I finally tried a different bevel angle on a 2-inch thick plate and it worked better

I was welding a patch on an old boiler in a plant here in Toledo, and the spec called for a 37.5 degree bevel on the joint. I've always just set my grinder to 30 degrees because that's what I was taught, but this time I actually measured it out. The fit-up was so much cleaner, and I used about 15% less filler rod on the root pass. It just sealed up smoother with less grinding afterward. Has anyone else found that hitting the exact bevel angle makes a bigger difference than they thought on thicker material?

3 comments

3 Comments

sullivan.elliot2mo ago

So you're telling me the spec sheet wasn't just a suggestion? Guess I'll have to stop eyeballing it and actually read the numbers for once.

campbell.mary2mo ago

Eyeballing it" is how you get a free light show.

carter.julia1mo ago

Did you measure the root face gap too, or was that just the bevel angle? I'm curious if dialing that in made the real difference.