ASME plate test

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A job at a local government facility has recently become available, and they want you to be ASME stick certified. I spoke with the CWI at the local college, and he recomends that I attempt the plate test since they dont specify the pipe test (arkansas bell). He also said that I would probably fail If I have never taken the test before. He said the test is 3/8 mild steel, 6 in. long, 60 degree bevel, 1/8 in. landing, 1/8 in. gap. 6010 root, 7018 filler, and cover, horz, vert, and overhead. Im sure most of you already are familiar with this test. My question is, on the root pass do you whip the rod, or just let it eat after you get the key hole. Ive been welding for a number of years but have never attempted this type of test before, or in other words never ran a root pass. Ive been practicing at work but am hit and miss on the root pass. Just curious as to how some of you guys lay your root pass?? Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated.
Reply:I say practice if you can.  Im in school my instructor told us to use a whip and pause technique or a little weave back and forth in the key hole,  sweeping across the key hole to keep it from opening up too much.  Its kind of hard to explain, but it is what worked for me...  Oh and we ran 6011's instead of 6010's.On 3/8" plate you're gunna want 3 passes a root, hot pass and cap.  When running you're hot pass make sure not to have too much build up you don't want to be built above you're groove...  Weave you're hot pass across your groove you want metal to burn in on both sides if not you risk slag entrapment at the weld toes that you cant get out without a grinder.Hopefully someone with more experience will jump in here as im just a newbie but above is what has worked for me.   How will you're weld be tested?  Mine were bent in a shop press.Best of luck with it !Last edited by Newfie_1986; 10-07-2008 at 07:39 PM.
Reply:Oh yeah make sure you dont over penetrate on you're root. flush or a little build up is ok but any more and it will cause you're cap to split when bent. Same with the cap dont have too much build up or it will cause you're root to split when bent.  The build up will cause you're coupons to bend at a sharper radius resulting in split welds.  Oh and clean clean clean after every pass....
Reply:Unless the CWI you talked to has specific knowledge of this company or their test, there is no way he can say that "THE" test is anything.  He can only speculate or guess at it.  The test could be nearly anything the company wants you to take, which abides by ASME code  That said, what he's reccomending is likely going to be a good start (and possibly a finish) to what you will need to do for the test.  Just don't be surprised if the test they have is slightly different from this. Originally Posted by Newfie_1986Oh yeah make sure you dont over penetrate on you're root. flush or a little build up is ok but any more and it will cause you're cap to split when bent. Same with the cap dont have too much build up or it will cause you're root to split when bent.  The build up will cause you're coupons to bend at a sharper radius resulting in split welds.  Oh and clean clean clean after every pass....
Reply:Thanks for clearing that up Engloid we are not allowed to in school.  Just allowed to weld it, cut it and bend it. and clean the edges up a little.
Reply:Originally Posted by Newfie_1986Thanks for clearing that up Engloid we are not allowed to in school.  Just allowed to weld it, cut it and bend it. and clean the edges up a little.
Reply:Thanks for all the input, I met with a pipefitter today and he showed me how he ran a root on plate. He whips the rod in and out of the keyhole, just needed to see someone do it who has passed the test.
Reply:IF the heat is set right, (based on the fitup), you can actually drag a 6010 root.
Reply:Thats what another guy there said. I had never even seen anyone run a root pss before until today. I had heard of running it both ways, but I wasnt for sure if one was right or wrong. Just needed to see how someoneele does it. I did learn that getting your machine set just right is paramount.
Reply:Engloid, have you ever taken the pipe test?
Reply:Originally Posted by JWCEngloid, have you ever taken the pipe test?
Reply:Whipping VS dragging is sometimes a preference and sometimes out of necessity. Fitup conditions, electrode settings, and position may all dictate what works best.On smaller thinner stuff where I have been tested and the progression was uphill I may start the bottom dragging the electrode with it actually pushed through the pipe enough that no sparks or few sparks make it to the outside. As I come up the side I may start whipping to minimize the keyhole from getting too big.1/8" gap and 1/8" land would be easier for me to whip than drag unless I turned the machine down lower than I like.As indicated before. There is no STANDARD ASME test. There are tests that are typical .  One code rule in ASME can cause a preference for 1/2" material or thicker to get unlimited deposited weld metal thickness.Have a nice dayhttp://www.weldingdata.com/