Speaking of tack welds

I'm still trying to figure out the best way to deal with tac welds.

Do you just weld through them? Stop and start again on the other side?

Bob, it depends entirely what you are welding. Lots of times I assemble a weldment with a lot of little tacks and then if a seam is important and it is sufficiently held by all the other tacks and welds and if cutting the tacks won't make anything move, then I'll grind out the cracks. But that significantly increases labor costs so generally I weld over them but move a little faster so the resulting bead is more even. You don't want the watermelon-in-a-snake look. Practice watching the puddle, which can be tricky when MIG welding with that bigass nozzle in the way.

Grant

Generally, depending of course on the size of the Tacs, you can weld over them. If you are aiming at X-Ray quality welds then it is normal to grind out each tac as you come to it.

Bruce-in-Bangkok (correct Address is bpaige125atgmaildotcom)

What is it exactly you are welding?

Steve

Hypotheticals.

Oh, those are different. Ignore everything.

Yeah, the nice thing about those is you can put 'em together anyway you want.

Are they going to be x rayed or NDT?

I'd say for me it has a lot to do with the final weld requirements, the inspector, the specs, and the day of the week. Sometimes you can grind them a bit, and then make them molten again as you run through them. But then, sometimes that makes them crack before you get there.

BTW, what kind of rod would you use for that?

Steve