Good technique for 6010 downhill on 4" sched 40 pipe???

by Ken
(fair oaks, CA)

I recently took sort of a proficiency test for a plumbers and pipe fitters union that doesn't offer an apprenticeship program for welders. I almost made it, but they said I needed a little more additional training.

Basically what they had me do was hand bevel some 4 or 4-1/2" schedule 40 pipe with a torch, then run a 6010 downhill all the way out.

I am having a little bit of trouble on the root pass with this smaller diameter pipe, and I want to know how I can resolve it.

It always wants to open up on me even at 70 amps.

I know that I should be able to just lay the rod in there and drag it straight downhill with no stepping motion but I can't seem to get this technique completely figured out.

Sure I can make it work if I use a stepping motion but I don't want to have to do that. I want to learn how to do it the right way.

I've tried playing around with the amps and fit up, and I can get really close. But without someone who actually knows how to do it to explain or show it to me, I am just guessing at this point.

So, I would really appreciate it if you could give me a quick walk through on the exact fit up. IE how much root opening you would use, how much of a land, how many amps on the root pass VS the fill and cover if you change it, and especially how much and what type of an angle you would use in each area of the pipe.

Any help you could give would be greatly appreciated.

Ken


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Ken,
have you tried a nickel land and a nickel gap?

(btw thats the thickness of a nickel)