SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION 2

PIPE WELDING

Welding pipe is like welding any other structural shape and welding can take place in any of
the normal positions for welding. When welding pipe flanges and some joints configurations
the weld applied may be a fillet weld. When welding pipe to pipe the joint is similar to a vee
groove and is often open root. Welding pipe to pipe requires a higher degree of skill and is the
topic of this supplement.
The pipe welding positions covered are the 1G flat and rolled position, the 2G horizontal
position, the 5G vertical position and the 6G fixed position as shown below.



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PIPE WELDING EDGE PREPERATION

The pipe coupons for welding are cut using the pipe beveling machine. The slag is removed and
the edges are ground smooth for welding a 1/8 landing or flat is applied to the pipe. The
pictures below show the pipe beveling machine and the edge preparation.





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PIPE ASSEMBLY

The pipe is assembled for welding by placing one piece on top of the other with a 1/8 electrode
without flux on it between the pipe.


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It is extremely important to set up and tack weld the pipe properly, if the pipe is not aligned on
the inside it is difficult to obtain the proper penetration through the pipe.
The root gap around the pipe must be consistent. If part of the root gap is too wide the key hole
will open up too much while welding and instead of penetration you may have burn through
(more than 1/8 reinforcement) on the inside. If part of the root gap is too narrow you may not
be able to penetrate through the pipe in those areas.
At least 4 tack welds should be placed around the pipe at 12 oclock 6 oclock 3 oclock and 9
oclock.
The tacks must be strong enough to hold alignment while welding the root pass and should
penetrate enough to become a part of the root pass. When testing the tack may be removed
using a cutting wheel to get a consistent root weld around the joint.
The picture below shows the tacks in a flat position pipe.


Chill ring
For some applications a chill ring may be used instead of an open root. The chill ring works
like a backing bar in groove welding and becomes a part of the welded joint. When the chill
ring is used the root opening is determined by the pins on the chill ring. After tacking the chill
ring on the inside of the pipe, the pins are removed. If a chill ring is used the root pass may be
made using E-7018 since it is not necessary to penetrate through the pipe.
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PIPE WELDING IN THE FLAT 1G POSITION

Pipe Welding in the flat position requires that the Welder make some adjustments to the
normal angles and length of the welds during welding. In the flat position with the pipe being
rolled or rotated the push travel angle works best. Shorter lengths of weld are used so that you
do not change your travel angle by stretching out of position. The pipe is then rotated before
continuing. Stringer beads are used to weld the root, fill passes and cover pass on six inch
schedule 80 pipe.




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Technique for welding the 1 G Rolled Pipe
The root pass is made using the E-6010 Electrode to penetrate through the open root pipe.
Make sure the amperage (heat) is set correctly to open and maintain the keyhole where the
root is s good fit. Use scrap metal and weld in the flat position with the amperage on
approximately 100 and adjust the heat as necessary.
The root pass should be flat to convex in appearance on the groove side of the pipe with no
holes and should be flush to 1/8 maximum reinforcement on the inside of the pipe.




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After completing the root pass and evaluating the penetration, grind the groove side of the
weld in preparation for the fill passes.
Set the amperage for the E-7018 1/8 Electrode at approximately 120-150 amps to weld the fill
passes and the cover passes. Use the stringer bead technique for welding the fill passes and
cover passes.

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PIPE WELDING IN THE 2G HORIZONTAL POSITION

When welding in the 2g pipe position the pipe is vertical and the weld is horizontal. The pipe is
not moved during welding and the welder must move around the fixed position pipe. The
preparation and amperage setting should be the same as for the flat position pipe with E-6010
Electrodes used for the root and E-7018 Electrodes used for the fill and cover passes. It is
important to layer the fill passes and cover passes from the bottom pipe up to the top pipe,
while keeping the weld beads straight and properly overlapped.



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PIPE WELDING IN THE VERTICAL 5G POSITION

In the 5G pipe position the pipe is horizontal and the weld axis is vertical so that the welding is
essentially a vertical weld. When welding some pipes for low pressure applications or small
diameter pipe it may be acceptable to weld vertical downward with an electrodes like the
E6010 however; most pipes are welded vertical upward with an E-6010 root pass and E-7018
fill and cap.
When welding in the 5G pipe position the weld beads may be either stringers or weaves
depending on the job requirements.
At the Delta School Of Trades we use the E-6010 electrode for the open root pass and E-7018
for the fill and cover passes using the vertical upward weave technique.






TECHNIQUE FOR VERTICAL 5G PIPE WELDING

AS always make sure the correct amperage is set for tacking the pieces and the root pass using
E-6010 electrodes. Check the machine setting and use an amperage from 90-110.
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Use E-7018 for the fill passes and cover pass set at approximately 120-150 Amps.
Use a slight U shape technique with the E-6010 electrode to open and maintain the keyhole. It
may be necessary to ride up very slightly on the inside edge of the groove to chill the keyhole if
it opens up too much. If the keyhole is too tight, slow down and force it open with the electrode
while welding or stop and increase the amperage (heat).
Use a Z motion weave with the E-7018 Electrode keeping the ripples close together and the
weld profile flat for the fill and cover passes.


VERTICAL UPWARD WEAVES FOR 5G PIPE

Stringer Weaves may also be used to weld the fill passes and cover passes. This is an important
technique to learn in preparation for welding in the 6G position





PIPE WELDING IN THE 6G FIXED POSITION
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In the 6G Pipe welding position the pipe is set on a 45 degree inclined angle. The
weld in this position covers all position welding because the bottom of the pipe is
an overhead weld; the top of the pipe is a flat weld and the front and back sides
are a vertical upward weld. The pipe is welded using stringer beads except that a
slight weave motion must be used to prevent the sides or vertical upward part
from sagging and lumping up in the middle of the weld bead.





The Electrode angle should remain the same for all passes. Use a slight push angle from
bottom to top.

CRITICAL ELEMENTS FOR WELDING THE 6G FIXED PIPE

As for all pipe welding take the time to set up the pipe properly with a consistent root gap and
4 evenly spaced tacks.
Make sure you have set the correct amperage for the electrode type and size as mentioned
earlier.
After running the root, grind the root pass lightly before starting with the E-7018 Electrode.
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Remember to use a slight weave motion with the E-7018 to prevent the weld lumping in the
middle and to get proper fusion.
Each filler pass should overlap the prior pass without leaving a depression (called wagon
tracks) and should show good fusion.




The 6G pipe position is the one used extensively for testing, since it qualifies the welder for all
position welding of pipe, grooves, and fillets.
When testing; it is advisable to remove the tacks instead of weld over them to ensure
penetration at the root. A wire wheel brush and grinder may be used to keep each pass clean
and prevent slag inclusions.

Although there are many Codes and Standards that govern the welding and testing of Pipe, the
one most widely used and recommended at the school is the AWS D1.1 Structural Welding
Code.
The test for SMAW is usually a 6 inch schedule 80 pipe with an open root, and is welded in the
6G position. This test qualifies the welder for welding fillets grooves and pipe in all positions.
Also qualifies the welder for pipe sizes from 4 inches to unlimited and wall thickness from 3/16
inch to unlimited.
An optional SMAW test on 4 inch schedule 40 pipe in the 6G position qualifies the welder for
all positions welding and pipe sizes from 3/4 to 4 inch with wall thickness from 1/8 to 3/4.
The pipe size recommended for GTAW Certification is the 4 inch sch 40 pipe.
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