Looking for some advice before my first certification test.

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I've got a vertical up certification test coming up tomorrow, and I was hoping to get some advice. I feel confident in my ability to pass, but I see no reason to pass up a chance to get some information from people far more experienced than myself.The following was done with 1/8" 7018 rods, with the welder set on 107 amps, if that's important.http://i.imgur.com/gvpRXZL.jpgMy most recent root weld, done on Friday. Obviously nowhere near as good as it should be but I was told it's passable, and that I just need to extend it more beyond the ends of the plates when doing the test, and do the same for the filler beads afterwards.http://i.imgur.com/kHEZ9Zm.jpgAnd the finished weld. This would not have passed as I left some undercut on the right top half, and I didn't do the best job trying to cover up a spot where the flux cracked and blew out a chunk of metal on the left. I am happy with the bead I ran on the bottom right to cover up some more undercut, though. The instructor told me after to run a bead all the way up each side, rather than just covering up each individual spot.Any criticism and advice is welcome and greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Reply:Is there a reason you ran stringer beads instead of one weave pass for the cap? I don't do a lot of structural stick, but I've always seen it done and was taught to weave the cap on small bevel like that. It's how we do it on 5G pipe welds also. I'm not saying it's wrong, but not normally how it's done. I've never done a certification test, but plenty of weld tests for work and some places won't allow any arc strikes, and there appears to be one about a third of the way up on your bead the right side. A couple more on the plate, but you can usually hide those if you really need to One more thing is that if you are going to make any repairs, do it before continuing with your bead. You don't want to go back and try to cover up little parts here and there with stick. Try to prevent undercut before it happens. That's probably the hardest thing to try to repair, especially on a test, because you want to maintain the staying edge along the bevel. Make sure you watch your puddle fill in the edges before continuing up to prevent that.
Reply:Originally Posted by TheBFAIs there a reason you ran stringer beads instead of one weave pass for the cap? I don't do a lot of structural stick, but I've always seen it done and was taught to weave the cap on small bevel like that. It's how we do it on 5G pipe welds also. I'm not saying it's wrong, but not normally how it's done. I've never done a certification test, but plenty of weld tests for work and some places won't allow any arc strikes, and there appears to be one about a third of the way up on your bead the right side. A couple more on the plate, but you can usually hide those if you really need to One more thing is that if you are going to make any repairs, do it before continuing with your bead. You don't want to go back and try to cover up little parts here and there with stick. Try to prevent undercut before it happens. That's probably the hardest thing to try to repair, especially on a test, because you want to maintain the staying edge along the bevel. Make sure you watch your puddle fill in the edges before continuing up to prevent that.
Reply:May not be much advice but dont get nervous. If you get nervous you will probably start messing up.Mullets&Pullets
Reply:Arc strikes will fail you, keep them in the joint.  Proper prep,  did you clean off the mill scale on either side of the bevels ?  Looks to me like it was only wire wheeled and shined up from the pictures ??   Mill scale can be a cause of undercut.  As the guy above me said given the choice I would weave this.  But with that said a person should be able to weave or stringer a joint.   If I were in your shoes I would practice a little more so I didn't get undercut,  there is nothing worse than being on a test, and having to fix something !EditJust noticed your second post.  If its paid for and you have no other choice but take it tomorrow go weld the darn thing :-).  Try and keep an I don't care attitude if I pass or fail it will help with the nerves.  Look at the test as a learning experience.  Pass or fail you will know what to expect next time !As for your weave cover pic, are those spots porosity or chipping hammer marks ?   Don't pound your weld with a chipping hammer.  Those marks will show up on x ray and could fail you,  the inspector may look you out for it as well.Last edited by Newfie_1986; 03-06-2016 at 06:18 PM.Journeyman / Red Seal Welder (What a useless test)Miller CST 280Miller XMT 350Miller 12vs XtremeEvolution Evo 28 mag drillEvolution 380 Dry Cut saw
Reply:Originally Posted by Newfie_1986Arc strikes will fail you, keep them in the joint.  Proper prep,  did you clean off the mill scale on either side of the bevels ?  Looks to me like it was only wire wheeled and shined up from the pictures ??   Mill scale can be a cause of undercut.  As the guy above me said given the choice I would weave this.  But with that said a person should be able to weave or stringer a joint.   If I were in your shoes I would practice a little more so I didn't get undercut,  there is nothing worse than being on a test, and having to fix something !EditJust noticed your second post.  If its paid for and you have no other choice but take it tomorrow go weld the darn thing :-).  Try and keep an I don't care attitude if I pass or fail it will help with the nerves.  Look at the test as a learning experience.  Pass or fail you will know what to expect next time !
Reply:Another thing, it might be late in the day to try to get one, but a silver streak pencil could help you a lot to keep your bead straight. They usually have them at weld shops. You can draw a line where you want to stay within and it doesn't burn off and illuminates while you are welding to you can see it.
Reply:Originally Posted by YogSoggothYeah, I just wire wheeled it and brushed it to get it clean. What's the mill scale, and how's that cause undercut?
Reply:You want the edges of your bevels shiny just like your backing plate.  You did grind your backing bar right ?  Mill scale is formed when the steel is processed and rolled into shape.  A wire wheel doesn't take off mill scale you really need a flap disk or hard disc to do so.  Like the pic I have below shows the mill scale is the dark crap.  As you can see ahead of my cap it is all cleaned off. Attached ImagesLast edited by Newfie_1986; 03-06-2016 at 06:37 PM.Journeyman / Red Seal Welder (What a useless test)Miller CST 280Miller XMT 350Miller 12vs XtremeEvolution Evo 28 mag drillEvolution 380 Dry Cut saw
Reply:Originally Posted by YogSoggothEDIT: For reference, this is what my cover passes currently look like: http://i.imgur.com/ES3mHJT.jpg
Reply:Originally Posted by Newfie_1986You want the edges of your bevels shiny just like your backing plate.  You did grind your backing bar right ?  Mill scale is formed when the steel is processed and rolled into shape.  A wire wheel doesn't take off mill scale you really need a flap disk or hard disc to do so.  Like the pic I have below shows the mill scale is the dark crap.  As you can see ahead of my cap it is all cleaned off.
Reply:You probably wont be able to use a grinder on the test.  But for fit up you will be allowed.  The instructor should have explained mill scale to you and that it needs to be cleaned off.  Everything gets cleaned and tacked up before the "test" begins.  I hope you are not paying much for this course because it seems like the instructor is dropping the ball not explaining some of the basics to you.   During structural tests I have only been allowed to use a grinder with a wire wheel, never a grinding or cutting/pipe fitter disc.   Your backing strip should be shiny along with 1/2 to 1 inch outside your bevels I usually go somewhere around 3/4 inch.  By not explaining some of the basics to you your instructor is setting you up for failure !  All of your actual grinding will be done before the test begins.Last edited by Newfie_1986; 03-06-2016 at 11:09 PM.Journeyman / Red Seal Welder (What a useless test)Miller CST 280Miller XMT 350Miller 12vs XtremeEvolution Evo 28 mag drillEvolution 380 Dry Cut saw
Reply:Originally Posted by Newfie_1986You probably wont be able to use a grinder on the test.  But for fit up you will be allowed.  The instructor should have explained mill scale to you and that it needs to be cleaned off.  Everything gets cleaned and tacked up before the "test" begins.  I hope you are not paying much for this course because it seems like the instructor is dropping the ball not explaining some of the basics to you.   During structural tests I have only been allowed to use a grinder with a wire wheel, never a grinding or cutting/pipe fitter disc.   Your backing strip should be shiny along with 1/2 to 1 inch outside your bevels I usually go somewhere around 3/4 inch.  By not explaining some of the basics to you your instructor is setting you up for failure !  All of your actual grinding will be done before the test begins.
Reply:Grant or no the guy is getting paid to teach.  He shouldn't be leaving out the basics.Another tip.  On your weave, as you fill your plate try and leave it under filled by 1/16" before you cap and try not to burn away the edges of your bevel, use the bevel edges to keep your cap width consistent and the proper size.Last edited by Newfie_1986; 03-06-2016 at 11:40 PM.Journeyman / Red Seal Welder (What a useless test)Miller CST 280Miller XMT 350Miller 12vs XtremeEvolution Evo 28 mag drillEvolution 380 Dry Cut saw
Reply:Originally Posted by Newfie_1986Grant or no the guy is getting paid to teach.  He shouldn't be leaving out the basics.Another tip.  On your weave, as you fill your plate try and leave it under filled by 1/16" before you cap and try not to burn away the edges of your bevel, use the bevel edges to keep your cap width consistent and the proper size.
Reply:Originally Posted by YogSoggothWhat would you suggest?
Reply:Man I've never been lucky enough to get to do a 3G stick test with a backing strap. Always open root.Big F**king HammerJumper cables & 2 marine batteriesJaws of life
Reply:i run uphill around 115-125 depending on how thick base is.  Ifs it a huge plate, it will take the heat.  Even 3/8 test plates i run around 115 uphill.  You are definitely too cold on your weave cap.clean ALL the mill scale out of the weld joint. Clean the backing bar, clean the back side of the test plates and the front side of the test plates.those arc strikes (where you drug your rod across the plate and it arc'd off) will fail you.  you should be striking IN the bevel ... and ONLY in the bevel.  It looks to me like you are trying to 'stretch' your rod.  Dont run any faster than it wants.  trying to move up too fast is leaving you with under-fill in your bead.x2 with CEP ... when im worried that the puddle will fall on the floor, i have good heat.AWS CWI xxxx21711968 SA200  Originally Posted by WelderMike  I hate being bipolar, It's awesome.
Reply:I passed the visual inspection! I'll know tomorrow whether it passes the bend test, but I'm pretty sure it's going to. Thanks for all the advice! It really helped, and I appreciate it. Originally Posted by AFFENDEthose arc strikes (where you drug your rod across the plate and it arc'd off) will fail you.  you should be striking IN the bevel ... and ONLY in the bevel.