Tried a different rod angle on a big boiler tube weld and it laid down cleaner than my usual approach

I've been doing this for about 12 years now, and I always set my rod at a pretty steep angle for overhead stuff. Last week on a job in Gary, I was talking to this old timer who's been at it since the 70s. He told me to try shallowing it out, like almost flat. I figured what the heck, gave it a shot on a 4 inch tube patch. The weld came out way smoother, less spatter, and I didn't have to grind as much. I mean, I always thought you had to go steep to keep the puddle from dripping. Anyone else ever try changing up a basic habit and get surprised by a better result?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_spencer16d ago

Maybe it's just me but I've been running steep angles on boiler work for 15 years and never had spatter issues. Idk, sounds like you mighta been running too hot if a little angle change fixed all that.

patricia55816d ago

Have you seen that article in the AWS journal about rod angle for overhead welding? I think they did a study a few years back showing shallower angles actually help control the puddle better than steep ones, something about the gas coverage changing... I always figured the same as you, that steep was the way to go, but after reading that I tried it on some 6g pipe and it really did clean up a lot of the spatter.

clark.alex16d ago

What specific AWS journal issue was that in? I've been trying to track down some solid data on overhead puddle control for a while now, and most of what I find is just old timers saying "run it at 45 and call it good." Also, were they using a particular rod type when they tested the shallower angles, like 7018 vs 6010 or something? Because I could see the gas coverage thing mattering a lot more with low-hydrogen rods needing that extra protection. I'm curious if the angle benefit holds up across different positions or just overhead.