Welding Tips and Tricks

John,
Thanks for posting these pics. Before anyone jumps the gun and says you can't weave that wide or something to the effect of "I thought John was against weaving" know that John and I have been talking about this method for quite some time and he did this mainly to see if it would pass, which it did, and to see what it was like.

This is a example of a sucessful welder qual weaving. It might not be to "code" but it proves that it can be done.

Also, know that I am a stringer man when it comes to tests like this but I am not afraid to weave it I needed to. Great job John!!
-Jonathan

Why would it not pass a bend test? As long as you do not trap any slag by weaving too wide you will not have any failures in a bend test.
I do not believe anyone said it cannot be done more that it should not be done.

The problem with wide weaves is more about excessive heat input.
Granted on say 1018 or other such "low carbon" steels it really isn't as much of a critical
issue but, with other alloys you could be getting yourself in real trouble. I know back in my
shipyard days, if you got caught weaving that wide on HY-80, the Navy would have run your tits through
the wringer!

Also distortion. On ultra heavy plate, that won't distort , the weld metal can crack.

AK...thanks for sharing the pics.

Ain't this forum great?

Not only do we have 12 opinions for 10 ideas, but people will take the time to do the work to back up what they say.

Good on ya, John! And thanks for posting it!

Steve S

Otto Nobedder wrote:Ain't this forum great?

Not only do we have 12 opinions for 10 ideas, but people will take the time to do the work to back up what they say.

Good on ya, John! And thanks for posting it!

Steve S

No problem Steve.

Hi John

Great effort and really great result!

Congratulations, and thanks for telling the whole story in pictures.

(Now, if you only improve a little bit on that exhaust pipe stuff )

TRACKRANGER wrote:Hi John

Great effort and really great result!

Congratulations, and thanks for telling the who story in pictures.

(Now, if you only improve a little bit on that exhaust pipe stuff )

You can rest assured, none of those exhaust pipe welds are mine.
I was just giving redrotors a little fooling with.
He thought he was tough stuff.

AKweldshop wrote: You can rest assured, none of those exhaust pipe welds are mine.
I was just giving redrotors a little fooling with.
He thought he was tough stuff.

I knew that.

You won.

Excellent job and appears very consistent weave for as wide as that was. Reminds me to sharpen up ony mig skills, I do less and less of that at work.

Nice work and a great test! I have had other welders tell me that the widest you can weave is what is called for in that particular WPS you are going off of!!!

I teach my students to practice (a LOT of practice)! both weave and stringers. I have some who will only stick with what they are comfortable with because they are afraid of "looking bad". I would suggest that to anyone: practice both because you never know what the WPS is going to ask you to do!

Rick_H wrote:Excellent job and appears very consistent weave for as wide as that was. Reminds me to sharpen up on my mig skills, I do less and less of that at work.

I just saw this.
You think this is mig, Rick?

AKweldshop wrote: I just saw this.
You think this is mig, Rick?

Nah, couldn't have (well I certainly hope couldn't have)