Tried a different preheat method on a 3-inch thick A516 plate in Buffalo

We were doing a big repair on a boiler drum and I decided to try a stepped preheat instead of our usual straight ramp to 350. I set it to 200 for an hour, then 275, then finally 350. The weld puddle was way more fluid and the bead looked smoother than anything I've done on that thickness before. Has anyone else played with stepped preheats on heavy plate?

3 comments

3 Comments

anderson.taylor23d ago

My buddy swears by that method for thick stuff.

daniela8523d ago

That smoother bead you saw totally sells the method.

linda_reed23d ago

Oh yeah, a clean bead is the best proof. It shows the heat and travel speed were just right. In my experience, that's what keeps you from having to go back and fix a bunch of pinholes later. Makes the whole job go faster.