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How to tie in ss root without feather edging!!! Plz help!!!

Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 1:16 pm
by Samson el welder
I am having serious problems tying in my ss root pass with tacks. I have a test on ss sch40 next week and company is requiring 100% x-ray, now I can throw a kickass root up until u have to tie in my tacks I know am able to use the grinder to feather edge but the company I am testing for does not allow use if grinder during the test can someone give me a tip on how to tie in the root pass without using the grinder. I could really use the help and would be extremely grateful.

Thanks
Samson El Welder

Re: How to tie in ss root without feather edging!!! Plz help

Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 6:04 pm
by Otto Nobedder
Be sure to mark your tacks on the pipe so the radiographer knows where they are. With gringers not allowed for the test, it's likely "some" allowance will be given.

When leaving a tack, as starting at 6 o'clock, it's pretty straightforward, waiting until the end of the tack, about a half-puddle's worth, is molten before adding filler. Arriving at three and 9 o'clock is only a bit trickier... Hold off on the filler leaving the last keyhole, and heat at the end of the tack until molten, then move downhand as you feed the last keyhole. Arriving at 12 o'clock is easier... It's the same as 3 and 6, but with gravity on your side, suck-back is not a concern.

For x-ray, even under ASME IX, you mostly need to be sure to break the edges and fill the root flush to the inside of the pipe. Some internal reinforcement is preferred, of course, and the WPS will tell you if it's required,but I've even seen a slight suck-back pass when the cap reinforcement was adequate. Again, be sure to check the WPS, and if possible ask the proctor about acceptible standards. I was once looked out on a weld I know would have passed bend and x-ray by an extremely picky examiner.

Hope this is some help. Do you have opportunity to practice?

Let me dig a bit... It seems to me Jody has a recent video (root only) where he does it without feathered tacks, using a big 'ol air-cooled torch on his scratch-start rig with the home-brew rectifier.

Edit-
Okay, it's actually on carbon steel, but may help with the technique...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... YYkPELEBRU

Steve S

Re: How to tie in ss root without feather edging!!! Plz help

Posted: Mon Jul 29, 2013 7:40 pm
by Samson el welder
Hey Steve thanks so much buddy that explains to the t!!