While it’s acknowledged in the welding industry that flat/horizontal, in-position welding is preferred, there are some applications where out-of-position welding is necessary. Vertical and overhead welding may be the only options in some applications, for example when welding a very large piece that cannot be moved or when the workpiece is fixed in place. 

Due to these factors, out-of-position welding is used in many industries, including shipbuilding, offshore, structural, pipeline, and in general fabrication where moving the piece isn’t practical. 

There are several keys to success when welding out of position, including choosing the right welding process and filler metals and using optimal parameters for the application. 

This article was published in The Welder. To read the entire story, please click here.