Question for any pro pipe welder

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Im not a pro welder.  When stick welding, isn't the welder suppossed to chip off the slag before continuing with the weld bead?  I thought (and practice myself) that one is to always remove slag before continuing on with the same weld. The two pipe welders in this video don't bother to chip the slag. They just grab another rod and continue where they left off.  It's at about the first two minutes of the video. Am I missing something or is this how it's done for pipe welding?  I thought slag inclusions were a no-no!  This can't be acceptable for "code" welding, is it?  Please educate me. Again, not a professional here, just a fan of the experienced welders out there.Last edited by SuperArc; 04-26-2012 at 03:19 PM.Lincoln Power Mig 216Lincoln AC/DC-225/125Miller  625 X-Treme PlasmaMiller 211 Forney 95FI-A 301HF 91110Victor Journeyman O/PMilwaukee DaytonMakita  Baileigh NRA Life Member
Reply:Nah. If your.burning hot enough, and if you can switch rods out within a second or two you.can Restart without chipping the slag. Just try to restart while everything is still red hot. 6010, 7010, 8010 rods are really clean rods as opposed to lo hy rods. The arc will burn out most of the slag. Plus you dont want to stop and chip or buff before each rod, youll be on the same weld all day. P.s. This is.just for restarting. You still have to buff inbetween passes
Reply:This is normal especially when doing what is called the "hot pass".The hot pass is the first filler pass right after the root and is usually done using higher amperage compared to the root pass. The increased current helps penetration (especially since the hot pass is usually welded using electrode positive as opposed to the root pass which is using electrode negative to achieve better penetration) and helps any slag inclusions to "float" to the surface.As mentioned cellulosic electrodes (xx10) burn off their slag easily compared to eg basic electrodes (xx18).Finally most pipelines are made according to ASME B31.8 which uses API 1104 acceptance criteria which are very slack compared to other codes.Last edited by taz00; 04-26-2012 at 04:55 PM.
Reply:Seems to me these guys are pipeline welders. All the welding is done downhill. The 6010+ and 70+ rods make very little slag, which cant be burnt thru pretty easy if your welding hot enough.My hood and I... Till death do us part
Reply:Cool, thanks guys.Lincoln Power Mig 216Lincoln AC/DC-225/125Miller  625 X-Treme PlasmaMiller 211 Forney 95FI-A 301HF 91110Victor Journeyman O/PMilwaukee DaytonMakita  Baileigh NRA Life Member
Reply:6010, 6011, and 6012 rods have a thin, low melting point, highly fluid slag. That's also what enable you to weld downhill with these rods without creating too much slag entrapment. (you're always going to have some slag inclusions in downhill stick welds.)Although you could probably get away with not chipping out start/stops and welding through the slag like they did in your video. Still, cleaner is always better.
Reply:Originally Posted by Joshfromsaltlake6010, 6011, and 6012 rods have a thin, low melting point, highly fluid slag. That's also what enable you to weld downhill with these rods without creating too much slag entrapment. (you're always going to have some slag inclusions in downhill stick welds.)Although you could probably get away with not chipping out start/stops and welding through the slag like they did in your video. Still, cleaner is always better.
Reply:Every pipe welder I've seen welds going down. If I welded going down in welding school I would of been kicked out of the welding program.
Reply:I liked the video, but did you guys read the comments. people really suck, that's why I hang out with my dogs. Welding uphill definateley is more integrall, but cost wise it takes twice as long and twice the material. If it is not critical and time and material is important to holding, getting, or landing a job you do what you gotta do, and on some jobs i've just jumped in kept my mouth shut and join the club. Getting paid is my main goal. I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:I think people underestimate the skill level it takes to weld down hill pipe. Just because you can run a nice down hill bead on a plate doesn't mean you're ready for the firing line.Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:I've wondered the same.  I was taught to weld uphill whenever possible, yet all the pipe welding I have seen is downhill.  Why is that?Lincoln Powermig 255Hypertherm Powermax 45Thermal Arc 161SOxweld 24R OA TorchStill Looking for an Old Round Top Idealarc 250
Reply:Not a pro welder to, not even a welder, but i know about those pipe welding are supposed to be highly perfect and perfect setting of welding and all constant welds ect ect...but if each welder are supposed to be on the exact same setting, and supposed to done an exact same weld, im wondering why one is going really faster than the other one, im not a pro again but the weld will not be the same each sides if one go faster for wtv reasons or their setup are both different!??Calculator > Bevel Square
Reply:Originally Posted by morgaj1I've wondered the same.  I was taught to weld uphill whenever possible, yet all the pipe welding I have seen is downhill.  Why is that?
Reply:Originally Posted by CEPNot all pipe welding is done downhill, most process piping is done up hill. I think the main reason for downhill welding is speed.
Reply:We weld all uphill in the shipyard.. I've tried to do some downhill with 6010 and it was pretty tricky lol..
Reply:Most pipeline with pipeline being the key word is done downhill for speed because there is a lot of connections to be made. Downhill pipe welding is actually harder than uphill it requires more skill and finess. As for the question about why one guy is going faster than the other one in the video is because of the fact that the other welder is probably more skilled. It takes a lot of practice to go downhill and put in an X-ray quality weld and move that fast.1973 Lincoln SA 200, Already replaced shunt coils, Idle board (SOLD)1984 Miller Dialarc 250HF, Miller water cooler, 250 AMP water cooled torch, you know the worx.
Reply:Fitters and pipe liners weld 6010 downhand on low pressurePiping. I've done it while working composite with them on water suppressant system etc. it's tricky at first but when you get it it's easy. Try doing a window weld on a 2" tube, that can get tricky sometimesMiller bobcat 225g  - spoolmatic 1Mm250 - 30a spoolMiller spectrum 375Thermal arc 95 Everlast Ex 250As the boiler turns, these are the days of our lives
Reply:downhill pipe welding= faster with less penitration. Most cross country pipeline is welded this way.uphill pipe welding= slower with more penitration. Most in plant pipe welding is done this way. I have tested with the TSSA on pressure pipe. Stainless steel with tig and carbon steel with stick. Both tests are welded up. All the pipe in our plant is welded uphill also.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:Originally Posted by astaindsoul5446Fitters and pipe liners weld 6010 downhand on low pressurePiping. I've done it while working composite with them on water suppressant system etc. it's tricky at first but when you get it it's easy. Try doing a window weld on a 2" tube, that can get tricky sometimes
Reply:“Try doing a window weld on a 2" tube, that can get tricky sometimes“Or those tight mirror butt welds. I love boiler tubes
Reply:Nothing like reaching 8 tubes back looking into a mirror. Lol I love my job lmaoMiller bobcat 225g  - spoolmatic 1Mm250 - 30a spoolMiller spectrum 375Thermal arc 95 Everlast Ex 250As the boiler turns, these are the days of our lives
Reply:Oops!"Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:I'm surprised no one chimed in on the wire wheel without a guard!And did anyone notice, they're using the "Duro" stingers. They look pretty cool, and a 250A, being the smallest, is on the short list.And the guy on the right has ALOT of rod movement compared to the guy on the left???"Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:Originally Posted by Stick-manI'm surprised no one chimed in on the wire wheel without a guard!And did anyone notice, they're using the "Duro" stingers. They look pretty cool, and a 250A, being the smallest, is on the short list.And the guy on the right has ALOT of rod movement compared to the guy on the left???
Reply:Originally Posted by weldermikeSorry guys, I may get crap but not one of my grinders has a guard or a handle. Right in the garbage pile. Just me tho