What describes the cover pass in GTAW pipe welding?

• A. The stringer bead can be continued to cap the weld, overlapping no more than 3/32 inch.
• B. It uses a separate bead only in the root.
• C. It should overlap the pipe surface by 1/4 inch.
• D. It is not used in GTAW pipe welding.

Answer: (A)

In GTAW pipe welding, the cover pass is the final weld layer that caps and blends the joint after the root and any fill passes. The best approach is to carry the existing stringer bead into the cap, creating a continuous, smooth finish, while keeping the overlap small—no more than 3/32 inch. This limited overlap helps ensure full fusion without creating excess buildup that can distort the weld profile or introduce cracks. The other ideas don’t fit the practice: the cap isn’t formed as a completely separate bead only in the root, a 1/4 inch overlap is too large and can cause excessive reinforcement, and the cover pass is indeed used in GTAW pipe welding to finish the joint.