Passing a 1G Welding Certification Test - The Easiest Welding Test Or is 3G Vertical Easier?

Welding Certification tests are numbered by position and joint type. For instance a 1 G indicates a flat position groove weld. The 1 means flat position, and the G indicates a groove weld.

I saw a video the other day that advertised a mobile welding lab that was used to train and certify welders.

A few students as well as the instructor were interviewed and described the 8 weeks of welding training that led up to welding certification tests in the 1G position.

What?

That's right, 8 weeks of welding training per process to be able to certify in a 1 G weld test.

I don't get it. After 8 weeks of training in a welding process, why can't the welder pass some other positions like 3G and 4G welding tests?

Did you know that a 3G plate test combined with a 4G plate test certifies a welder in ALL positions?

That's all positions. Like 1G , 2G, 3G, and 4G. as well as every position of fillet welds imaginable too.

A 1G welding test certifies a welder to weld in how many positions? One ! that's it ...just one.

You get a lot more bang for your buck by training welders to certify in both the 3G and 4G positions.

Another issue is that 1G welding tests typically don't have very good pass rates.

You know why?

Gravity. That's right., gravity is working against you and not for you. Gravity lets the slag flow ahead of the arc on a 1G welding test and if you are not careful, it can cause cold lap and slag inclusions.

Gravity works For you and not against you on a 3G vertical plate welding test.

Gravity keeps the flux behind the arc. The arc is then allowed to do its thing and penetrate into the base metal. As long as you maintain enough amperage and a tight arc, things will go well on a 3G vertical plate test.

The AWS (American Welding Society) classifies the 1G position welding test as the easiest.

I disagree with that when it comes to beveled groove welds.

I believe 2G horizontal and 3G vertical welding certification tests have better pass rates when it comes to a bend test or x ray testing.