branch test help

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OK guys im trying to break out on the pipeline. Im practicing the branch test and my fit up is great all except I don't know if its right. Does the ID of your saddle match up with the ID of the header on the ears? Both ID's match up on the throat but as it goes down to the ears it transitions to the ID of my saddle matching with the OD of my header and I just don't think its right. Im by no means an expert I just know enough to get me in trouble now im hopin to learn a little more to keep me out of it. Any help is greatly appreciated and I would love it if anybody here who knows a lot about this and is willing to let me annoy them with my questions if you could pm me.
Reply:There's a thread about this I think... search around. I'll see if I can find it.http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...-test-questionhttp://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...12-branch-testhttp://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php...ding-QuestionsThe second one might help you the most. I can't remember.Last edited by akabadnews; 11-01-2013 at 09:21 PM.
Reply:Originally Posted by lifeontherunOK guys im trying to break out on the pipeline. Im practicing the branch test and my fit up is great all except I don't know if its right. Does the ID of your saddle match up with the ID of the header on the ears? Both ID's match up on the throat but as it goes down to the ears it transitions to the ID of my saddle matching with the OD of my header and I just don't think its right. Im by no means an expert I just know enough to get me in trouble now im hopin to learn a little more to keep me out of it. Any help is greatly appreciated and I would love it if anybody here who knows a lot about this and is willing to let me annoy them with my questions if you could pm me.
Reply:akabadnews thanks for posting those quicklinks. I actually started the first thread Im pretty good at laying it out the long way just looking for a quicker way and the second link I printed off and that's what helped me the most to get to where im at now. Amazing how much information is on here but I think Rickswelding cleared it up best for me by saying the ID of the saddle should match the OD of the run pipe. Im assuming this is all the way around even on the ears? So I think it should like this? Its my first one and Im happy with it my only concern is where my thumb is if that's right. It doesn't look right to me but ive never done this before. I do have my spacers in so you will see a gap all around but it is tight withough the spacers. .
Reply:Something is odd lifeontherun, maybe an opticle illusion though. Did you sqare cut the run pipe? I always keep the torch cutting towards the imaginary center of the run pipe. Also I bevel the branch pretty hard on the throat, and a little on the ears. I find it easier to put the bead in the throat if I have some room to work it. Kind of depends on what the inspector wants for a cap - 1,2 or 3 passes(to fill the bevel). One more thing that helps me is when I lay out the ears on the branch (where it comes to a point), I subtract 2 wall thicknesses, then connect the dots. This keeps me from being too pointy to weld out smooth, or too rounded. ( .375 wall = 3/4 inch up from the point). I can see you are workin' at it pard.     Rick