Pipe Welding FAQ

If you’ve ever wondered how to weld a pipe, this is your ultimate guide and FAQ. Here you can find tips for exhaust pipes, pipeline, and what butt fusion welding really means.

 

How to: Exhaust Welding

As with any welding, it is paramount that you clean the workpieces before you begin. Neglecting to clean your workpieces can interfere with the quality of the weld, which means that you are risking your weld’s integrity from the beginning.

First, you will need to cut the exhaust pipe where you will be welding it. If you are welding your exhaust pipe because your vehicle has suffered issues with rust, you should grind away the corrosion as part of the cleaning process. Any remaining rust that is present at the end of your weld could spread to the new metal and cause you to have to repeat the job.

You should also grind down the edges where you have cut away the pipe to remove any imperfections.

It is also important that you thoroughly understand the metals that you are working with before you begin, as this will determine the type of welding rod you should be using, as well as temperature. Different welds require different shielding gases, too. We provide MIG welding gas and TIG welding gas for hobbyists and businesses.

You’ll need to clamp the tubing together because you’ll need both hands free for welding. Take care when you clamp them together because there’s no going back once you start welding.

Do some spot welds around the seam that you’re going to be welding. These spot welds will further help to keep the piping together during the weld. Without the spot welds, the pipe may warp under the intense heat of your welding torch, so this is a good precaution to take.

Finally, complete your weld. Take care not to leave any gaps as this could lead to leaks in the exhaust.

How to: Pipeline Welding

Pipeline welding is incredibly important – failure to properly weld the pipe could result in leaks and depending on what is leaking, there could be serious effects on the surrounding habitat.

Mistakes happen to everyone, but there are some common mistakes made by welders everywhere that can be avoided. One of the most common and easily fixable mistakes is the lack of care taken to prep the workpieces. The pipe edges must be clean, smooth and uniform before the welding begins.  Without proper preparation, the weld may defect.

Cutting away any issues and grinding down the surface is a very important first step to take in pipeline welding. Next is the cleaning of the pipe to remove any and all contaminants which could interfere with the shielding gases, create hydrogen or cause spatter.

Care must also be taken to align the parts of the pipe. Rushing the process can cause defects later on, so it is very important to take your time and concentrate on the set-up, almost as much as the welding itself.

If you or a fellow welder is experiencing frequent porosity in their welds, don’t let the equipment become the scapegoat for these mistakes. Routine equipment checks should be carried out to ensure that every weld has the possibility of being your best weld yet.

How to: Butt Fusion Welding

Butt welding, fusion, or heat welding are all names given to the process that joins two pieces of thermoplastic. Unlike metal welding, no torches or gases are required. Similar to welding an exhaust pipe, a straight cut across the joint and the cleanliness of the surfaces being welded together are extremely important for ensuring a secure weld. Generally, machines are used to achieve heat fusion, so there is very little input from workers. You can watch the entire process in the video below:

‘Pipe welding’ means different things to different workers. Welding an exhaust pipe is far different to journeying miles to weld an underground pipeline in urgent need of repair, but these have more in common with each other than they do with HDPE plastic pipe fusion.

If your pipe welding requires shielding gas, we can supply you with it. Contact us for more information regarding our industrial welding supplies and gas.