welder problem

[Gary Fowler]

OK, we are talking different penetration definitions. Assuming someone knows how to weld good enough to put in an open root buttweld on a piece of pipe, use your blunt point and run a root pass (if you can without blowing out the side walls). Then sharpen to 30 degree angle and run the same root pass with identical settings, gap, etc. Now look at the inside of the root. The blunt tungsten root pass will be flatter with shallow penetration and a larger heat affected zone (this is bad, smaller HAZ is better weld quality) the sharper point will be deeper penetration with a more rounded internal convex shape and a narrower HAZ.