Flux Cored Welds, part 2.


Continued from part 1:

Flux Cored Data Pipe and Plate.

GAS SHIELDED FLUX CORED:

Supporters of pulsed MIG or metal cored wires for pipe fill passes often bring up concerns about the gas shielded flux cored wires and "weld slag", however the FCA slag benefits usually outweigh the slag issues.

When using the flux cored (FCAW) weld consumables recommended at this site, and those weld consumables are correctly applied, the flux cored weld slag should fall off during and after the weld. If the weld slag does not fall off, it should take only a few seconds to remove. A positive point in pipe welding is the removal of the weld slag gives the welder an opportunity to examine the weld between passes.


FLUX CORED WELD DEPOSITION RATES:

In contrast to pulsed MIG and metal cored wires for pipe welds, the flux cored slag that acts as a mold and protects for the molten metal and therefore FCA typically enables higher wire feed (deposition) rates increasing both manual and weld automation weld production potential.

Depending on the flux cored wire manufacturer's product, you can expect 8 to 12 lb/hr deposition rate for "all position" steel pipe and fabrication welds.

With any flux cored pipe or plate groove weld, always look for lack of fusion and slag entrapment in the first two passes over the root.

 

FLUX CORED WELD QUALITY: From a weld quality perspective, in contrast to pulsed MIG flux cored enables superior side wall weld fusion. The issues with flux cored will be trapped slag which can impare weld fusion, porosity and worm tracks.

FLUX CORED AND EASE OF USE: In contrast to pulsed MIG, when the flux cored process is utilized for the pipe fill passes, the flux cored process requires much less skills which reduces training time.

If you use a "quality flux cored wire" with the correct technique and Ed's recommended parameters, and also use 300F interpass temp control with multi-pass welds, that flux cored weld slag should almost peel off as above..

ED'S IMPERIAL OIL (Canada). COLD LAKE, PIPE PROJECT.

 

1990s. On above left. Ed carrying out pipe root weld research comparing MIG. STT - RMD and Short Circuit modes on a a 16 inch natural gas pipe root for Imperial Oil. On right Ed evaluating different gas shielded flux cored wires for the over head position with the Cold Lake, Canadian pipe welders, Visit this section for million dollar weld savings on large flux cored - MIG projects.

 

 

Pipe weld management is wise when their focus is on;

[1] the pipe side wall weld fusion potential of the weld process - consumables utilized, especially with the first and second fill passes over the root,

[2] the weld personnel awareness of the optimum process control, parameter ranges and technique requirements for weld defect prevention,

[3] controlling pipe, alignment dimensions, edge preps and root gap dimensions to minimize the opportunity for pipe root weld and side wall fusion problems,

[4] the weld deposition rate potential of the weld process or consumables utilized,

[5] how easy it is to utilize the process or consumables recommended,

[6] how suitable and durable is the weld equipment selected for the shop or field work. When welding with flux cored be aware that regular, low cost CV MIG equipment will outperform inverters, multi-process power sources and pulsed MIG equipment. The CV equipment will cost less, be more durable and easier to repair.

[7] The suitability of the weld consumable selected especially for the overhead welds. In this position check the weld fluidity, ease of use and the weld transfer. Take note of the weld spatter generated in the over head position. The weld spatter can end up in the nozzle blocking either the gas flow or the contact tip bore, causing porous welds, or a wire burn back.

 

 

THOSE NARROW GROOVE PIPE BEVELS.
Sometimes in order to use a "narrow pipe bevel", the weld inspection may require "shear wave ultrasonic examination". This mode of inspection is necessary so the NDT equipment can size the weld flaw, and determine if the flaw is acceptable based on CTOD and fracture mechanic equations. Pipe line companies are aware of this complex inspection criteria and the issues generated, and therefore may only consider the narrow bevel welds or low fusion MIG modes for small pipe line projects. Narrow gap and compound pipe joints require field machining and the pipe roundness deviation is always a concern.

Note: When using narrow, bevel pipe weld joints, or weld processes such as pulsed MIG that provide minimum side wall weld fusion, extraordinary weld inspection methods may be required. What you save on the narrow weld prep is often lost on the additional weld inspection required and the consequences of that magnified inspection.

 

CERAMIC BACKING AND VEE GROOVE PLATE EDGE PREPS.

When making all position flux cored welds on vee groove welds on carbon steel plate with ceramic backing, two interesting questions would be, what would the minimum vee groove angle and weld gap be?

In ship yards where the typical steel thickness plate is 9 to 25 mm, when welding that vee groove with ceramic backing, the optimum root weld gap size is 5-6 mm. The minimum, "combined" vee groove angle should be 40 degrees.

 

 

THANKS TO POOR TRAINING, POOR MANAGEMENT - SUPERVISION AND LACK OF WELD PROCESS KNOWLEDGE, FITTERS IN SHIP YARDS - CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS OFTEN DON'T DELIVERS WHAT WELDERS REQUIRE.

In a ship yard, poor edge preps, oversized gaps, excess weld and extra weld rework and NDT costs can readily double the weld budget required per ship. Ed has developed a ship yard Welder Training Program so that both welders and fitters can have a greater understanding of the process requirements, the best weld practices and the weld cost and quality implications of their actions, See Ed's manual MIG and flux cored programs.

 

 

Question: Ed, in our shop when welding carbon steels we have a choice of either MIG, pulsed MIG, metal cored, self shielded flux cored, all position gas shielded or flat position flux cored wires. I would appreciate guidelines on when or where to use these processes and consumables. We weld thin gage to 1/2 (12mm).

Answer: For welding carbon steels, the following weld process logic guidelines would apply;

Two industries. Two Processes and Ed's Process Controls.

In the 1990s, Ed set the robot MIG welds on the above Genie products used to lift loads in the air, and in 2006 - 2007 brought "Best Flux Cored Weld Practices and Process Controls" to the Aker Philadelphia Naval Ship Yard, in the back ground..

 

GAS SHIELDED FLUX CORED WIRES.

 

 

FCAW. International Welding Specifications:

Mild Steel Wires	USA	AWS A5.20
Mild Steel Wires	Canada	CSA W48.6
Mild Steel Wires	Japan	JIS Z3313
Mild Steel Wires	Germany	DIN 8559
Low Alloy Steel Wires	USA	AWS A5.29
Low Alloy Steel Wires	Canada	CSA W48.3-M
Low Alloy Steel Wires	Japan	Z3212 - 3223 - 3241
Low Alloy Steel Wires	Germany	DIN 8575-8529
Low Alloy Steel Wires	UK	BS639-2493

FOR OPTIMUM STEEL- STAINLESS FLUX CORED WIRES MY PREFERENCE,
CONSIDER ESAB (ALLOY RODS) SANVIK AND KOBELCO WIRES:

 

USA E70T-1 UNS W07601	Flat and Horizontal positions. DCEP. Gas CO2 Multipass 20 ft/lb 0F	Canada EE4802T9 / Germany SGR1 / Japan YFW 24	BEST WIRE SIZE 1/16 (1.6 mm)
USA E70T-2 UNS WO7602	Flat position, DCEP. Gas CO2. Single pass For rusty dirty plate. Does not weld as good as E70T-1	Canada EE4802T2/ Germany SGR2/ Japan YFW 22	Use only for single layer welds
USA  E70T-5 UNS WO7605	Flat position, DCEP. Gas CO2. Multipass Crack resistance 20 ft/lb - 20F	Canada EE4802T5B/ Germany SGB1/ Japan YFW 24/	Improved CHARPY
USA E71T-1 UNS WO7601	All position Argon 20-25CO2 or CO2. DCEP. Multi-layers OK 20ft/lb 0F	Canada EE4801T9/ Germany SGR1/ Japan YFW 24	BEST WIRE SIZES 0.045 - 0.052 (1.2 - 1.4mm). CAN USE CO2 OR ARGON 20-25% CO2 MIXES. (MORE WELD ENERGY FROM CO2)

With Gas shielded Flux Cored Wires:

 

 

GAS SHIELDED FLUX CORED. WORM TRACKS & POROSITY:

Weld porosity: As indicated in the picture, a cavities or discontinuities have formed in the molten weld. The porosity can be trapped inside the weld or evident at the weld surface.

Weld porosity is typically round in shape, but can also be elongated. Porosity is caused by the absorption of oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen into the molten weld pool. The gases are then released during weld solidification. As the gases try to rise to the weld surface some gas pores will become trapped in the weld metal, some pores pass into the weld slag, while other pores will combine on the weld surface, usually in the weld center (last area to solidify) producing worm tracks.

 

E71T-1. Flux cored weld porosity from and Excess Gas Flow.

Copyright. Ed's CD Flux Cored Training Program

LARGE PORE WELD POROSITY. If weld surface is clean and does not look oxidized, large pore MIG / FCAW porosity is often a result of "excessive gas flow".

Excessive gas flow causes weld surface turbulence. This porosity can result with gas flow greater than 45 cuft/hr. Optimum MIG and flux cored gas flow for carbon steels is 25 to 35 cuft / hr. The shielding gas flow should be measured as it exits the gun nozzle.

If the weld surface is dirty (oxidized) the cause of larger pore porosity is often a result of insufficient gas flow, less than 20 cuft /hr.

CLUSTER WELD POROSITY. A localized group of small gas pores with random distribution. Causes.

[a] Arc blow,
[b] if surface oxidized, insufficient gas,
[c] material or weld wire contamination,
[d] (low) weld parameters,
[e] welds too small or too wide and too thin.

PIPING, WORM HOLES OR SOME CALL IT WAGON TRACKS. As seen in bottom picture the "wagon tracks" are typically found in the center of the gas shielded weld, parallel to weld axis, this is the last area for weld solidification so the porosity congregates as one.

The worm holes or wagon tracks are elongated gas pores producing a herring bone appearance on a radiograph. Worm hole porosity is common in gas shielded flux cored welds when the electrodes have too much moisture in the wire flux or the weld solidifies too rapidly.



If you purchase the flux core wire from a third world or Eastern European Country, you are almost guaranteed weld problems such as severe porosity issues, and the often cheaper wire will typically provide greater the potential for Wagon Tracks especially when the weld shop you work has an either cold - damp or humid enviroment.

To reduce weld Porosity - weld Wagon Tracks,

[a] extend the wire stick out as this preheats the weld wire but remember it also lowers the weld current,

[b] storing the wires in a dry environment reduces this potential,

[c] reduce weld speeds,

[d] make welds larger,

[e] avoid weaves which thin out the weld layers,

[f] increase current and decrease voltage.

The best thing you can do is order a quality weld wire as attained from Kobelco or ESAB or Sanvik.



INTERNAL SCATTERED WELD POROSITY. Weld porosity scattered randomly throughout the weld. If the MIG weld surface is gray and looks oxidized, the porosity is typically a result of insufficient gas flow. If the weld surface looks clean with scattered porosity the porosity is usually caused by the base metal part or electrode contamination, or perhaps the weld data used causes the weld to freeze too rapidly.

The above recommendations are intended to increase the weld arc energy and decrease the weld cooling rate. If the porosity issues repeat, change your flux cored wire manufacturer.


NOTE ON FILLETS AND MIG WELD ROOT POROSITY. Weld Weld root porosity frequently occurs with MIG weld fillets when using "argon oxygen" (oxidizing) > 20% CO2 mixes on parts >6 mm. With mixes containing oxygen, the oxidation potential is increased and a resulting fillet root weld is typically narrow, finger shaped. The narrow root finger area solidifies rapidly trapping the oxide reactions (porosity).

To reduce root weld porosity, change to a higher energy less oxidizing argon 10 - 15% CO2 gas mix. Increase the weld parameters, slow the weld speed, increase the weld throat thickness and avoid weld weaves. And forget about that ridiculous three part, argon - CO2 - Oxy gas mix recommended by your local gas company.

CRACKS - CRACKS - CRACKS :

There are many reasons for cracks to occur in a pipe or plate.
[] Cracks can develop from material defects.
[] Cracks can occur during the plate to pipe rolling fabrication.
[] Cold cracks can occur from hydrogen in the welds.
[] Hot cracks can occur from excess weld heat, stresses or welds and parts with low weld ductility.
[] Cracks can occur from crater defects,
[] Cracks are common from poor weld profiles susch as root beads or fill passes which are too thin, too concave or simply too weak.

Sour service pipelines are vulnerable to HIC in the presence of water. The cracks can occur in pipeline steels of any strength. The HIC is typically associated with non-metallic inclusions such as elongated manganese sulfides. With x-rays or ultra sonic evaluation, the HIC in the pipe walls will appear as cracks, but near the pipe surface may appear as rough convex bumps. Acid corrosion will take place on H2O wet areas inside the pipeline and hydrogen will be produced by this corrosion reaction. In the presence of sulfides, scales on the steel surface form rather than being liberated as a gas. The atomic hydrogen diffuses into the steel, forming blisters in the microscopic voids around nonmetallic inclusions. The gas pressure in these blisters generates very high localized stress, which initiates cracking along lines of weakness in the steel. HIC develops as flat cracks in the rolling plane of the pipe material. Crack colonies develop, and failure often occurs as colonies link together in a stepwise fashion. For this reason, HIC is sometimes called stepwise cracking.

Stress-Oriented Hydrogen Induced Cracking (SOHIC).

A special form of HIC may occur when local stress concentration is high in a sour service pipeline. High stress fields can allow the hydrogen to accumulate without the need for inclusions or other interfaces. For example, some types of spiral-welded pipe exhibit highly stressed regions close to the seam weld, caused during the edge forming process. Stacked arrays of HIC can form in these regions, leading to rapid stepwise cracking failures.

 

Stress Corrosion Cracking (SCC).

External stress corrosion cracking on high-pressure pipelines is recognized in two forms: high pH and near-neutral pH. Its believed that SCC cracks can initiate and grow in a range of conditions, including predominantly intergranular cracking in alkaline conditions and transgranular cracking in neutral pH environments. SCC can occur in a wider range of restricted aqueous environments at the pipe surface, and in extreme cases SCC has been confirmed on above-ground pipelines.

The corrosion creates crack-like features aligned at right angles to the principal stress. In most cases, the product pressure in the pipeline creates the principal stress, so the cracks are aligned parallel to the axis of the pipeline. External stresses such as ground movement can give rise to cracks at almost any angle through to fully circumferential.

The threshold for SCC crack initiation is at or about the actual yield, so in the absence of a high residual stress or an externally imposed stress, SCC is not expected in operational pipelines. However, the threshold for crack initiation is reduced by stress or pressure cycling, and in cases where pipelines experience large diurnal fluctuations, the threshold stress for crack initiation may be below the mean operating stress. Some steels show a greater susceptibility than others. On occasion, this difference in material susceptibility has been the main factor in determining where high pH SCC has become an operational problem.

Temperature is also a key factor controlling the rate of high pH SCC crack growth. If all other conditions remain unchanged, crack growth rate increases with temperature.

SCC risk can be minimized on new pipelines by careful coating selection and preservation of coating condition through the construction process. To reduce SCC risk, priority should be placed on the long-term adhesion performance of the coating and its resistance to adhesion loss from water uptake, cathodic disbonding, soil induced loading and impact or gouging.

 

Lap Cracks

These crack-like surface defects originate during the rolling process used to produce the plate or strip from which pipe is fabricated. Surface cracks in the hot slab become oxidized, which prevents them from welding to the adjoining metal during subsequent rolling. The cracks remain on the outer layer of the steel and are rolled over to become surface-breaking defects at a very shallow angle. They can occur in any position around the pipe.

Hook Cracks

These defects in the longitudinal weld occur during manufacture of the pipe, when inclusions at the plate edge are turned out of the plane of the steel during the welding process. They may pass the manufacturer’s initial hydrotest, but fail later due to metal fatigue. It is the turning out of the metal at the weld that gives the characteristic “hook” or “J” shape to the crack.

 

Girth Weld Cracks.

Fatigue Cracks.

Metal fatigue is caused by repeated or fluctuating stresses whose maximum value is less than the tensile strength of the material. They start as minute cracks which grow steadily in reaction to pressure cycling, physical deformation of the pipeline and other mechanical stresses.

Narrow Axial External Corrosion (NAEC).

Although this is not strictly a crack, it is one of a number of defects associated with the seam weld, which are difficult to detect with standard metal loss tools because of their axial orientation. It is caused when the pipewrap “tents” over the seam weld bead, allowing moisture to enter and encouraging corrosion. The resulting loss of metal parallel to the seam can result in rupture.

 

Cold Cracks:

A cold crack generally occurs at temperatures blow 200F after the weld solidification is complete. These cracks can occur several days after welds are made. Cold cracks can occur in ferritic and martensitic steels such as carbon steel, low alloy steel and high alloy steels unless precautions are employed.

Cold cracks are caused by the combined effects of;

[1] low ductility of the weld,
[2] residual stresses,
[3] diffusible hydrogen in the weld.

Cold cracking can be prevented by focussing on these three factors.

[1] A weld's ductility may decrease with a "high carbon" equivalent and a "high cooling" rate after solidification.

[2] Residual stress in a weld can be larger than expected if the weld contains weld discontinuities such as incomplete fusion, incomplete joint penetration, overlap, undercut, slag inclusions, and weld porosity.

[3] The source of diffusible hydrogen in a weld is typically moisture in the welding consumable, the base material, the weld gas or from the atmosphere.

To reduce the potential for cold cracking:

[a] Preheat the base metal to reduce the cooling speed of the weld. The preheat ensures no moisture is in the pipe. The preheat slows down the cooling rate and prevents the embrittlement of the weld and allows dissolved weld hydrogen to rise through the weld and escape to the atmosphere.

[b] Prevent weld or joint discontinuities to avoid stress build up and concentration.

[c] Use low-hydrogen type welding consumables to minimize diffusible hydrogen in the weld.

The combined use of preheating, interpass temp control and if required post heat treatment will be effective to prevent cold cracks occuring in a weld. On preheating, it is important to determine the temperature appropriate to the base metal and filler metal to be used. The appropriate temperature is generally determined for individual work by taking into account several factors such as chemical composition, restraint level, pipe or plate thickness, the weld process used, heat input, and the amount of diffusible hydrogen in the weld metal. If you dont know the preheat use 300F. If you use pre-heat then use the same temp for interpass temperature control, which ensures minimum hydrogen and minimizes grain growth. Its beneficial to wrap the weld in an insulating blanket immediately after the weld, this slows down the cooling rate and ensures no delayed cracking when the parts or vessel is cooled. Visit here for more data on Cold Cracks in Ship yards and on pipe welds.

Hot Cracks"

When you want to put too much weld in a single
pass or you don't control interpass weld temperature
during mult-pass welds, watch out for those hot cracks
that will often occur in the weld center or in the weld's
HAZ.

WELD LOGIC: Limit single pass fillet welds to a max size of 5/16 (< 8 mm) and keep all multi-pass, interpass temps at a max of 350F. Avoid thin weld passes and limit weave widths to a max 5/8. Watch that weave to depth weld ratio.

 

Remember, there are two things that most alloys like. [1] The highest possible weld quality. [2] The lowest possible weld heat. There is only one manual - auto weld process that provides this unique weld capability, this is a process i bought to North America around 2008 and at it's called, TIP TIG

 

 

For those desperate enough to use a gun with
self shielded flux cored weld wires, click here

WHEN THE WORLD'S LARGEST EARTH MOVING EQUIPMENT HAS AN ACCIDENT IT'S BOUND TO BE A BIG ONE AND IT'S LIKELY TO BE REPAIRED WITH FLUX CORED WIRES. NOW ALL I WANT TO KNOW, IS WHAT IDIOT LEFT THE DAM BULL DOZER IN FRONT OF THE BUCKETS?

Can you find the bull dozer?

THE LOGICAL WELD CONSUMABLES FOR WELD REPAIRS ON THIS TYPE OF EQUIPMENT WILL BE GAS SHIELDED FLUX CORED WIRES. ONE WELD WIRE TYPE EX1T-1, SIZE 0.045 AND THREE WELD SETTINGS COULD DO EVERY WELD ON THIS PART, DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS DATA IS? IF NOT IT'S FOUND IN MY MIG / FLUX CORED BOOK AND IN MY CD FLUX CORED TRAINING PROGRAM.

 

The dozer was swept up like a toy and trapped in the wheel.

Mechanical Strength of Gas Shielded Flux Cored Electrodes.

From the ANSI/AWS Specification

AWS Classification	Tensile  ksi	Tensile MPa	Yield  ksi	Yield Mpa
E6XTX-X-XM	60 - 80	410 - 550	50	340
E7XTX-X-XM	70 - 90	480 - 620	58	400
E8XTX-X-XM	80 - 100	550 - 690	68	470
E9XTX-X-XM	90 - 110	620 - 760	78	540
E10XTX-K9-K9M	SEE SPEC		88	610
M means an argon mix with 75 to 80% argon balance CO2	All DCEP E71T-1 Second number 1 = all position. E70T-1 Second number 0 = flat and horizontal position

 

 

Question: Ed. We weld carbon steel pipes and structural steel plates typically >6mm. We are considering 0.045 - 0.052 and 0.062, (1.2 - 1.4 and 1.6 mm) flux cored wires for all position welds. Which do you think is the optimum flux cored wire size and who makes the best wires?

Answer: When welding all positions, the E71T-1 "0.045" (1.2mm) is the wire of choice. The reason the 0.045 size is the wire of choice for vertical up, overhead and horizontal positions, is the all position weld parameter range of 120 to 350 amps and the high weld deposition rate potential of 6 to 17 lbs/hr. Reference the best wires. ESAB (Alloy Rods) or Kobellco would be my choice. I find these two wires provide great weldability with high deposition rate potential.



Note: Considering flux cored for robots or mechanized carriage applications? With mechanized, all position pipe welds, the welding machines can provide many benefits and advantages over manual welders. Mechanized flux cored welds will provide superior weld weave configurations, controlled weld weave frequency, controlled weave width, controlled, faster weld speeds and very important controlled Wire Stick Outs. The results will be shorter weld times and far superior weld quality than any manual welder can attain.

Application Thickness	Flux Cored Wire type Diameter Size	Weld Position	VOLTS  + - 1 volt	Amps  + - 10%	Wire  Feed  lb/hr	Notes
< 1/4  <6mm	E71T-1  0.035 (1mm)	vertical up	25	150	360 ipm  4.2 lb/hr
> 3/16  > 5mm	E71T-1  0.035 (1mm)	flat horizontal	28	200	560 ipm  6 lb/hr	low deposition for this application
< 1/4 <6 mm	E71T-1  0.045 (1.2mm)	vertical up	23- 25	170	220 ipm 5 lb/hr	too hot for < 3/16
> 1/4 > 6 mm	E71T-1  0.045 (1.2mm)	vertical up	24 - 26	200 - 250	300 / 400 ipm  6-10 lb/hr	good choice. for pipe or bevel fill passes Pipes < 1/2 use 320 ipm. > 1/2 use 380 to 400 ipm with 24 to 27 volts
3/16 to 3/8	E71T-1  0.045 (1.2mm)	flat horizontal	27- 30	280 > 300	500 - 600 ipm  7 - 13 lb/hr	vee preps or fillet welds
>1/4  >6mm)	E71T-1 0.052 1.4mm	vertical  up	25	190	190  5.3 lb/hr	Typically minimal weld deposition improvements for vert up, in contrast to 045
>3/8 >9.5 mm	E71T-1  0.052 (1.4mm)	flat horizontal	29	300	400 ipm 10.3 lb/hr
>3/8	E71T-1 0.062 1.6mm	vertical  up	25	200	120  5 lb/hr
>3/8	E71T-1  0.062	flat horizontal	31	325	250 ipm
>3/8	E71T-1  0.062	flat horizontal	31	325	250 ipm

 

Note: To simplify your MIG - FCAW wire feed control settings, learn
Ed's unique, weld clock method in his books and training programs.

 

Ed how would you weld a 40 degree vee prep in 3/4 carbon steel plate. We use ceramic backing. The root gap is a 1/4 (6 mm). We will use an 0.052 (1.4 mm) E71T-1 wire.

 

Ed's Answer:

Bevel 40 degree
Root gap 1/4 (6 mm).
Flux Cored Wire 0.052 (1.4 mm E71T-1.
My wire choice. Kobelco as with straight CO2 superior weld fusion than argon mixes, without the spatter and weld fumes associated with CO2 wires.
Gas straight CO2.

I would use Sabaco Ceramics as I beleive they are the best avalable in North America.

Sabaco Vert Up #92A
Sabaco Horizontal 1B903H
Sabaco Flat same as Vert Up.

Flat Position:
[] 6 passes including root.
[] Root weld on ceramic. WF 380 ipm - 29 V. 250 amps. Back Hand to maintain arc on none conductive ceramic.
[] Fill pass 430 ipm - 29 volts. 280 amps
[] Three cap passes designed with lower settings to avoid undercut. Use 350 ipm - 26 volts 240 amps.

Horizontal Position:
[] 6 passes including root
[] Root at 260 ipm volts 25 amps 190
[] 2 passes at 320 ipm 28 vlts 240 amps
[] 3 capp passes same settings as fill.

Vert Up Position:
[] Root 240 ipm 23-24 volts - 190/200 amps.
[] Hot pass 300 ipm 25 volts 220 amps.
[] Cap same as as root.

Extensive grinding of trapped slage should be applied on each weld pass, especially on the weld edges.

Question: Ed. What's the best "size" flux cored wire for horizontal fillet welds made on carbon steel plates >3/8 (> 9 mm? We use 3/32 (2.4 mm) wires.

Answer: As long as the parts are thicker
than >5/16 (>8mm), the best size flux cored electrode for welding in the flat and horizontal positions is the 0.062 (1.6mm)
E70T-1 wire.

Many companies or weld personnel who simply don't know better will purchase LARGE diameter weld wires like the 3/32 wire. The reason the 3/32 flux cored wires are less ideal for most applications is that they require over 400 amps to produce reasonable weld deposition rates. Welders don't like working with >400 amps, and the high weld energy makes it difficult to control the weld puddle. With the 3/32 flux cored wires most welders will set "low wire feed rates". In weld reality with the large wires, welders end up producing a lot of smoke and produce welds which are difficult to control. The weld deposition rates they typically attain are usually lower than that attained with the more controllable smaller 0.062. (1.6 mm) diameter wire.

 

Weld Question: Ed, why do we use straight CO2 and cannot use an argon mix with most E70T-1 flux cored wires? Also why should we be concerned when using the E71T-1 flux cored wires in the flat and horizontal weld positions on > 5 mm steel parts and steels with mill scale?

Weld Answer: The E70T-1 wire is a basic electrode that contains substantial deoxidizers. This wire provides a thick, slow cooling slag and this wire is designed to weld carbon steels in the flat and horizontal positions. The E70T-1 wire usually requires the high energy, high oxidizing CO2 gas.

In contrast to the E70T-1 wire, the E71T-1 flux cored wire is an electrode that has a rutile slag with lower de-oxidizers than the E70T-1, (deoxidizers tend to make welds more fluid). The E71T-1 wires also provides a thinner, "fast freeze" weld slag. The lower de-oxidizers (less fluid weld) and fast freeze slag help contain the molten metal when welding vertical up or over head.

The E71T-1 wire typically will use argon with 20 to 25% CO2, or straight CO2. The argon mixes are preferable for many all position E71T-1 wires, however in ship yards or for any companies that want minimal internal weld defects on parts >3/8 (> 9 mm) I recommend the Kobelco DW 50 wires which use straight CO2.

As mentioned the E71T-1 wire and an argon mix produce lower weld energy than CO2. Also the E71T-1 wire produces a fast freeze slag that will contain minimum de-oxidizers. If you have to weld on mill scale and you are welding in the flat and horizontal weld positions, the E71T-1 wires in contrast to an E70T-1 wire on mill scale applications can cause many weld issues. The E71T-1 wires when used on these applications have greater potential to produce excessive weld porosity, worm tracks, less weld fusion and inferior weld surface appearance.

FLUX CORED AND MILL SCALE? On mill scale or contaminated plates, when welding in the flat or horizontal weld positions, the basic E70T-1 wire in contrast to the E71T-1 wire, provides more de-oxidizers, provides improved weld fluidity. This wire can result in cleaner (less porosity) welds with improved weld fusion profiles. The E70T-1 also produces a thicker slow cooling slag that slows down the weld cooling rate and molds the weld surface to a smoother, superior finish.

 

Question: Ed, why do you think ESAB (Alloy Rods) has a better all position flux cored wire versus a Lincoln wire?

Answer: For decades, it was my responsibility with companies like AGA, Airgas, Linde and Liquid Carbonic to test weld consumables and in my opinion the flux cored products invented by by both Alloy Rods and Kobelco are all I need.

Note about Lincoln flux cored wires: When Lincoln first brought it's all position gas shielded flux cored wires to the market, I was working with AGA (one of Lincolns biggest customers) located in Cleveland. Lincoln invited me to their facility to test their new product. I found their lower cost product had a narrow, limited weld parameter range, a lower weld deposition rate potential and the welds at the Lincoln plant ended up full of porosity. Imn sure thaey have inproved their products, but after that demo I lost my confidence in them

 

Note: During November, 2006 as I worked to establish best weld practices in the Aker Shipyard (Phily Naval Shipyard). I recommended that the yard use the Kobelco DW 50 (0.045) wire with straight CO2. Easy to use, no spatter, great high depsition rates and superior weld fusion to the argon CO2 flux cored wires.

Question: Ed what is the most important thing
to do when setting optimum all position, gas shielded flux cored
parameter settings?.

Answer: Start your welds in the optimum weld parameter ranges as indicated in my books and CDs and be aware of how with the voltage you can set the "required minimum optimum arc length".

 

The arc length is the gap between the wire tip and weld.

 

To set the correct arc gap with gas shielded flux cored "think weld voltage". The ideal arc gap between the wire tip and weld will be approx. 0.020 to 0.030. If the arc gap is more than 0.060 the arc length may be too long spreading the weld heat over a wider area of the weld surface making it difficult to control the too fluid weld.

Setting the recommended weld voltage (arc gap length) is critical in vertical up and overhead E71-T1 steel applications. The weld wire should be as close as possible, allowing the weld transfer to occur across the arc gap with minimal disruption of the weld transfer or weld. If thearc gap is to small and the flux cored weld wire is too close to the weld, you will cause short circuits of the weld transfer disrupting the weld and causing weld spatter. For the E71T-1 wire stickout use 10 to 18 mm wire stick-out. This data and much, MUCH more in my MIG / Flux Cored Book.

For vert up 3/16 to 1/4 (4.8 to 6 mm) fillet welds, start ou with 24 to 26 volts, either hold the gun steady or if required use a very slight oscillation in the weld center outwards. For vert up fillet welds larger than 6 mm the straight weave is preferred.

 

The following photo is an ABB robot I set welding a 48 inch pipe, welding vertical up. The weld wire was an Alloy Rod Dual Shield E71T-1 wire. The weld data used for the vertical up weld produced 9 lb/hr with incredible weld quality results. It took less than two hours to develop this robot weld procedure for this pipe weld.

IN 1998, ED SET THIS ABB ROBOT TO FLUX CORED WELD A 48 INCH PIPE IN THE 5G POSITION. THE WELDS WERE PERFECT AND THE SLAG FELL AS THE WELDS WERE MADE.

 

In contrast to what many skilled pipe welders may believe, the world's best pipe welder has always been a robot.

 

With this pipe fill pass welds, Four robot program points and "one weld procedure" was all that was needed to weld the fill passes in this 18 mm wall, 40 inch diameter pipe. Welding from 6 to 12 o'clock. Its amusing today twenty years after robot suitability for pipe line welds to see pipe companies using complex computerized weld controls, limited flexibility mechanized carriage equipment and multi-complex pulsed weld procedures for their automated pipe line welds.

 

Find out about Ed's million dollar savings when the Alberta
pipe welders finally switched from SMAW to Flux Cored

 

 

For those of you who have never purchased a weld book
or process control CD, remember weld process control
knowledge will always lead to the best weld jobs.

IF YOU WANT REAL WORLD, IN-DEPTH INFO, ON THE MIG OR FLUX CORED PROCESSES, CONSIDER MY MIG - Flux Cored weld training resources




EXTENSIVE ASTM / API pipe steels / weld specification data is available in the steels program

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