5F welding test: not common and not easy

What is a 5f weld test? The American Welding Society has a crazy numbering system for welding positions and welding certification tests.

A 5F weld test means that a pipe is welded to a plate and the axis of the pipe is horizontal and the plate is vertical.

The reason even a 5F weld certification test is used is because it makes the welder perform a fillet weld in the top, vertical, and horizontal positions … all with one weld test. This test qualifies for all positions and is a bit difficult. You know why? Because it makes the welder reposition his body a lot. To maintain the correct angle of the club bar, you must move that body. Old welders with rickety knees have to figure out how to reposition themselves while remaining firm. Sounds easier than it is. The trick is to have as few stops and starts as possible because you never know if your stops and starts will be the cross section to be cut and inspected. On small diameter pipes, it is even more difficult because the angle of the rod changes so rapidly as the welder navigates the pipe. If you’re about to take a 5F test and you’re serious about getting approved, heed these tips:

• Remove any mill scale by buffing the weld area to a shiny metal.
• Make your spot welds smaller than the final weld and smudge the studs with a grinder before welding.
• Keep all of your arc strikes where the weld will consume them and none will be visible in the final weld.
• set the amperage in a place where a narrow arc can be sustained without the rod sticking
• keep a closed bow
• try to keep close to a 90 degree rod angle all the time

Good luck welder.