a standard sample, saw no differences in x-ray or bend.

Walk lace is pretty but most cup walkers use right hand only so the full butt ends up mix and match. I just do my thing which at least looks the same all round.
With laywire try pushing more rod in for penetration.

If you want to compare settings and prep let me know.

Having never read AS3892 is there much of a difference to AS1796 or is it just the retesting part since its working with boilers

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As1796 is for certification of welders. As3892 is for qualification of welders. Once you have As1796 certification you never go back to the standard, you then come under as3892. It talks about material and duty classification as well. There are some differences in test requirements as well. As3892 is more about industry procedure compliance. As1796 specifies its own test procedures for example 3 tacks only on a 3" pipe coupon. Go figure.