Overheard a welder at the Portland yard say he uses a 1/16-inch gap for his 7018 root passes on thick plate.

Tried it on a pressure vessel patch yesterday and the penetration was way cleaner than my usual tight fit. Anyone have a different go-to gap for stick welding roots?

3 comments

3 Comments

garcia.miles1mo ago

Ever notice how the right small space, not just in welding, lets things work better?

theabennett1mo ago

Yeah, a little gap like that makes all the difference.

elliotburns24d ago

Totally. That "little gap" idea @theabennett mentioned is so true. I was putting a shelf up last week. Measured it perfect, no room at all. Wouldn't slide in. Shaved off maybe a sixteenth of an inch. Went right in.