CWB CERTIFICATION (Need Pointers :D )

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Hi, im still a student and our school would like us to take a CWB exam since our employers would want us to have one. (Im still quite fresh from finishing the class and I haven't started on being an apprentice but apparently we need a CWB certification for us to apply.)My question is what tips can you give me on taking my CWB exams. The exams that I would take is:SMAW: 1gf, 2gfFCAW: 1gf, 2gfIm quite doing fine on these exercises but we really haven't tried on bend test. We use Miller XMT 450 in our school.My settings are:SMAW: 1gf and 2gfAmperage: 105FCAW: 1gf and 2gfVolts: 21.5 or 21Wire Speed: 202 ipmWe are using 7018 rods but unfortunately i can't practice 7018's when i come home since I only have an AC welding (more or less like a buzz box)What kind of practices would you recommend me on doing and some pointers to help me pass.
Reply:For the CWB SMAW test you are required to use 1/8 7018 rod. 105 amps won't cut it for 1/8 rod. 105 amps is in the ballpark for 3/32 7018 rod. I run 1/8 7018 rod at around 135 amps for CWB.The CWB has a 40%fail rate for this test. Eliminate any unnecessary starts and stops and get your tie ins done properly.You should be cutting up and bending your plates before you do the test. This will help you confirm what your doing is going to work.Last edited by snoeproe; 03-27-2013 at 11:06 PM.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:Originally Posted by snoeproeFor the CWB SMAW test you are required to use 1/8 7018 rod. 105 amps won't cut it for 1/8 rod. 105 amps is in the ballpark for 3/32 7018 rod. I run 1/8 7018 rod at around 135 amps for CWB.The CWB has a 40%fail rate for this test. Eliminate any unnecessary starts and stops and get your tie ins done properly.You should be cutting up and bending your plates before you do the test. This will help you confirm what your doing is going to work.
Reply:45 min per position is the standard time. Thats way more than enough to do each position and cut them up then bend them. You should be able to do each position in half that time.How come your only doing flat and horizontal positions? I do vertical up and overhead positions as well. Your flat and horizontal positions should be a piece of cake.I use the higher amps to make sure I get my first few passes in hot. The higher amps help flow together your tie ins. The higher amps also help flow your cap together smoothly. Learn to control the heat and the higher amps will help you. The higher amps help me anyway.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:Originally Posted by snoeproe45 min per position is the standard time. Thats way more than enough to do each position and cut them up then bend them. You should be able to do each position in half that time.How come your only doing flat and horizontal positions? I do vertical up and overhead positions as well. Your flat and horizontal positions should be a piece of cake.I use the higher amps to make sure I get my first few passes in hot. The higher amps help flow together your tie ins. The higher amps also help flow your cap together smoothly. Learn to control the heat and the higher amps will help you. The higher amps help me anyway.
Reply:They will make you do a start and stop on the first pass. Practice this as it will be bent at that spot. You should be bending your coupons before the test to make sure you are getting it.Also one thing you should know there are "testing rods" that are kept at the proper temp just for tests. If you don't ask for them you won't get them. Its not a big deal but why not have all the advantages you can.No grinding alowed but you can use a wire wheel to get all the slag out which is important.The wire wheel or buff can also be used to cool the plate a bit between passes.The flat poistion has a very high fail rate.
Reply:Like Biggerair said, it seems weird that the flat position has a high fail rate, but it is the easiest one and most guys just try and blast through it without thinking about it and screw up along the way. I'm in Canada and we also do all 4 positions and I would recommend practicing and and testing for all 4 plates, it just looks better.Also I just recently renewed my FCAW CWB's using the same machine and I ran my volts at 24.5 and my wire speed at 275 for all 4 plates.
Reply:N Originally Posted by BiggerairThey will make you do a start and stop on the first pass. Practice this as it will be bent at that spot. You should be bending your coupons before the test to make sure you are getting it.Also one thing you should know there are "testing rods" that are kept at the proper temp just for tests. If you don't ask for them you won't get them. Its not a big deal but why not have all the advantages you can.No grinding alowed but you can use a wire wheel to get all the slag out which is important.The wire wheel or buff can also be used to cool the plate a bit between passes.The flat poistion has a very high fail rate.
Reply:Originally Posted by BadonkadonkLike Biggerair said, it seems weird that the flat position has a high fail rate, but it is the easiest one and most guys just try and blast through it without thinking about it and screw up along the way. I'm in Canada and we also do all 4 positions and I would recommend practicing and and testing for all 4 plates, it just looks better.Also I just recently renewed my FCAW CWB's using the same machine and I ran my volts at 24.5 and my wire speed at 275 for all 4 plates.
Reply:Originally Posted by derekgabsNWhy would the flat be a high fail rate? What would be the common problems. And also what is the proper width of a bead? Im at a disadvantage since i have not tried even once bending my weld.
Reply:Ahh thanks for that. I'll try to increase my amps more. As of now i can only practice on a buzz box. Is it ok to practice on a 6013 or 12 or an 11 for an 18. Ill try to do a higher amperage. Or is there a more nearer way to practice 18 on a buzz box?
Reply:You really should be practicing on a machine similar to what you will be testing with....a DC stick machine. You should also be practicing  with the filler rod you will be using for your test. I see no point on practicing with any 10, 11 or 13 rod. Use 7018.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:Originally Posted by snoeproeYou really should be practicing on a machine similar to what you will be testing with....a DC stick machine. You should also be practicing  with the filler rod you will be using for your test. I see no point on practicing with any 10, 11 or 13 rod. Use 7018.
Reply:Ok thanks.  i guess i need to find a DC. . I'll try to update this thread once i find one. Sent from my S100 using Tapatalk 2