first root pass, hot pass and cap

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Hey guys this was my very first attempt at a root pass, hot pass, filler then cap. I didnt get a picture of the filler but it is under there. Just wanted to show the photos and get some feedback, any is welcome. I've only been welding for 8 days now so go easy  Attached Images
Reply:for your filler and cap spend more time on the edges the center will fill it self . Was that an open root  6010, 7018 fill and cap? Flat, vertical ?
Reply:thats what I was told also, I need to pause more on the sides. Yeah open root 6010 5p+, 7018 fill and cap all vertical and flat, getting my practice for cert before I move onto pipe. Once i can cleanly do vertical I will move on to overhead. When doing my restarts do you have any pointers so as to not get such a big blob? i know i should strike about 1/2 inch above then kinda half circle on the end of the last bead, but it seems to bulge every time.
Reply:try long arcing it for a fraction of a second or so ,the long arc is hotter and melts the puddle faster for restart. and you mite be back stepping a little to much . Just try a half dozen restarts and see which works best for you. did you grind the 6010 root before your hot pass? and on the root pass when you reach the top of the weld you have to move a little faster ,because all the heat builds up at the top edges  and caused the ends to sag. gxbxc
Reply:ah alright sounds like a good idea ill definitely have to try that. I was told that I should step back the the last ripple as if I had never stopped? yeah I ground it to get the wagon tracks out. with the root pass im being shown to run it downhill, they have me running the root and hot pass downhill but the filler and cap uphill. ive been told that its prepping me for pipe since the root and hot pass are ran downhill? thanks for all the info man i really appreciate it.
Reply:For your root what gap and land are you using? I like to run a penny gap and land. Keep the rod buried in the key hole. If it opens up role the rod down and push back into it if it get jammed straight in. From what I see it's not bad but a tighter gap will make your root stand up a little more and iron out with your hot pass. I like to just see that I am shaving the land off and spraying the root in. It's all about pressure and travel speed for downhill. Also are you dragging the root in or stepping? What welding machine are you using? As for the cap keep a nice tight arc and kiss the sides the middle will tak care of itself. Restarting 7018 without the glob comes with practice. I start above then trace my crater quickly and continue my weld. I never long arc a low hydrogen electrode. Just how I do it. Not the only way
Reply:The thing about learning different way to do the same job is that different jobs have different procdures which must be followed ie . landing size and root gap ,bevel angle ,uphill/downhill, preheat, post heat . when you work for your self you get to chose .  so you have to be adaptable.
Reply:specopswelder - for the gap i was told about 1/16 and for the landing a nickels width. gotcha and with a tighter gap give it a little more amps as well? travel speed i was told the slower the better as long as you are seeing the keyhole closing consistently on both sides? i was taught to drag the root and sort of a scratch motion for the hot pass. im using a miller 304 cc/cv welder. any reason for not long arcing? just curious. thanks for the response!gxbxxc- so procedures generally differentiate depending on job/company etc.? or can you do what youd like as long as you get an xray passable weld? we are also the ones who do the bevel/landing via a hand disc grinder which i just started to learn as well.
Reply:You are using a good welder to learn on.  I just weld by feel of how the root is going in as to more or less amps. There isn't a magic number like a lot of people believe. It's nice to have digital meters but once again not a must have. As for the weld procedure and prep it depends a lot on the inspector. Most procedures have a min and max for most variables. API 1104 you can get a little more leeway than say b31.3. I weld to both daily it's all practice. I never long act low hydrogen because it is a good way to get internal porosity on your starts. I was learned and practice the idea if you can't touch the rod to the work while welding without it sticking your to cold. As for most company's the procedure will change a little but once you learn the tricks they changes wount even cause you 1/2 seconds thought. I would say slow travel on the root isn't bad if you not getting to much build up on the inside. Pipeline is all about speed so the faster you can skate one in just breaking down both edges and putting enough in to make xray the better. Soaking it in is good to. Just depends on where you are working at. We make x ray welds that have less than perfect fit up on tie ins all the time and of it shoots good on the x ray the inspector isn't going to say crap.
Reply:thats what im being taught as well, and whats a good number for one guy may not be for the next. that makes sense, you definitely seem to know what youre talking about haha. perfect, i look forward to learning more and trying the things youve told me about as well. i always figured pipeline is about speed since they want the most distance on the daily, ill for sure keep that in mind. thanks for all the knowledge it helps a ton
Reply:Also  about procdures ,is when the job starts they are up your a** watching but once they get rolling with good results  they ez   of a bit. Also if you ever get to work a big power plant job with a lot of welder from all over you will lean better skills and everyone improves a bit. So maybe they will still be building down at Vogtle when you finish and you can get on there with CBI
Reply:thats what ive heard about most jobs, theyre on you until they see you perform and produce which makes sense to me. im no doubt hoping to get some experience like that under my belt and get the opportunity to learn from everyone i can.
Reply:Originally Posted by pipepipepipespecopswelder - for the gap i was told about 1/16 and for the landing a nickels width. gotcha and with a tighter gap give it a little more amps as well? travel speed i was told the slower the better as long as you are seeing the keyhole closing consistently on both sides? i was taught to drag the root and sort of a scratch motion for the hot pass. im using a miller 304 cc/cv welder. any reason for not long arcing? just curious. thanks for the response!gxbxxc- so procedures generally differentiate depending on job/company etc.? or can you do what youd like as long as you get an xray passable weld? we are also the ones who do the bevel/landing via a hand disc grinder which i just started to learn as well.
Reply:it helps a ton, specially being new to welding. Thanks diesel!