I was wondering if there was a certain technique to help you rotate your torch to keep the same angle with a pipe. I can lay a decent beads but they're are short since I can't seem to rotate my torch as I go, I concentrate too much on keeping the hand steady and the bead consistent.

 

There a turn table gizmo that is made for welding consistantly around pipe/tube... they're expensive though

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by atutt &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">There a turn table gizmo that is made for welding consistantly around pipe/tube... they're expensive though</TD></TR></TABLE>

I'm sure if it was one long piece of pipe I can come up with a jig in no time, but Im talking about bends/manifolds.

 

tack a scrap on the back side of the fitting so that it will spin. You can make a cheep one out of an old sewing machine and an old lathe chuck. or better yet just use a chuck and a friend to spin it.

 

practice is all that can help you.

also use sme blocks under your hand to rest on.

 

It really just comes with practice. You can learn to skid or walk your cup as well. That actually makes it pretty easy.

 

im guessing that your welding a groove weld on the 2 peices of pipe, if so here is my technique-

try holding the collet body and the handle at the same time,some times i use my pinky to help follow the contour. and welding towards you seems to help also. i.e. place the seam perpendicular to your body and hold the welding rod over your shoulder and dip in your puddle fron the front. i mainly weld pipe all day, and this seems to be the most comfortable postion to me.