20
Got chewed out by a foreman for my weld prep on a 2-inch pipe in a tight corner
He said my bevel was too shallow and I was just making a 'pretty bead over a weak joint.' I started grinding a full 37.5-degree bevel on everything now, even when it's a pain to get the grinder in there. What's the toughest spot you've had to prep properly?
3 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In3 Comments
michael8952mo ago
Read a story about a guy welding inside a ship's ballast tank. Said prepping the overhead seams was like working in a coffin.
7
jamieperez2mo ago
That coffin comparison feels a bit dramatic. Some of the tightest spaces are where you do your cleanest work, no distractions. I knew a guy who specialized in tank repairs and he said the confinement forced perfect technique. He actually preferred it to open yards with the wind and rain. Maybe it's about finding your focus where others just see a box.
2
park.iris2mo ago
Honestly, a bad bevel is just a fancy way to hide a crack. That foreman did you a favor, even if it stung. The worst I ever had was grinding out a root pass on a pipe right against a concrete floor. Spent three hours in a cloud of dust just to get a clean groove. Felt less like welding and more like archaeology.
2