Tip for welding 6010 open root on pipe

by Mike Maracchini
(San Diego, CA)

I have found out after 35yrs of welding pipe that when you fit the pipe, use a broken porta-band blade for the perfect gap for the root. Usually a 3/32 gap will do when using 1/8", 6010. Just turn up your heat and "Keyhole" the root. If the keyhole gets to large, push the rod through the gap. This will stop the arc and prevent to large of a keyhole. Always grind (feather) starts and stops for a really good tie-in. Hope this helps!!

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Tip for welding 6010 open root on pipe

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Nov 05, 2011
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starstarstarstarstar 		A good gap
by: Griff

I never thought of using a sawblade. In my shop, we use filler rod for oxyacetyline welding as the spacer. Good to know though.
Oct 30, 2011
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starstarstarstarstar 		Jobs in San Diego
by: Mike Maracchini

Hey Clay! I read ur comments about open root on pipe and I do know a company in San Diego that does open root and chill rings (Ole School). They are a mechanical contractor called: Pacific Rim Mechanical. I believe they are located in Kearny Mesa. If you can, stay away from the shipyards!!! Sometimes they can make a good pipewelder worse. Believe that!!! Hope that helps!!! Take care and God Bless. Mike
Oct 30, 2011
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starstarstarstarstar 		Jobs in San Diego
by: Mike Maracchini

Hey Clay! I read ur comments about open root on pipe and I do know a company in San Diego that does open root and chill rings (Ole School). They are a mechanical contractor called: Pacific Rim Mechanical. I believe they are located in Kearny Mesa. If you can, stay away from the shipyards!!! Sometimes they can make a good pipewelder worse. Believe that!!! Hope that helps!!! Take care and God Bless. Mike
Oct 29, 2011
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starstarstarstarstar 		primaddona welder??
by: j.w. stoll,jr.

hey mike!
i wrote you a while back and your input was very helpful. i'm mostly a structural welder/fabricator. i work in a large prison complex and lots of the piping is old and broken down. we have our own powerhouse and steam-fitters but i use that term very loosely. their favorite saying whenever i'm working with them is "just weld the damn thing"! when i can put the finger's of my hand into the gap up to my first knuckle joint. these guy's don't do any welding themselves. the last time they tried that little trick i told them to get another welder if you can't/won't fit properly. i don't know how they explained that to the fitter boss and i don't really care. the next time i had to work with them i had the proper fit. like you said let them do their job so i can do mine. thanks mike.
regards,
joe s.
Oct 29, 2011
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starstarstarstarstar 		open root trained.
by: clay

Hi Mike, I studied open root welding in Louisiana before I moved here in San Diego. I got a job before at one of the shipyard company but it's different. Is there a company that I can apply that requires open root welding? Thank you Mike and I appreciate your time reading this.
May 11, 2011
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starstarstarstarstar 		6010 Root
by: Anonymous

Well, first of all, I have to say, "Thank You" for your comment. Hey man, after 35 yrs of pipewelding, I should know some tricks, huh?? I hope that u are interested in my skills. I should say that ALL PIPEFITTERS are the same. Just fit the pipe & the welder should be able to weld it right?? BULLSHIT!!!!!!!!!!! If your fitter can't give u the proper gap, then he has the problem not U!! Please, don't give the fitter any slack!!! He can fit the pipe but you have to be the one to weld it & if you fail the weld, well who's fault is that??? It's ur fault right?? Make sure that u follow proper procedures in this process. In all my years in this field I have had some really good pipefitters and then I have had some that says: Just weld the damn thing. I don't care how big the gap is. I have welded pipe that some fitters have given me a 1/4" gap. Yes I say 1/4" gap. Are U kidding me????????? I have done that, but I sometime got lucky,ya know? So just make sure that you are working with a compentent fitter and things will work out for U. Thanx again for the props!!!! Good luck with ur pipewelding, ok? Again, high- pressure pipe and low pressure pipe are completely different animals. ALWAYS make sure ur fitter has ur best interest at heart! Don't be afraid to tell him that the gap is too big or too small. Make him earn his money and u will earn yours. Take care and if u have any more questions, please fill free to contact me either at this site or: maracchini@yahoo.com I have ALOT more tricks up my sleeve. Again, Thank You!!! Michael Maracchini
May 10, 2011
Rating
starstarstarstarstar 		fitting steam lines
by: Anonymous

to mike maracchini;
i sometimes have to weld steam lines where i work cause the steamfitters don't do any welding here. i use that same trick with the band saw blade as a spacer and it works great.

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