Welding Positions Explained

Welding Positions Explained

Adam Stretch explains how welding positions are named for plate and pipe, how the positions relate to joint and weld types, and why position matters for practice and welder qualification.

Joint Types and Weld Types

The video identifies five basic joint types:

• Butt joint: Two pieces meet edge to edge; commonly associated with groove welds.
• T-joint: One piece meets another at roughly a right angle; commonly produces a fillet weld.
• Lap joint: One piece overlaps another. It may be welded along the overlap or joined using spot, plug, or slot welds.
• Corner joint: Pieces meet at a corner. Depending on the configuration and preparation, it may use a fillet or groove weld.
• Edge joint: Pieces sit side by side and are joined along their edges. The edges may be welded directly or prepared with grooves.

Plate Fillet-Weld Positions

Fillet-weld positions use the letter F:

• 1F — Flat: The work is positioned so the weld can be made flat. The instructor recommends aiming into the joint and moving steadily. Check that the two weld legs are approximately equal.
• 2F — Horizontal: One surface is horizontal and the other is vertical. The torch or electrode is generally directed into the joint at about 45°. A quick square can help check the angle.
• 3F — Vertical: Decide whether the weld will progress upward or downward. For vertical-up welding, start at the bottom and work upward; for vertical-down welding, start at the top and work downward. The appropriate direction depends on the procedure, material, process, and required weld strength.
• 4F — Overhead: The joint has a horizontal and vertical surface, with the horizontal surface above the weld. The weld is made overhead relative to the workpiece; the welder does not necessarily need to be physically above their head. A square can help check torch angle.

The instructor emphasizes checking weld-leg size and maintaining the correct work and travel angles. The position refers to the weld’s orientation, not simply the welder’s body position.

Plate Groove-Weld Positions

Groove-weld positions use the letter G:

• 1G — Flat: The groove is positioned for a flat weld, with the torch or electrode directed into it.
• 2G — Horizontal: The plates are vertical while the weld axis is horizontal. The instructor notes that gravity can affect the weld and suggests aiming slightly upward into the groove.
• 3G — Vertical: Choose vertical-up or vertical-down progression. For vertical-up, begin at the bottom; for vertical-down, begin at the top. With downward welding, staying at the leading edge of the weld pool is important to avoid trapping the pool and losing penetration.
• 4G — Overhead: The work is positioned so the groove is welded from below. As with overhead fillet welding, “overhead” describes the weld orientation, not necessarily the welder’s physical location.

Codes allow some variation in weld angle and workpiece rotation, but welders following a qualification or welding procedure must stay within its requirements.

Pipe-Welding Positions

The video discusses these pipe positions:

• 1G — Rotating pipe: The pipe is horizontal and rotated while the weld is made from above, often using a positioner. This reduces the need for the welder to move around the pipe, though the rotation speed and welding parameters must be set appropriately.
• 2G — Vertical pipe: The pipe is mounted vertically, making the weld axis horizontal. The pipe stays fixed while the welder moves around it.
• 5G — Fixed horizontal pipe: The pipe is horizontal and fixed, with a vertical weld progression around its circumference. In an upward progression, the weld starts at the bottom, passes through overhead and vertical sections, and finishes at the top. A downward progression follows the opposite direction.
• 6G — Fixed pipe at 45 degrees: The pipe stays fixed at an incline. The welder progresses around it from bottom to top or top to bottom, according to the procedure. The instructor describes 6G as a particularly demanding qualification test.

For pipe work, the presenter recommends practicing with either hand because access to a joint may limit which hand can be used.

Pipe Fillet Welds

A fillet weld made on pipe is identified as 5F in the described fixed-pipe application, such as joining pipe to a plate or flange while welding around the pipe. The video distinguishes this from a pipe-to-plate arrangement that remains in a 2F position.

Qualification and Code Considerations

The presenter refers to the American Welding Society’s structural-steel code, AWS D1.1, and explains that welding-position tests can qualify welders for specified ranges of positions and applications.

The video describes 3G/4G plate tests and 6G pipe tests as common qualification approaches. It notes that a 6G test is often used because it can cover a broad range of positions. Qualification also depends on factors such as the test setup, material thickness, pipe size, and applicable code. Exact qualification limits should therefore be checked against the governing code and welding procedure.

Speakers and Sources Featured

• Adam Stretch — Presenter; identified as a program coordinator and welding instructor at Pellissippi State Community College, a certified welding inspector, and an educational consultant for Weld.com.
• American Welding Society (AWS) — Referenced as the source of the welding-position designations and qualification framework, including AWS D1.1.
• Weld.com — The program’s publisher and video source.