Advice, no idea who is right

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Since August I have been in a welding class starting with basic stick, mig and tig then going to advanced of each including an aluminum class that well left allot to be desired.  Last module and this one plus the next one we are working on pipe to reach the goal of 6G certification.  Flat out no joke pipe is not easy for me in the least because of the constant changing angles and as such I went through a nightmare to do a 5G on six inch sched 80 pipe and was only able to get it done with a Z weave pattern for the hot fill and cover passes.Right now I'm working on a closed butt weld on 3 inch sched 40 with 3/32 7018 and as always I'm having a rough time with it in the 6G position, if it were 2G it would be allot easier.  I have one instructor telling me to do a little at a time, another tells me to start with and end with a 90 - 100 work angle and 90 travel all the way from 6 to 12, another tells me to start with a 90 - 100 work and take it in to an 80 - 70 push which as I have understood for the longest 7018 is not a push rod at all what so ever.So who's right in this mess?  Hell this is my money paying for this schooling and I've already made it clear that I'm tired of all the different opinions on how to do something with the head instructor and its bad enough that one of them was self taught and keeps making statements " I never knew that until I came to work here " which doesnt make me feel very good about his ability to weld let alone teach.
Reply:Square with the world. Try to keep as close to 90 as possible. One trick to keeping position is to pin a glove under your arm pit and keep it there while you weld. It will keep your perspective of vision the same for the entire pass.UA Local 598
Reply:Just as WHughes says.  Always aim at the center of the tube, oh right, pipe to the rest of the world."The man of great wealth owes a peculiar obligation to the State, because he derives special advantages from the mere existence of government."  Teddy RooseveltAmerican by birth, Union by choice!  Boilermakers # 60America is a Union.
Reply:Once you come around to the top of the pipe it can be advantageous to change to a slight drag angle to keep the slag behind the puddle.Have we all gone mad?
Reply:I agree with the above Big65, try to stay at 90 as close as you can. Push/drag are relative terms and too much angle (rod to work) can make things go bad.Maybe you could drag a square around the weld to give yourself a mental image of what you want to do when "you light it up".Matt
Reply:Thanks guys that clears things up allot for me and gives me enough evidence to know that only one instructor knows what he's talking about.
Reply:There is something here that I don't understand.If you want advice, ask for advice.  But at the same time, if the instructor tells you to do it a certain way-- then try to do it his / her way first.If all else fails - read the book!They gave you a book - didn't they?
Reply:We have several instructors at my hall. Each one has his own way of doing things and none of them are wrong because they are all great welders.The difference in instructors comes when they are able to teach you in a way that you can be productive according to your experience. In other words, there are some things that a guy welding for 30 years can do that you cant, and there is NO way he can ever explain that to you so it has to be done in a way that an inexperienced guy can reach the same result.UA Local 598
Reply:Originally Posted by Booger WelderThere is something here that I don't understand.If you want advice, ask for advice.  But at the same time, if the instructor tells you to do it a certain way-- then try to do it his / her way first.If all else fails - read the book!They gave you a book - didn't they?
Reply:I always advise my students on what works for me first.Then I encourage them to try something else and explore what may work for them if my techniques don't work for them. I've learned in my time that there are some things that work for some people that leave me completely befuddled.CWI, CWE, CST for Miller, Lincoln, Thermadyne, Hypertherm & ESABMillermatic 350PLincoln Invertec 205 AC/DCVictor combo torchESAB PCM 1125
Reply:There are many variations on what works. When welding a 6G test, changing electrode angle will become an instinctual process. if the puddle is not doing what it should, you change something. With the work plane and travel plane changing constantly, the electrode would have to change slightly also.During the overhead portion of the joint, I start with about a 5 degree travel angle and a work angle pointing up into the joint about 5 degrees. As I progress around the pipe, I adjust as needed to keep the puddle doing what I want. Towards the vertical plane of the pipe, I push. Overhead and flat, I drag. When I can't do that, I just weld and watch  the puddle and underlying bead contours as I weld.The travel angle and work angle can both be extreme in some cases and make quality welds. Optimum angles will develop good habits to follow. Electrode Position in the electrode holder can be a great asset when it comes to controlling the work and travel angles while welding a 6" pipe (or any other). Many of the theories behind travel ange etc are true but sometimes hard to follow in some situations. And two different "good welders" can often give advice that differs. Try them all and let your weld quality pick one.
Reply:By Gerald Austin;The travel angle and work angle can both be extreme in some cases and make quality welds. Optimum angles will develop good habits to follow.
Reply:Doing better now but still have a ways to go, biggest problem is with travel speed at the weld surface and adjusting the rod holder position and speed at the same time so I end up with either a fat bead or a thin one as I go along in a couple of spots.