Hot take: your welding prep is probably overkill

I see guys spending 30 minutes grinding a bevel on every single joint on a boiler tube sheet, but half the time the fit-up is so sloppy it doesn't matter anyway. After 8 years in the trade, I've found that a clean surface and a tight gap matter way more than a perfect 37.5 degree angle. Am I the only one who thinks shops push this prep stuff to sell more grinding wheels?

2 comments

2 Comments

jessec3926d ago

Right, because nothing says quality like a 37.5 degree bevel on a joint that's gapped wider than my ex's excuses.

craig.tessa26d ago

Ditch the bevel gauge entirely. Just set your saw to 45 and sneak up on it. Test fit every pass, tap the joint closed with a hammer. If it gaps, plane the high spot - don't recut the angle. Sanding blocks are your friend for tiny adjustments. Got perfect miters that way on my last baseboard job. Took three tries per corner but zero gaps in the end.