1G Position

In the 1G welding position, the pipe is in the horizontal position and can be rotated along the horizontal (X) axis. The welder’s position remains stationary. Welding is performed on the top of the pipe. This is the most basic welding position that can be performed.

2G Position

In the 2G welding position, the pipe is in the vertical position and can be rotated along the vertical (Y) axis. The welder’s position remains stationary. Welding is performed on the side of the pipe in a horizontal direction.

5G Position

In the 5G welding position, the pipe is in the horizontal position. Unlike the 1G position, the pipe is in a fixed position and it cannot be rotated. The welder moves around the pipe in the vertical direction to perform the welding.

6G Position

In the 6G welding position, the pipe slopes at approximately 45° from the horizontal (X) axis or 45° from the vertical (Y) axis. The pipe is in a fixed position, so the welder must move around the pipe to perform the welding. This is an advanced welding position that requires a great deal of experience and technical expertise.

Levels of Experience

A welder’s mastery over each welding position acts as a certification that qualifies him or her to perform more types of welding work. In other words, mastery over each position levels up a welder’s qualifications. For instance, if a welder only a 1G position qualification, he cannot conduct welding in more advanced positions such as 2G, 5G, or 6G. If a welder has attained a 6G position qualification, he or she is permitted to carry out welding in the 1G, 2G, and 5G positions. These standards must be maintained in order to preserve the safety of the work environment.

Types of Welding Positions

The welding position refers to the position of the welding operator towards the workpiece to be welded. Because of gravity, the welding position affects the flow of molten filler metal. It’s important to understand the types of welding positions as different welding processes require to be performed at a certain position of the welder. There are four main types of welding positions, which we will cover below.

4 Basic Welding Positions

Flat Position (1G and 1F)

The easiest type to perform is the flat position, which is also sometimes called the downhand position. It involves welding on the top side of the joint. In this position, the molten metal is drawn downward into the joint. The result is a faster and easier weld. In 1G and 1F, the number 1 refers to the flat position, while the letter G stands for a groove weld and letter F stands for a fillet weld.

Horizontal Position (2G and 2F)

This is an out of position welding position. It’s a more difficult position compared to the flat position and it requires more skill from the welding operator to do them well. 2G is a groove weld position that involves placing the weld axis in a horizontal plane or approximately horizontal. As for the face of the weld, it should lie in an approximately vertical plane. 2F is a fillet weld position, in which the welding is done on the upper side of the surfaces that is approximately horizontal that lies against a surface that is approximately vertical. In this position, the torch is usually held at a 45-degree angle.

Vertical Position (3F and 3G)

In this position, both the plate and the weld lie vertically or almost vertically. The 3F and 3G refer to vertical fillet and vertical groove positions. When welding vertically, the force of gravity pushes the molten metal downward and so it has the tendency to pile up. To counteract this, you can use either an upward or downhill vertical position. To control this in the upward vertical position, point the flame upward, holding it at a 45-degree angle to the plate. This way, the welder will use the metal from the lower parts of the workpiece to weld against the force of gravity. In the downhill position, the metal from the upper parts and the electric arc’s kinetic force are used.

Overhead Position

In this position, welding is carried from the underside of the joint. It’s the most complicated and difficult position to work in. The 4G and 4F positions stand for groove and fillet welds respectively. In the overhead position, the metal deposited to the joint tends to sag on the plate, resulting in a bead with a higher crown. To prevent this, keep the molten puddle small. If the weld puddle becomes too large, remove the flame for a moment in order to allow the molten metal to cool.

Welding cannot always be done in the most desirable position. Welding is often done on structures in the position in which they are found and in the position in which the part will be used. Often that may be on the ceiling, in the corner, or on the floor. Techniques have been developed to allow welding in any position. Some welding processes have all-position capabilities, while others may be used in only one or two positions. All welding can be classified according to the position of the workpiece or the position of the welded joint on the plates or sections being welded. The American Welding Society has defined the four basic welding positions as shown below.

• Flat position
• Horizontal position
• Verticle position
• Overhead position

Any conversation around welding starts with a discussion on the welding position of the weld face. A number is used to define the position and an F for Fillet or G for groove refers to the type of weld. An architect’s blueprints would indicate the welding symbol.

• 1 refers to a flat position – either 1F or 1G
• 2 refers to a horizontal position – either 2F or 2G
• 3 is a vertical position – either 3F or 3G
• 4 is an overhead position – either 4F or 4G

Flat Position (1G Or 1F)

This type of welding is performed from the upper side of the joint. The face of the weld is approximately horizontal. Flat welding is the preferred term; however, the same position is sometimes called downhand. Note: The axis of a weld is a line through the length of the weld, perpendicular to the cross section at its center of gravity.

Flat Position Welding Procedures

In order to make satisfactory bead welds on a plate surface, the flare motion, tip angle, and position of the welding flame above the molten puddle should be carefully maintained. The welding torch should be adjusted to give the proper type of flame for the particular metal being welded. Narrow bead welds are made by raising and lowering the welding flare with a slight circular motion while progressing forward. The tip should form an angle of approximately 45 degrees with the plate surface. The flame will be pointed in the welding direction.

To increase the depth of fusion, either increase the angle between the tip and the plate surface, or decrease the welding speed. The size of the puddle should not be too large because this will cause the flame to burn through the plate. A properly made bead weld, without filler rod, will be slightly below the upper surface of the plate. A bead weld with filler rod shows a buildup on the surface. A small puddle should be formed on the surface when making a bead weld with a welding rod. The welding rod is inserted into the puddle and the base plate and rod are melted together. The torch should be moved slightly from side to side to obtain good fusion. The size of the bead can be controlled by varying the speed of welding and the amount of metal deposited from the welding rod. Several types of joints are used to make butt welds in the flat position. Tack welds should be used to keep the plates aligned. The lighter sheets should be spaced to allow for weld metal contraction and thus prevent warpage. The following table should be used for selecting the number of passes in butt welding steel plates:

Plate thickness, in.	Number of passes
1/8 to 1/4	1
1/4 to 5/8	2
5/8 to 7/8	3
7/8 to 1-1/8	4

The position of the welding rod and torch tip in making a flat position butt joint is shown in figure 11-13. The motion of the flame should be controlled so as to melt the sidewalls of the plates and enough of the welding rod to produce a puddle of the desired size. By oscillating the torch tip, a molten puddle of a given size can be carried along the joint. This will ensure both complete penetration and sufficient filler metal to provide some reinforcement at the weld. Care should be taken not to overheat the molten puddle. This will result in burning the metal, porosity, and low strength in the completed weld.

Horizontal Position (2F Or 2G)

In horizontal welding, the weld axis is approximately horizontal, but the weld type dictates the complete definition. For a fillet weld – welding is performed on the upper side of an approximately horizontal surface and against an approximately vertical surface. For a groove weld – the face of the weld lies in an approximately vertical plane. Butt welding – is a little more difficult to master than flat position. This is due to the tendency of molten metal to flow to the lower side of the joint. The heat from the torch rises to the upper side of the joint. The combination of these opposing factors makes it difficult to apply a uniform deposit to this joint. Align the plates and tack weld at both ends. The torch should move with a slight oscillation up and down to distribute the heat equally to both sides of the joint, thereby holding the molten metal in a plastic state. This prevents excessive flow of the metal to the lower side of the joint, and permits faster solidification of the weld metal. A joint in horizontal position will require considerably more practice than the previous techniques. It is, however, important that the technique be mastered before passing on to other types of weld positions.

Vertical Position (3F Or 3G)

In vertical position welding, the axis of the weld is approximately vertical. When welding is done on a vertical surface, the molten metal has a tendency to run downward and pile up.

The flow of metal can be controlled by pointing the flame upward at a 45 degree angle to the plate, and holding the rod between the flame and the molten puddle (see above). The manipulation of the torch and the filler rod keeps the metal from sagging or falling and ensures good penetration and fusion at the joint. Both the torch and the welding rod should be oscillated to deposit a uniform bead. The welding rod should be held slightly above the centerline of the joint, and the welding flame should sweep the molten metal across the joint to distribute it evenly.

Butt joints welded in the vertical position should be prepared for welding in the same manner as that required for welding in the flat position.

Overhead Position (4F Or 4G)

Overhead welding is performed from the underside of a joint. In overhead welding, the metal deposited tends to drop or sag on the plate, causing the bead to have a high crown. To overcome this difficulty, the molten puddle should be kept small, and enough filler metal should be added to obtain good fusion with some reinforcement at the bead. If the puddle becomes too large, the flame should be removed for an instant to permit the weld metal to freeze. When welding light sheets, the puddle size can be controlled by applying the heat equally to the base metal and filler rod.

The flame should be directed so as to melt both edges of the joint. Sufficient filler metal should be added to maintain an adequate puddle with enough reinforcement. The welding flame should support the molten metal and small welding avoid burning done from one distribute it along the joint. Only a small puddle is required, so a rod should be used. Care should be taken to control the heat to through the plates. This is particularly important when welding is side only.

Positions For Pipe Welding

Pipe welds are made under many different requirements and in different welding situations. The welding position is dictated by the job. In general, the position is fixed, but in some cases can be rolled for flat-position work. Positions and procedures for welding pipe are outlined below.

Horizontal Pipe Rolled Weld

Align the joint and tack weld or hold in position with steel bridge clamps with the pipe mounted on suitable rollers. Start welding at point C (figure below) progressing upward to point B. When point B is reached, rotate the pipe clockwise until the stopping point of the weld is at point C and again weld upward to point B. When the pipe is being rotated, the torch should be held between points B and C and the pipe rotated past it.

The position of the torch at point A is similar to that for a vertical weld. As point B is approached, the weld assumes a nearly flat position and the angles of application of the torch and rod are altered slightly to compensate for this change. The weld should be stopped just before the root of the starting point so that a small opening remains. The starting point is then reheated, so that the area surrounding the junction point is at a uniform temperature. This will ensure a complete fusion of the advancing weld with the starting point. If the sidewall of the pipe is more than 1/4 in. (0.64 cm) in thickness, a multi-pass weld should be made.

Horizontal Pipe Fixed Position Weld

After tack welding, the pipe is set up so that the tack welds are oriented approximately as shown below. After welding has been started, the pipe must not be moved in any direction.

When welding in the horizontal fixed position, the pipe is welded in four steps as described below.

1. Starting at the bottom or 6 o’clock position, weld upward to the 3 o’clock position.
2. Starting back at the bottom, weld upward to the 9 o’clock position.
3. Starting back at the 3 o’clock position, weld to the top.
4. Starting back at the 9 o’clock position, weld upward to the top overlapping the bead.

When welding downward, the weld is made in two stages. Start at the top (see below) and work down one side to the bottom, then return to the top and work down the other side to join with the previous weld at the bottom. The welding downward method is particularly effective with arc welding, since the higher temperature of the electric arc makes possible the use of greater welding speeds. With arc welding, the speed is approximately three times that of the upward welding method.

Welding by the backhand method is used for joints in low carbon or low alloy steel piping that can be rolled or are in a horizontal position. One pass is used for wall thicknesses not exceeding 3/8 in. (0.95 cm), two passes for wall thicknesses 3/8 to 5/8 in. (0.95 to 1.59 cm), three passes for wall thicknesses 5/8 to 7/8 in. (1.59 to 2.22 cm), and four passes for wall thicknesses 7/8 to 1-1/8 in. (2.22 to 2.87 cm).

Vertical Pipe Fixed Position Weld

Pipe in this position, wherein the joint is horizontal, is most frequently welded by the backhand method. The weld is started at the tack and carried continuously around the pipe.

Multipass Arc Welding

Root Beads

If a lineup clamp is used, the root bead (see below) is started at the bottom of the groove while the clamp is in position. When no backing ring is used, care should be taken to build up a slight bead on the inside of the pipe. If a backing ring is used, the root bead should be carefully fused to it. As much root bead as the bars of the lineup clamp will permit should be applied before the clamp is removed. Complete the bead after the clamp is removed.

Filler Beads

Care should be taken that the filler beads (see diagram view B above) are fused into the root bead, in order to remove any undercut causal by the deposition of the root bead. One or more filler beads around the pipe usually will be required.

Finish Beads

The finish beads (see diagram view C above) are applied over the filler beads to complete the joint. Usually, this is a weave bead about 5/8 in. (1.59 cm) wide and approximately 1/16 in. (0.16 cm) above the outside surface of the pipe when complete. The finished weld is shown in view D above.

Aluminum Pipe Welding

For aluminum pipe, special joint details have been developed and are normally associated with combination-type procedures. A backing ring is not used in most cases. The rectangular backing ring is rarely used when fluids are transmitted through the piping system. It may be used for structural applications in which pipe and tubular members are used to transmit loads rather than materials.