Tack welding pipe question

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Ok this one has me stumped.  I'm currently working on basic pipe welding using schedule 40 ( I think ) with a total bevel of 60D and a 1/8 gap and 1/8 face.  I'm trying to tack the pipe up with tig and have a problem with the first tack setting the top pipe to a pitch towards the left regardless of how much weight I have sitting on the top piece.  Is this something I can correct by adjusting the work angle of the torch to face directly into the root face directing the heat straight in so that the tack isn't pulling the pipe to one side?
Reply:The pipe prep you have is for stick welding and tig is better off with a knive edge and you can also add a 1/16" land.
Reply:Agreed.You don't want a land when tig welding pipe. You want a feathered edge with no land. Tig welding pipe with a land will not allow full penitration on the root bead. A pipe clamp or aligning device will assist if your having alignment issues that will lead to a "high/low" problem.JasonLincoln Idealarc 250 stick/tigThermal Dynamics Cutmaster 52Miller Bobcat 250Torchmate CNC tableThermal Arc Hefty 2Ironworkers Local 720
Reply:Root pass and hot passes are tig with the cover being 3/32 7018.
Reply:When tacking pipe pups first add your spacers, then tack one third, tap pipe back into alignment (sometimes removing the spacers alltogether) then tack the other third, reset gap on last third with hammer and tack.
Reply:Our tacks have to be at 12, 6, 3, 9, with the 6 having an inch tack but the problem starts with the 12 tack pulling the upper pipe towards the finished end of the tack which I make a quarter of an inch while the 6 is an inch and the others are a quarter.  I made a jig to be able to move the pipe from vertical all the way through horizontal but I haven't been able to find any clamps for holding pipe for tack welding at the local supply shops.
Reply:Originally Posted by Big65mopar  I made a jig to be able to move the pipe from vertical all the way through horizontal but I haven't been able to find any clamps for holding pipe for tack welding at the local supply shops.
Reply:Originally Posted by 4on12Irwin/Vice Grip makes a vice grip chain clamp that holds pipe/odd shapes. I think it is a  22r... maybe 21r
Reply:I left my camera at work… it has actual pictures on the SD card, hope this helps thoThese are purpose made clamping fixtures. If you can imagine homemade/field made fixtures holding the pipe with vise grip chain clamps…….. Attached ImagesWill
Reply:Nice tools but wouldnt work where Im at, all we have to work with is spatter and drip covered weld tables so I will have to make a jig for 2" and 4" inch pipe over the next couple of days.
Reply:I had this problem too, and found a great way to fix it.  Make your first tack just like you would, then go to the oppisite side just like you have been doing.  Now your pipe is leaning towards one side right? Imagine where your second tack would be, now find where the center of that tack would be.  Set the correct gap (just a hair more than what you want to end with to compensate for shrinkage) at this location and run your tack like normal, dont try and fix the lean. Now is where your wedges come into play, if you dont have some already then you need to make some.  I made mine from an old leaf spring.  Put the wedge in the side that has the tighter gap (this will be the spot your fourth tack will be) and start hammering it in until the gap on both sides matches.  If you did your second tack right your gap will be nice and even all the way around.  Now tack opposite the wedge, remove the wedge and tack right where you hammered it in.Once you get a little practice with this, you can put together a pipe faster than anyone else and your fitup is always perfect.Have we all gone mad?
Reply:Great Tip sn0border88 - Thanks!!Rick V 1 Airco Heliwelder 3A/DDR3 CTC 70/90 amp Stick/Tig Inverters in Parallel1 Lincoln MIG PAK 151 Oxy-Acet
Reply:Excellent idea, I will have to see what I can find to make a wedge.  I made a couple of catch baskets for the quench tanks so that anyone who dropped their work pieces could retrieve them so this should be easy enough to make.
Reply:Made the wedge but I need to bevel it more.  Now my problem is getting my tig root to fill properly and not have it suck back but damn its hard to do a 5G.
Reply:Run it faster and make your bead as small as possible, you can start to slow down once you hit 9 or 3.Have we all gone mad?
Reply:As was mentioned you're probably using a lot more heat than is needed to break down a 1/8" land, and it makes it harder to get any root reinforcement.  Feather the edge and have at it.