Welding ASTM 572 grade 65

<Also, any recommendations on preheating?

Any suggestions?>

No need for preheating.But you need MIG/MAG weldset with CO2(+maybe another GAS)

I can get you latest V-MOS or IGBT MIG/MAG machine which total will be less than 50 lbs. You can feed max 20 awg wire and make a perfect high-strength flawless weld . Weld in 1 pass-every time. Go with Scince. Go modern!

First make up your mind to import and let me know.

BR

mikemahant@hotmail.com

Call your welding supply outfit and get a flux core wire machine set up. It is the most controllable with the best fill characteristics. It is similar in appearance to submerged arc or 7024 under ideal conditions.

In a nutshell, use E 8018 rod, preheat minimum 50 degrees F.

The American Welding Society (AWS) D1.1 Structural Welding Code covers this pretty thoroughly. Basically, for the A572 grades 60 and 65, you want to use filler metals as follows: SMAW (stick): use AWS specification A5.5, E 8015, E8016, or E8018 classification, SAW (submerged arc) use AWS specification A5.23, F8XXX-EXXX-XX or F8XXX-ECXXX-XX classifications, GMAW (gas metal arc welding) use AWS specification A 5.28, ER80S-XXX or E80C-XXX classification, FCAW (flux-cored wire) use AWS specification A5.29, E8XTX-X or E8XTX-XM classifications. The 8 refers to the strength class 80,000 psi nominal tensile, the "X"'s refer to variables of the different types of filler metal for such properties as notch toughness or other metallurgical or corrosion considerations. Your welding consultant or welding materials supplier can help with that.

Minimum preheat and interpass temperature for material ,<= 3/4" is 50 degrees F, and for material > 3/4 inch is 150 degees F.

A good choice is lo-hi (low hydrogen) E8010 rod in the SMAW (stick) process. FCAW is another good process, especially when CO2 gas-shielded on top of the basic process. Depends on how much you have to do and how thick the material is.

For critical applications you might want to refer to the AWS D1.1 Code and also consider nondestructive examination of the completed welds. Welding grade 50 to grade 65 should be no problem, just follow the requirements for the higher grade.

HTH

Thanks a lot to all for the info. Yes I would like to use Flux core with gas but since it is all outside, the gas won't do. It will have to be stick. I didn't think there was any need to preheat (it will probably 105 in Arizona when we do this).

Agree with JDKnut on all counts. GOOD ANSWER! E8018-C3 is a 1% Nickel rod 80ksi tensile that will give added notch tougness if desired.

I am not sure about the carbon content of Grade 65. If the tensile strength of the base metal is 80,000 psi, then it is advisable to heat the base metal to min. 100⁰C (210⁰F) before welding in order to avoid formation of martensite.

Yep, 8018 worked fine, welded very smooth with two passes and a 60 deg bevel. Thanks all.

Aaron

Pls do not overlook preheat and interpass temperature as part of the important parameters.

Remembered back to about 16 years ago, I have seen and worked when was a UT man, have rejected a lot of built up box beams for offshore module during fabrication and have scrapped at least two completed built-up box beam (for support modules) due believed to be delayed cracks. Those crack are underbead toe, root, and weld fusion cracks. At that time, we even detected cracks on tubular support structures (T-K-Y joints) made of pipes material. All are ASTM A572 material (if not mistaken is Gr 50).

The repairs later are monitored fully using heating element, close monitor of WPS and Inspections by welding inspectors and UT & MPI carried out later after 72-hours minimum.

Thanks for the feedback. It was grade 85 required by California for their earthquake codes. I used 8018 without preheat (it's over a 100 in AZ). All seems to be good. The 2% nickel, I believe prevented cracking, all 140 welds looked good.

Thanks