School project from Jerky (3g tig root)

so ive been in school for the past 7 weeks getting my welding ticket. i test out next week. the first part of school was pipe. now were doing plate. we have 4 projects. all are open grove welds on 3/8" mild steel plate. we have a 3g with a tig root, 7018 fill/cap. overhead 45 6010 root, 7018 fill/cap. 4g 6010 root, 7018 fill/cap, and a 2g 6010 root, 7018 fill cap. if you dont know what the numbers mean, it is just the position of the weld. 1 is flat, 2 is horizontal, 3 is vertical and 4 is overhead. the "g" means grove weld. so since im showing you my 3g, its just a vertical grove weld. i though since its done in tig, maybe you would like to see it. first step is prep. we bevel the plates to 30 degrees, and file off any millscale. no land is put on. next i put them flat grove side down and set the gap....
http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/...t/be1a7dc1.jpg
the gap is 3/16". once i like where its sitting, i tack the plates together. the tacks become part of the weld so they have to be solid. you can see all the file marks. i make sure that anywhere the weld will go is CLEAN. dont need porosity.
http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/...t/9a22f12a.jpg
once i have tacks in place, i feather them down on the grove side. once im happy i put it in position and start the root weld. i use a contunious feed with a 1/8" filler rod. my machine is set at 118 amps. scratch start. 1/8" 2% thoriated tungsten. slight weave to blend the sides.
http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/...t/b5bc72ab.jpg
i work my way all the way to my tack and tie in.
http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/...t/a2a1fb00.jpg
this one was a little rough, but it fully fused on the back.
http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/...t/32825f62.jpg
once the root is done i put a small fill pass with tig in. if i dont, the chance to blow through the root with 7018 is greater. for the fill i use a smaller 23/32" filler rod and turn my amps up to 140. i weave a bit more and wash the filler into the sides.
http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/...t/b9e0d030.jpg
once the tig fill is in, i switch to stick. i put a fill of 7018 in at 95 amps. once i have a nice fill i turn it down to around 90 for the cap. im lazy and dont chip my slag off when i do my cap. i do move very fast and run a nice and hot puddle so as to burn out any bit of slag.(and yes this works as ive broke lots of plates over the past few weeks with no slag inclusions)
http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/...t/43df7a7c.jpg
http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/...t/6b58a0dd.jpg
http://i1143.photobucket.com/albums/...t/fb1ce255.jpg
so thats one of my test welds that i will do next week. i know the weld is a little dirty, but were only allowed a wire brush, no grinder.

no one likes my work or what?

Cool stuff.

In the Marine Corps (where I went to welding school), we didn't get to do TIG. I learned that at one of the shops I was stationed at.

Why would you run a 7018 over the TIG? Is the tensile strength stronger in the 7018 filler? Otherwise, it seems good enough to leave alone with the TIG pass.

Thanks for sharing Jerkey. I have been thinking of going to welding school. What type of course are you taking. Is it through a Junior college?

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Originally Posted by jp2code

Cool stuff.

In the Marine Corps (where I went to welding school), we didn't get to do TIG. I learned that at one of the shops I was stationed at.

Why would you run a 7018 over the TIG? Is the tensile strength stronger in the 7018 filler? Otherwise, it seems good enough to leave alone with the TIG pass.

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faster to fill the gap with stick, but tig root makes it very strong.

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Originally Posted by Powertig

Thanks for sharing Jerkey. I have been thinking of going to welding school. What type of course are you taking. Is it through a Junior college?

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i live in canada, specifically alberta where welding is a maditory trade just like pulmbing and electrical. 3 year course, 2 months per year.

Thanks for the follow-up.

They had you welding pipe welding before welding plate? Did I read that correct?

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Originally Posted by SeanMurphy265

They had you welding pipe welding before welding plate? Did I read that correct?

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ya the first half of the class was 6" sch80 pipe. same 30 degree bevel, 3/32" land and gap. 6010 root, 7018 fill/cap in the 5g position. this is our 'B' pressure ticket weld. this basically says that ANY pressure piping or boiler assemblies over 15 psi, you MUST have this ticket. alot of work in alberta here is pipeline, so they work it into our schooling... the other weld though was a 4" sch60, with a tig root and 7018 fill/cap also in the 5g position.