Hot Pass Pipe Welding Technique

My hot pass or filler pass was done using a weave with a 3/32 E7018
electrode. The technique I used was to hold the sides until the weld
washed into the bevel. The upper part of the bevel was held about 2
seconds and the bottom was held for about1 second. This is the easiest
part of the welding certification.
6G_Pipe_Welding_Hot_Pass_Lower_Electrode_Angle_E7018.jpg
6G_Pipe_Welding_Hot_Pass_Upper_Electrode_Angle_E7018.jpg
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Hot Pass In The 6G Position

Before putting in the hot pass I grinded down the roots surface. When
it comes to
welding certifications some inspectors do not allow grinding at all but
with the E6010
root they almost always allow to grind down the root. Most of the time
everyone
piggy backs there tacks, so you will have a few lumps on the outside of
the root from
the restarts. When it comes to grinding down the roots surface on
critical joints it is
always allowed.
6G_E6010_Open_Root_Weld_Surface_Grinded_Bottom_View.jpg
6G_E6010_Open_Root_Weld_Surface_Grinded_Side_View.jpg
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6G_E6010_Open_Root_Weld_Surface_Grinded_Top_View.jpg
Here is are the pictures of my hot pass. As you can see the bevel is
mostly filled and there is no slag on the edges of the bevel. When
putting in a filer pass the slag should come off pretty easily! If not, that
means you are not holding the sides long enough and there is a
possibility of slag inclusions.
6G_Pipe_Welding_E7018_Hot_Pass_Top_View.jpg
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6G_Pipe_Welding_E7018_Hot_Pass_Left_Side_View.jpg
6G_Pipe_Welding_E7018_Hot_Pass_Right_Side_View.jpg
Pipe Welding Techniques For The Cap
The cap was also done with a 3/32 E7018 electrode using 3 stringers
beads to put in the cap. The technique to putting a half decent cap in
is to spread out the weld. That is a very tight side to side motion,
basically a tight weave. This is something I did not do in the beginning
and disagreed with the welding instructor who conducted this test.
Since taking this welding certification I have focused my efforts on
spreading
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out the weld when using an E7018 electrode. I should have listened to
someone who has made a career of welding X-Ray quality welds is very
difficult conditions. Since I took this test and passed it at the bare
minimum I have come close to a almost next to perfect cap. The last
6G weld test I took was for Fluor and I was allowed to take pictures.
They are posted at the end of this page.
Some basic guidelines for welding the cap are as follows:


Keep your electrode angle pointed to the center of the pipe at all times
with
Very few exceptions.

Keep your arc length as short as possible.

If possible, drag your electrode slightly no matter what the

position is. Most people will disagree with this but it works for me
because it keeps the slag behind the puddle.

Only move forward and side to side with the electrode otherwise the
weld will
become rough.

When the pipe gets to hot let it cool down or put on a vice grip to lean
on.

Make sure you fuse the bevels edge.

Overlap stringer beads from at least 25% to a maximum of 50%. The

goal is
For the weld to have a single profile when finished.
6G_Pipe_Welding_Cap_E7018_Electrode_Angle_Bottom_Half.jpg
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6G_Pipe_Welding_Cap_E7018_Electrode_Angle_Vertical_Up_Progression.
jpg
6G_Pipe_Welding_Cap_E7018_Electrode_Angle_Fusing_Bevels_Edge.jpg
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