Welding Tips and Tricks

Good evening,

Is there a video available of Jody or anyone in the 4G position?

This is only my 3rd day practicing this position but I'm just looking for additional guidance and instruction.

The root isn't my problem. The hot pass isn't my problem. Walking the cup for the fill passes and cap are giving me fits.

It's a weird and uncomfortable position to begin with and even going as slow as I can, I can't seem to walk the cup without sticking the tungsten, getting hung up on or slipping the cup.

I know. I'm still new to this process but I doesn't hurt to ask.

I've watched my instructor do it and he did it very well. 37 years in the industry I'd expect it to be automatic for him. lol.

Thanks.

Rod

Slipping the cup on steel can come from the metal being to hot. I fight this on small heavy wall pipe. Also try changing to a larger cup size as you get farther out of the groove.

Poland308 wrote:Slipping the cup on steel can come from the metal being to hot. I fight this on small heavy wall pipe. Also try changing to a larger cup size as you get farther out of the groove.

The largest cup I have currently is an 8 but I will try it.

Thank you.

8 should be plenty big. If you still have troubles adjust your toungsten stick out. If you shorten it up it will force you to maintain good angle. As you walk the cup you will see the arc nip off a little bit of wire and just kinda brush it to the edge of your bead. Keep you bead width less than the width of your cup.

Poland308 wrote:Slipping the cup on steel can come from the metal being to hot. I fight this on small heavy wall pipe. Also try changing to a larger cup size as you get farther out of the groove.

I'd also suggest that if you use too much force holding the torch, pushing too hard against the pipe, it will slip off. Just use enough to control the torch, you'll also find your arm won't get tired as quick if your doing this most of the day

Agreed, shorter the tungsten stickout as you go, keep a very light grip on the torch, breathe and take your time. I can honestly say I've never had to weld 4g plate in the field, TIG.

What are your settings? Are you Welding with a WPS?

Rick_H wrote:Agreed, shorter the tungsten stickout as you go, keep a very light grip on the torch, breathe and take your time. I can honestly say I've never had to weld 4g plate in the field, TIG.

What are your settings? Are you Welding with a WPS?

I'm not sure what a WPS is but the rig I'm using is a Miller XMT304 CC/CV, running 110 amps.

I kinda figured it out. My learning process includes getting frustrated to the point where I have an AH-HA moment. I kept a light grip on the torch without hamfisting it, breath normally and took my time and I actually ran a decent plate today. Sorry no pictures but I will post some pics of the plates I run next week.

Easy,
It stands for Welding Procedure Specifications, in other words a written procedure that calls for something to be welded with a certain filler, process, direction of progression, weld size, stringers or weaves, stuff like that.

Len

Pics of a WP SHEET from one of my cents. Every recognized cert will have a WPS. Sometime engineers are nice enough to give you one when they ask you to weld on something weird and there butt is on the line.

Cripes I should have known that.

I have the WPS/Test syllabus in my work folder. I'll have to bust it out and check the details.

I think I figured it out.

I have a few more days to fine tune a bit more before my certification test next week.

Now certified GTAW, all positions.

I had every intention of documenting each step of the welding process when I started my test but once I put the root passes in, I just go so into the process that I totally forgot, all the while my good camera hanging right next to me.

Now onto pipe.