How to Tips for Passing a 6G Stick Weld Test on Carbon Pipe
The 6G stick, or arc weld, pipe test, consists of welding two pieces of 6-inch-diameter, schedule 40 pipe together. The two pieces are beveled at a 60-degree angle. The beveled ends are held about 1/8 inch apart in clamps at a 45-degree angle. Welding the two pieces together requires the use of three welding techniques: inverted, vertical and flat.
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Instructions
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Start welding the root pass with a 6010 rod in an inverted position, from the 6 o’clock to the 9 o’clock position. You will, of course, transition from inverted to vertical as you progress. During the inverted phase, your welding rod should be held straight up and down, but angled back slightly from the direction of travel. All welds are done in push mode to prevent undercut on the top piece of pipe.
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2
Make sure you are getting adequate penetration on your root welds. You should hear the arc coming from inside the pipe. Make sure you have a good keyhole. If it is too small and tries to close up, turn the amperage up by 5 amps. If it is too big, go down 5 amps.
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3
Feather the end of your welds with a grinder. Remove all porosity from the end of the weld. Shape the ground area like a ramp so you can penetrate into the end of the weld when you start your next weld.
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4
Change the angle of the rod so it is perpendicular to the pipe as you go vertical. Do not end a weld on a tack weld. Burn through the tack welds for adequate penetration in that area.
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5
Do not weld from the 12 o’clock position down to the 3 o’clock position. Downhill vertical welds have no strength and you will fail the test. When you reach the 12 o’clock position, move back down to the 6 o’clock position and start over, moving in a counterclockwise direction.
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6
Start your cap weld with a 7018 rod. Follow the same direction of travel as in the root welds with the rod held in the same positions as in the previous steps. Keep the rod moving to prevent sticking, and keep it close to the pipe to prevent porosity.
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7
Run your fill welds on each side of the cap weld so that you just cover the edges of the bevels.
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Tips & Warnings
Practice, practice, practice. Welding is an art.
References
- Stanley D. Spurlock; Certified in Unlimited Pipe, Plate, and MIG welding; Apple Valley, CA
