Pipe problem
Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2015 10:19 am
Hi guys! Here's the deal. I recently got a job as a TIG welder. I'm a beginner with 3 months welding time under the mask. It's all peachy so far, but for the last few days I was suppose to weld some 2" thinner walled pipes. When I say thinner, I mean 3 mm. That's the thinnest I came across until now.
So, I got 2" pipes, 3 mm wall thickness, 2 mm wire, 2.5 mm distance between two pipes, 75 amps for the root pass. Now, I can put a decent root pass, but the problems arise when I'm suppose to put the cover pass. I wait until the root is cold and I thoroughly clean the welding area and the heat affected zone. But whatever I do, I can't put a decent cover pass. I tried using 80-85 amps, 2 and 2.4 mm wire.
With less amps I can't get the puddle to flow and I'm too slow so the pipe gets too hot and I melt the root pass. With more amps I can be faster and the puddle is flowing, but then I get the obscene amount of undercut and again, I melt the root. I add more wire and keep the torch a moment longer on sides to fill the undercut, but with more wire puddle is cooled and won't flow as freely. And I melt the root.
Is there some middle ground I haven't found? Some crucial details I'm unaware of?
I would appreciate any help.
So, I got 2" pipes, 3 mm wall thickness, 2 mm wire, 2.5 mm distance between two pipes, 75 amps for the root pass. Now, I can put a decent root pass, but the problems arise when I'm suppose to put the cover pass. I wait until the root is cold and I thoroughly clean the welding area and the heat affected zone. But whatever I do, I can't put a decent cover pass. I tried using 80-85 amps, 2 and 2.4 mm wire.
With less amps I can't get the puddle to flow and I'm too slow so the pipe gets too hot and I melt the root pass. With more amps I can be faster and the puddle is flowing, but then I get the obscene amount of undercut and again, I melt the root. I add more wire and keep the torch a moment longer on sides to fill the undercut, but with more wire puddle is cooled and won't flow as freely. And I melt the root.
Is there some middle ground I haven't found? Some crucial details I'm unaware of?
I would appreciate any help.