Had to choose between two different weld procedures on a 2-inch thick pressure vessel plate

We were working on a repair for a steam drum in a plant near Toledo, and the spec gave us a choice between a standard SMAW procedure or a more involved GTAW root pass. I went with the GTAW for the root, even though it added about 8 hours to the job. The X-ray came back clean with zero defects, which was a huge relief. The fitter I was working with said he thought the stick weld would have been fine, but I just had a feeling. Has anyone else faced a similar choice on a thick section repair and regretted their pick?

3 comments

3 Comments

kellys781d ago

My old foreman always said a clean GTAW root on thick plate saves you from callbacks.

faith_king1d ago

Totally agree with @kellys78 on that. Honestly, a bad root pass on thick material will haunt you every time. You gotta get in there and be patient, keep that puddle clean and sharp. Tbh, rushing it just leaves inclusions or lack of fusion you can't really fix later. A solid GTAW root means you're building on a perfect foundation, so the rest of the fill and cap goes smooth. It's the difference between a job that passes inspection and one that gets cut out.

susan6491d ago

Yeah and it's not just about the weld itself either. Honestly, a bad root on something thick can mess with the whole fit-up for the next pieces. Tbh I've seen guys fight a warped section for hours because the first pass put too much heat into one spot. Ngl, taking that extra time at the start is what lets you actually finish on time.