pipe line welding question

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I work for a construction co. and have been welding for about 20 years. Most of my welding for work is ornamental iron or aluminum, some pipe in a pinch, and repair. I was talking to a pipe fitter on the job that said that all pipe line welding is done vertical down. What I would like to know is, is this true? And if so why, and what stick rod is used?
Reply:Much of the cross country pipeline work is welded virtical down.Much of in plant pressure pipe is welded up. My plant (high pressure powerplant) is all virtical up pipe welding.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:Originally Posted by snoeproeMuch of the cross country pipeline work is welded virtical down.Much of in plant pressure pipe is welded up. My plant (high pressure powerplant) is all virtical up pipe welding.
Reply:Thanks for the reply's! I'm a vertical up guy, but I see the the need for travel speed when there are hundreds of joints to make. I guess that is the biggest reason right? Only other thing I can think of would be the humidity forgiveness of the fast freeze series electrodes.
Reply:ask slowhand
Reply:I was on a job in the early nineties where EVERYTHING was downhill.  It was 48" pipe and we used 7010hyp--"Hippie" rod---It was a really fun job, my partner and I could do 5 joints each day, and sometimes we would get 6. There was a fit crew, and our fit crew would run most of our roots all the way out for us-----you'd be surprised what a few beers will get you.  We were all issued a 2 gallon galvanized bucket and had to turn in our stubs at the end of each day, if there were any over 2 inches, you got wrote up, if they did not weigh a certain amount, you got wrote up, they went through a BUNCH of welders on that job, but I got to stay till the end and then a little longer.  Each night a team came in and tested each weld---don't know if it was X-ray or what, but I only had one bad weld on the 500 or so joints that I welded.  That was my first experience with a bunch of welders from Texas as well...........and it was...............enlightening....6 Miller Big Blue 600 Air Paks2 Miller 400D6 Lincoln LN-25's4 Miller Xtreme 12VS2 Miller Dimension 812 4 Climax BW-3000Z bore welders Hypertherm 65 and 85Bug-O Track BugPair of Welpers
Reply:they love the 5p vertical down. i do not believe they would use xx18 because they will not run it downhill...
Reply:Generally (but not always the case I've found) the rod is one to two numbers stronger than the pipe.  Say the pipe is X42 - the closest rod is 6010.  So one number is X52 and two numbers is X60.  So 6010G is considered the right rod but today most will require 6010+ (a recognized good rod).Another gas company may require HYP+ 7010 all the way out which is actually more than 3 steps up, but some will not allow this rod at all....Usually on pipe X52 up to X70 most gas companies in the US will require 5p+ bead and 8010G (70+) out, all downhill.  In their stations it might be the same or it might be uphill.  The code might be 1004 or B31-3.  Now days who knows what it will be because it has changed over the years it seems.IMO - if you can weld with 8010G all the way out on any grade of pipe and beat 1004 doing it -  then I think you can also run the other rods too without any real problems - so you shouldn't have problems anywhere you go no matter what rods they require. lol  And if you are a good welder then B31-3 isn't that big a deal either because good welders are welding that on 1004 jobs anyway. Good luck man
Reply:API 1104 jobs............ jrw159
Reply:I see it now.  Sorry for my typo's.  Where I said 1004  I really ment to say 1104. Thats what long hard days does to a brain. Later guys
Reply:The travel speed is one reason why they run downhill, but its not just for the speed factor.  It also serves to decrease the width of the HAZ and helps the material to retain its properties.  Important considering the seismic activity and flexing that these pipes endure.Have we all gone mad?