When welding a GTAW root on pipe, what is the initial torch angle recommended?

When welding a GTAW root on pipe, what is the initial torch angle recommended?

• A. 0-15 degrees forehand
• B. 15-30 degrees
• C. 45 degrees
• D. 90 degrees

Answer: (A)

In GTAW root welding on pipe, how you hold the torch shapes the heat into the groove and the way the weld pool forms at the root. For the root pass, you want a very controlled, narrow heat entry so you can establish a clean capillary tie-in to both sides of the groove without overshooting or burning through. That means starting with a shallow forehand angle—nearly perpendicular to the work but tipped slightly forward, about 0 to 15 degrees.

This small forward tilt keeps the arc and the heat focused into the root, helps the molten metal flow smoothly along the groove, and makes it easier to see and control the weld pool as you begin the root pass. If you tilt more steeply—say 45 degrees or even 90 degrees—the heat is driven more to the sides rather than into the joint, which can widen the root, cause lack of fusion at the root, or risk burn-through. The middle ground of 15–30 degrees is a bit too aggressive for a start on the root, making it harder to maintain a tight, consistent root bead.

So, the recommended initial torch angle is a shallow forehand tilt of roughly 0 to 15 degrees.