SMAW Welding Techniques

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SMAW Welding Techniques
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Weld Bead

• A weld resulting from a pass

Stringer Bead
Weave Bead
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Passes

• Weld Pass - A single progression of welding along
  a joint. The result of a pass is a weld bead or
  layer

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Fill Pass
Cover Pass
Root Pass
Hot Pass
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Techniques

• Stringer (drag) (whip)
• Weave
• Circles
• crescent
• zig zag
• box weave
• double J

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Progression (vertical)

• Up
• deeper penetration
• Higher deposit rate (lb/hr)
• Use near 90 degree travel angle or slightly up
• Down
• faster (point to point)
• less penetration for thin metal
• less dilution
• Use steep grag angle

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Travel Speed

• Stay on the leading edge of the puddle

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Flat Position

• Fillet/Groove - stringer or weave, split bead or
  wide weave

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Horizontal

• Fillet/Groove - stringers (small weave may be
  used in tight place)
• Bead Placement - bottom to top

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Vertical

• Fillet/Groove - weave (or whip but not straight
  stringers)
• Root pass 6010 whip
• Root pass 7018 straight stringer or weave (open
  closed)

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Overhead

• Same as horizontal for Fillets
• 6010 open root whip for flat face and keyhole
  control
• 7018s stringers
• OH Butt Joints can be stringers or weaves

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Dimensions

• Reinforcement -ASME flush 1/16 AWS flush 1/8
  discuss keyholeing, metallic backing, nonmetallic
  backing, partial penetration, root openings, root
  faces, tacking, tack grinding, fast freeze, and
  fill freeze
• Fill -as many as needed 1/8 per pass flat
  overload 3/16 vertical
• Cover -flush 1/16 high, 1/16 past edge

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Butt Joint Preperation
(Joints without backing)
600 included angle Root faces Tacking Feather
Tacks
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Open Root Technique

• Use root opening to allow increase in amperage
  for smoother welding
• Whip backwards for penetration
• Whip forwards to reduce penetration
• Do Not Weave a root pass.
• Maintain a short arc gap
• Stay slightly in front of the puddle at all
  times. Use the keyholing technique.

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Butt Joint Preperation
(With Backing)
Root faces - 0 450 included angle Remove all mill
scales and rust Tacking - not in groove Tack away
from coupon area. Flush on backing
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Welding grooves with Backing

• Keep the root opening wide
• Make the root pass in one bead
• Avoid tight areas at the weld toes

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Restarts

• Stagger all starts and stops or use run-on,
  run-off tabs
• Feather all restarts start on top, or start in
  front and remelt
• Dont restart in a coupon area.
• Also stagger all beads on a single pass.
• Use a longer arc length when starting a weld.

Compare interpass grinding techniques vs.
techniques for no interpass grinding.
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Craters

• Fill craters by reversing direction at the weld
  end
• Use a short arc length to control heat.

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Electrode Work Angles
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work angle (transverse angle)

• middle of joint
• directs heat between sides
• may need to direct more on heavy plate

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Transverse Angle Effects
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Electrode Travel Angles
Drag Angle increases Penetration Increases crown
height
Push Angle gives shallow penetration, and
flattens out the weld surface.
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Electrode (arc) Placement
Current takes the path of least resistance.
Therefore, the arc, and resulting weld, will go
where the electrode end is closest to, NOT
NECESSARILY IN THE DIRECTION THE ELECTRODE IS
POINTING
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Arc Length

• Longer arc lengths increased puddle heat,
  flatter welds, deeper penetration
• Shorter arc lengths less puddle heat, flatter
  welds, less penetration
• Use arc length to control puddle size,
  penetration, and burn through.
• Normal arc length is 1/16 - 1/8
• Use a slightly longer arc length during a start
  or restart.

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Helpful Tips

• Clean your Welding Hood lens
• Drape the cable over your shoulder or knee
• Get Comfortable
• Watch the puddle, not the arc
• Concentrate on steady travel speed and arc length

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SMAWPipe WeldingTechniques
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Positions

• 1G
• 2G
• 5G
• 6G

• 1F
• 2F
• 2FR
• 4F
• 5F

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1G Position
Pipe rotated, Electrode is always at the
top Either a split bead or weave technique may be
used
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2G Position
Pipe Axis Vertical, Weld is Horizontal, Pipe is
considered in a fixed position. Always use a
split bead technique Always work from the bottom
up.
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5G Position
Axis of the Pipe is Horizontal, The weld in
vertical. Progression may be up or down. A weave
bead is best used.
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6G Position
Pipe axis is fixed in position at a 45 degree
incline. Thhe position includes flat, horizontal,
vertical, and overhead welds. A split bead
tecvhnique is best used.
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1F Position
Pipe is rotated. The pipe axis is at a 45 degree
incline. Welding is to occur at the top of the
pipe. Split bead or weave technique may be used.
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2F Position
Fixed Position Best to use a split bead technique
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2FR Position
A split bead technique is best used.
Rotated
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4F Position
A split bead technique is best used
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5F Position
Not Rotated. Progression may be up or down.
Split beads or weaves can be used on 5F-up
welds, split beads are best used on 5F-down welds.
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Fill Pass
Cover Pass
Root Pass
Hot Pass
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Always work from the bottom up when using the
split bead technique Always be careful not to
create a tight area where slag may get trapped
under the next weld. It is better to weave
slightly than to leave a tight area. Plan your
sequence of beads!
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Always work toward the smaller side of the
fillet. (It will be easier to get to) Always be
careful not to create a tight area where slag may
get trapped under the next weld. It is better to
weave slightly than to leave a tight area. Plan
your sequence of beads!
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Techniques

• Stringer (push, drag, or whip), or Weave

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Progression (vertical)

• Up
• deeper penetration
• Higher deposit rate (lb/hr)
• Use near 90 degree travel angle or slightly up
• Down
• faster (point to point)
• less penetration for thin metal
• less dilution
• Use steep drag angle

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Travel Speed

• Stay on the leading edge of the puddle

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Keyholeing
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Root Openings

• Small will allow more amperage which will in turn
  make welding smoother and easier, as well as
  easier arc starts.
• Larger root openings will allow more penetration.

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Root Faces

• Larger root faces will allow more amperage which
  will in turn make welding smoother and easier, as
  well as easier arc starts.
• Smaller root faces will allow more penetration.

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Tacking, Tack Grinding

• 3/4 long
• feather both ends
• clean and flatten tops
• start on top, burn through before end
• run completely onto tack before stopping
• grind lumps off before next pass
• stagger all starts and stops between passes
• stagger all starts and stops between beads in a
  single pass
• Dont overgrind tacks.

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Butt Joint Preperation
(With Backing)
Root faces - 0 450 included angle Remove all mill
scales and rust Tacking - not in groove Tack away
from coupon area. Flush on backing
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Butt Joint Preperation
(Joints without backing)
600 included angle Root faces Tacking Feather
Tacks
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Open Root Technique

• Use root opening to allow increase in amperage
  for smoother welding
• Whip backwards for penetration
• Whip forwards to reduce penetration
• Do Not Weave a root pass.
• Maintain a short arc gap
• Stay slightly in front of the puddle at all
  times. Use the keyholing technique.

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Restarts

• Stagger all starts and stops or use runon, runoff
  tabs
• Feather all restarts start on top, or start in
  front and remelt
• Also stagger all beads on a single pass.
• Use a longer arc length when starting a weld.

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Craters

• Fill craters by welding into the previous weld
  start
• Use a short arc length to control heat.

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Wagon Tracks
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Watch these areas. Be sure to keep it melted into
these spots.
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Electrode Angles

• Up Progression - always point toward center of
  Pipe
• Down Progression - use a steep drag angle

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Arc Length

• Longer arc lengths increased puddle heat,
  flatter welds, deeper penetration
• Shorter arc lengths less puddle heat, flatter
  welds, less penetration
• Use arc length to control puddle size,
  penetration, and burn through.
• Normal arc length is 1/16 - 1/8
• Use a slightly longer arc length during a start
  or restart.

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Helpful Tips

• Clean your Welding Hood lens
• Drape the cable over your shoulder or knee
• Get Comfortable
• Watch the puddle, not the arc
• Concentrate on steady travel speed and arc length

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