Used a 3/8 inch backing plate on a 2 inch thick flange and it held for a week

We were short on the right gear for a job at the old power plant in Gary, so I tried a thinner plate than spec called for. The weld held fine under normal pressure, but it started to stress crack after seven days of the full 150 psi cycle. Learned that saving time on material prep can cost you double later. What's the smallest you've ever gone under spec and gotten away with it?

2 comments

2 Comments

caseyblack13d ago

What pressure was it rated for originally?

ivan_schmidt13d ago

You asked about the original rating. That's the key detail everyone overlooks. People see a modern standard and assume it was always that tough. Old specs were often much lower, which explains why some things fail over time. They were never built for what we expect now.