Page 10 - HIWT Summer 2011 World of Welding

THE WORLD OF WELDING http://www.welding.org

DOES YOUR WEAVES OR STRINGERS?
WELDING TRAINING
MEASURE UP TO

INDUSTRY STANDARDS? By
Elmer Swank Jr.,
AWS CWI/CWE
Technical Instructor
Hobart Institute
of Welding
Technology

QUESTION:

I was welding a gate on a dump truck and my boss told me
to weld it uphill, so I welded it uphill, three passes, with a
weave. He made me grind them out stating that an uphill
Put 80 years of world-class welding training weave is weaker than an uphill stringer with 7018. Is he right?
experience from the Hobart Institute of Welding
Technology to work for you.

• Complete curriculum on all major processes ANSWER:
• Modular design
• Close-up shots of the welding arc highlighting To weld a gate on a dump truck, I think shielded metal arc
proper technique welding is a good process to use, and an E7018 electrode
• Easy-to-follow “how-to” student workbook design would be my first choice. At Hobart Institute, we always
• Comprehensive instructor guides teach welding uphill with E7018 or any other low hydrogen
• Based on AWS S.E.N.S.E. objectives using electrode. In the vertical uphill position, for multiple-pass
standard AWS terms and definitions welding, we teach a combination of stringer beads and
• DVD technology for ease in locating daily lessons weaves. I would run the first pass with just a slight side-to-
side movement, about two electrode diameters wide, to help
For more information call keep the bead contour flat. This also helps to fuse into both
800.332.9448 ext. 5433 sides. After the first pass, I would weave with a “Z” pattern
or shop online at with a slight pause on each side.
www.welding.org
There is some controversy as to which is best, stringer beads
or weaves. Weaves have higher heat input and may also cause
more distortion. Some people feel a weave would be more
likely to trap slag, but not if done properly. Stringer beads
have lower heat input, but the bead contour sometimes has a
tendency to be more convex.

As for strength, E7018 electrodes produce welds with at least
70,000 tensile strength, whether you weave or run stringer
beads.
World-class training from a world-class institute.

© 2011 Hobart Institute of Welding Technology

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