Update: I stopped grinding my welds flush on handrails and the inspector signed off in 20 minutes
For two seasons I ground every weld smooth on the handrail jobs at the pier in Galveston because the old foreman said flush equals clean. Two jobs back I worked next to a guy named Rick who just wire brushed his caps and left them proud, and the inspector walked the whole run in 20 minutes and passed it. Same inspector had flagged my rail the month before for a blend line that turned into a low spot on the top rail, a spot I created with my own grinder. So now I leave the caps unless the prints call out flush and I finish inspection faster than I used to finish grinding. Any of you leave welds proud on handrail and stair work, or am I going to get burned on a job that actually wants them dressed?