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Old weld symbol
2

Old weld symbol

RE: Old weld symbol

I have not seen this before either- but based on the thicknesses- I would guess that the dot indicates pre-heat

RE: Old weld symbol

(OP)
Mmmm, that could be it. It's all A36 grade steel.

Maine EIT, Civil/Structural.

RE: Old weld symbol

If you look in the 7th Ed (blue) AISC Steel Manual you will see t6he solid dot is the old Field Weld symbol.

RE: Old weld symbol

topsisu has it. The flag replaced the dot for field welding in the 80's.

Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)


RE: Old weld symbol

The 4th and 5th edition AISC Steel Construction Manuals use a solid circle to indicate a field weld. That is, the circle that today indicates an "all around" weld is filled in solid. The 5th edition AISC steel manual was in effect from the late 1940's to the early 1960's so it would cover the timeframe of your drawing. Note, however, that a solid circle is not the same as the notation you have shown (circle with a dot). Perhaps the drafter was just saving some lead or the symbol may mean something entirely different. If you really need to know, you might try contacting AISC or Lincoln Electric.

RE: Old weld symbol

TehMightyEngineer:
The open circle meant weld all around. The solid dot meant field weld. We couldn’t afford so many flags in the olden days, Bettsy Ross still held the patent on the flag at that time. smile

RE: Old weld symbol

I'm trying to figure out why a thicker plate would require a field weld...ponder Maybe the plate corresponds to a size of column that was too large for some fabrication shops? Just grasping a straws here...

RE: Old weld symbol

Let's hear it for the flag. The dot seems as though it would be plan reading / reproduction nightmare.

The greatest trick that bond stress ever pulled was convincing the world it didn't exist.

RE: Old weld symbol

(OP)
Thanks guys, always love the wealth of knowledge on here.

Maine EIT, Civil/Structural.

RE: Old weld symbol

The field weld on the thicker plate surprises me too.

I don't remember any problem seeing the dot.

What does surprise me is that the shop welds are all round, this means they have to flip the column or weld overhand. I expect to see weld on the outside of one flange, on the inside of the other flange and one or both sides of the web. Of course, moment connections are different, they may justify the extra work.

Michael.
"Science adjusts its views based on what's observed. Faith is the denial of observation so that belief can be preserved." ~ Tim Minchin

RE: Old weld symbol

I think the thicker plate field welding issue is not required stipulation, but one that is allowed. Possibly the thinner plates needed to be preheated in the shop, but not the thicker ones.

Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)


RE: Old weld symbol

This makes me feel old. When I started as a young structural engineer, that was the field weld symbol. Everyone knew it. Now it's fading into the antique bin. The younger engineers don't even recognize it.
Next they'll come up with a contraption to replace slide rules.

RE: Old weld symbol

Or engineers...

Mike McCann, PE, SE (WA)


RE: Old weld symbol

Those of you that have a little age on them can remember cigarette ash burns being confused for the field weld dot (my drawings were riddled with cig burns). Interestingly, when the fabricator called, he immediately understood.

RE: Old weld symbol

The twelfth edition of "The Procedure Handbook of Arc Welding" June 1973 shows a field weld flag symbol. It appears that the symbol was changed around 1970.

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