6g pipe 6011 7018 tips for me

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Hey guys, i have my 3f 1" unlimited cert but im lookin into gettin my pipe cert! I just went out yesterday and picked up some pipe, i mig and stick at work but im yet to do any pipe welding. I fired up the old tombstone and started burnin in some passes. Any tips or tricks for me? Attatched are some pics from just a minute ago.  I talked to an older welder friend of mine and he said he thought it was okay to run 6011 verticle down for the test, is this true? For my practice i torch cut a piece of pipe, ground it down and put a bevel on it, nothing too exact (i need to pick up one of them pipe gauges) but i used a dime thickness between the pipes and a nickel thickness fir the land. I burned 1/8 6011 downhand without much of a whip and pause unless the keyhole got out of hand. Im noticing alot of undercut on my 7018 hotpass (ends up more like a cover pass as i have 1/8 not 3/32) and i burned it at 90 amps. Any pointers or tricks?
Reply:Uphill-downhill 6010 depends on the test. Can't see enough to tell you much on anything other than the cap. It looks a little inconsistent, but not too bad. 90 amps is on the low end for 1/8" 7018. Most of the time 115-130 amps for 1/8" 7018. Be sure not to get an arc strike outside of the bevel like that when you decide to test.Airco Ac/Dc 300 HeliwelderMillerMatic 200 (stolen)Miller Maxstar 150STLMiller AEAD200LE (welding and generating power) Hobart MIG
Reply:I've never welded with a Tombstone welder. Don't they take like 15-amp jumps?Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPI've never welded with a Tombstone welder. Don't they take like 15-amp jumps?
Reply:Originally Posted by docweldercep;no fine tuning on the tombstone.
Reply:Yeah the old tombstone jumps up in intervals. Ill try goin up on the amperage with the 7018, i wasnt sure what to run it at as i was primarily running vertical which i know is to run in the 105 range but i was trying to avoid undercut. I also just found this picture i had taken from the root, seams like it didnt burn into the sides of the pipe very well.
Reply:I'd use that welding machine as a door stop, and go buy one you can adjust where you want it. Remember I'm no pipe welder by any stretch of the imagination, but here is a root I put in on 2-inch pipe, vertical up 5-G. Attached ImagesDon’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:imvho the tombstone welder is great for welding pipe handrails with 6013 and things of that nature but for work that requires any finesse you need a machine with infinite adjustment. if the original poster wants to learn pipe welding and he's on a budget a miller thunderbolt type machine may be a better choice.i.u.o.e. # 15queens, ny and sunny fla
Reply:Originally Posted by docwelderimvho the tombstone welder is great for welding pipe handrails with 6013 and things of that nature but for work that requires any finesse you need a machine with infinite adjustment. if the original poster wants to learn pipe welding and he's on a budget a miller thunderbolt type machine may be a better choice.
Reply:CEP, thanks for the picture its very helpful. Ill shoot for that. I'm not going to be welding any pipe for anybody with my tombstone, merely just for my practice. I use a large miller at work ( will do over 400 amps) that i have access too, maybe i will practice on that a few times prior to test day when i have it down a bit more. I just got home from work im gunna cut some pipe, bevel it and lay a few beads tonightq
Reply:Unless your using an AC only machine why would you use 6011? 6011 is the AC version of dc 6010.If your machine is DC weld the root with 6010 and the hot pass with 7018.You should have a 3/32 gap with 1/6 land to burn in the hot pass.
Reply:Originally Posted by kctgbUnless your using an AC only machine why would you use 6011? 6011 is the AC version of dc 6010.If your machine is DC weld the root with 6010 and the hot pass with 7018.You should have a 3/32 gap with 1/6 land to burn in the hot pass.
Reply:Originally Posted by Fordhankjr88I picked up some 6011 as when i get out of work hocon and airgas are closed, i had to settle for some home depot rod and they didnt have any 6010. Maybe ill run out on break and pick some up. After welding some more passes tonight, i am feeling much more confident on my root and less confident on the hot pass and cover. Im going to pick up some 3/32 7018 tomorrow. I feel like the 1/8" is to large and kind of helping me make a mess and undercut the edges alot more than i should. For the 7018, what type of angle do i want to hold going up the pipe, 10 degree push?Some questions i have regarding the test, i havent been able to find to much information on the procedure. Do i weld my root, grind the face down and then have the inspector check it after grinding? Am i able to grind out an imperfection and reweld that segment if i feel it is goin to hinder my ability to pass before showing the instructor?What size pipe would be best to use on my test to give me the most versatility in the field? (Ie: for plate you weld 1" which allows me to weld any thickness of structural steel) id like to know so that this weekend i could pick up a length of it to start practicing on that specific pipeThanks for the help guys
Reply:I'm not sure about the downhill, everywhere around here is 6010 root 7018 for the rest everything uphillIt probably just depends on the application thoughLast edited by Hizermtnwelding; 04-28-2014 at 11:29 PM.Reason: Forgot to add somethingMiller Legend AEAD 200LE
Reply:Originally Posted by kctgbYour kind of confusing me, you should be getting a welding procedure sometime before you start the test. when I did my test the pipe size was stated to me by the inspector. In my state it doesn't really mater what size pipe your welding as long as you can pass the test. I had to tac everything together, the inspector inspected it and I ran my root pass. On my root I would grind back the end weld where I ended so I could light up behind where I stopped my last weld. I ran the root on one side and ran the next root on the opposite side to prevent over stressing the welds. When I was done I did a quick grind to remove all flux and the inspector inspected it again. I did the hot pass the same way.If your having problems with undercut it's probably because your amps are to high, your going to fast and not letting the undercut fill in with weld or your rod angle is to steep. I like my rod angle at about 10 to 15 degrees all the way around. 7018 rod for DC is a wonderful rod to use for welding pipe, you should be almost feeling the rod scraping the metal as you fill in the hot pass. You need to keep a very short arc length with 7018, I don't push I pull the puddle. I did my test with 1/8 rod, the inspector sliced and diced the pipe, bent it, and I was off to the races.I was not aloud to grind out a screw up, it was a failure on the test.After reading some of your comments it doesn't sound like your ready for the test, it might be good to take some more welding lessons because where I live the test isn't cheap. The last I heard the cost for the test was over $300.
Reply:Be aware that low hydrogen rods like 7018 should be kept in an oven to prevent moisture absorption. I'm pretty sure no welding inspector will pass a test with low hydrogen rods that are not properly heat treated, I know where I live the test won't begin unless you can show the inspector that the rods have been in an oven. Once you open a fresh pack of 7018 rods you have about 5 hours and the rods will start absorbing moisture to a point that could cause problems on a critical weld. It's Best to keep low hydrogen rods in an air tight container if you don't have an oven. I bet if you put the Excalibur in an oven and dried them out they would run much better. I bet if you leave the atomic arc exposed to the atmosphere for a long time they probably won't run so well either.Last edited by kctgb; 04-29-2014 at 10:16 PM.