Question about a weird weld inspection note I got last month

I was finishing a boiler tube replacement in Toledo, and the inspector wrote 'Your welds look strong, but the caps look like a kindergartner's glitter project.' He was right, my weave was way too wide and sloppy. So now I use a tighter pattern, but does anyone have a good trick for keeping your hand steady on those overhead passes?

3 comments

3 Comments

harper91419d agoTop Commenter

Honestly, the bigger thing for me is managing the weight of the lead. I started using a shorter whip, maybe 12 inches, and it made a huge difference for overhead control. Less cable drag means your hand isn't fighting as much.

jordancarr19d ago

On the Detroit refinery job, I started resting my pinky on the tube for a pivot point.

the_drew19d ago

Wait, you can do that? I always thought any contact with the tube was a huge no-go for accuracy. That's a wild trick if it actually works.

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