A little tip for filling those pesky gaps.

by Randy
(Midwest)

Try this sometime when you have one of those Grand Canyon size gaps. Knock the heavy coating off of a 7018 stick,a little of it will stay on,leave it. Now as you start your arc at the bottom of the gap with another rod,feed the rod you knocked the flux off of into the puddle like a tig rod. As you build across the gap,dab in the feed rod to help fill and chill the puddle as needed. This probably won't play with code work,I don't know. I've used it alot on farm machinery and excavator buckets etc. IT WORKS!!


-----------------------------------------------

good tip randy, i have done this a time or two as well.

jody

Comments for
A little tip for filling those pesky gaps.

Average Rating starstarstarstarstar

Click here to add your own comments

Apr 16, 2011
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		How to close large gaps in weld material
by: Mike Maracchini

I have read the comments about using a bare 7018 rod and feed it like a filler rod for Tig. I have done that on numberous time and it really does fill gaps, but welder BEWARE, If you are running a test that is either x-ray quality, or a UT test or even a die test, don't bother using this technique. It will fail most times. What I used to do is ask my fitter if he wants to weld the gap. Most of the fitters will start to backstroke or stutter! Ha! If your fitter is willing to re-fit the piece and get the gap right, that is the best way to go and you even get to train the fitter like a dog. Hell, all us real pipewelders know that fitters can't weld!! Hope nobody get their feelings hurt. HA!! Mike Maracchini
Oct 07, 2010
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		OrbitalX
by: Dooley

There is actual a name for the technique you have described. Its commonly known as the "mexican heli-arc".
Jun 27, 2010
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		Large gaps
by: Peter

Hi all,
I worked for many years in ship repair, so i got a lot of experience in welding large gaps. Yes indeed, this is the best way to fill those kind of gaps. It was better to fill the gaps then to cut a new plate that matched. However, here in Europe, it can not be used for certified welds, but it is a great and time saving way of welding.
Jun 04, 2010
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		worked great
by: john

Thanks for the tip i used last weekend on a loader truck it had about a .75 gap use that trick and worked great. Saves a lot of time!!!

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How?
Simply click here to return to Stick welding