Pipe welding top tips

[Scotland90]

needing expert advice on mag pipe welding

 

[Jim Davey]

Who's machine are you using? Make/model etc.

 

[Scotland90]

an esab 400 mild steel wire

 

[Jim Davey]

No special programs for open root welding? If that's what you are doing?

 

[Richard.]

Can you get to the backside of the pipe root?
If your planning on putting the root in with that unit I'd suggest (if possible) a rutile dual shield flux core wire and ceramic tiles on the back. 3mm root gap 1mm root face 6-12oclock (5g root)
If this isn't possible then your root would need to be done with solid wire 5G welding position again open root 1.5-2mm root gap but then I would fill and cap with the flux core again.
The ultimate rooting process would be a down hand root with the STT machine but as you don't have one at your disposal I'd be looking at the above.
Is mma not an option?

 

[Jim Davey]

There are other machines than STT that do the solid wire open root, what model ESAB exactly is it? We could use a little more info before we can help you.

 

[Richard.]

There probably is now... But for many years the STT was the only one for down hand speed rooting. I've done a good number of pipe joints with all processes and with a conventional mag it's an open root 5g with FCw and tiles or solid wire open root without.

 

[Jim Davey]

I agree, just needs the OP to return.

 

[Richard.]

Do ewm offer a down hand rooting facility on any of there machines Jim?

 

[Jim Davey]

Yep, Root Arc, Pipe Solution and Cold Arc can all be used for it.
It's better than STT, but STT did it first, EWM have just moved the technology on.

 

[Richard.]

Yep, Root Arc, Pipe Solution and Cold Arc can all be used for it.
It's better than STT, but STT did it first, EWM have just moved the technology on.

Time for a bit of Google. I'm very interested in this.

 

[Jim Davey]

EWMs AlphaQ machine is the one to look at.

 

[Richard.]

EWMs AlphaQ machine is the one to look at.

Just watched a vid on that.
The cold arc on open root looks the nuts. His gap was bigger than I would go to yet it stuffed it in there spot on. Good info there cheers J.

 

[Jim Davey]

Get onto EWM and book your firm a demo, could look good on you if you improve production speed and cut down on reworks.

Brownie points please boss.

 

[Scotland90]

u see im a student and learning alot right now its like the aristo 4004 it really is a bad boy. before i was using terrible machines

 

[zeppelin builder]

seen a first year apprentice at isleburns pipe shop in Aberdeen put some class roots in with normal dip transfer mig bare wire 1mm 3.2 gap 1.5 landing edge around 19 volts uphill more down to technique machine was an old beat up oerlikon citomig nothing fancy good luck in dundee just a pity there aint any real welders in the college to train you anymore

 

[Richard.]

seen a first year apprentice at isleburns pipe shop in Aberdeen put some class roots in with normal dip transfer mig bare wire 1mm 3.2 gap 1.5 landing edge around 19 volts uphill more down to technique machine was an old beat up oerlikon citomig nothing fancy good luck in dundee just a pity there aint any real welders in the college to train you anymore

That's the way I've always done a Mig root solid wire.
17-19 volts 100 amps 1mm solid wire v up.
An stt or like machine just runs rings round that way nowadays.

 

[Scotland90]

i know they try train u for the industry but nothing to bridge gaps in knowledge with...u know wat i mean. I usually have it roughly 17.5 and varies on the day with amps. I usually put a good root face to suit my technique dependin on wat position im playing with.

 

[Scotland90]

we never get taught downhand always need to climb up vertical

 

[Scotland90]

is it reliable to walk the mig nozzle too like tig? where does that stand with groove joints