There are many ways to customize your steel pipe order to meet specific project specifications. Below we have discussed some of the most popular methods of customizing your steel pipe order.

Cutting (Oxy Fuel Torch Cuts)

This is one of the most common types of customizing a steel pipe order. If material is too long, or a specific job requires all the material to be precise lengths, the easiest way to achieve this is to cut the pipe to the required measurements. Oxy-fuel torch cutting is most commonly used in the field or on a job site, as the machine is easy to transport.  Oxy-fuel torches are able to cut thicker metals, with some systems able to cut steel more than 20 inches thick.

Oxy-fuel torch cutting relies upon oxygen, mixed with either acetylene, propane, propylene, and/or natural gas in order to cut through the steel. This combination of oxygen/fuel gas preheats the steel. Then, the oxygen jet is directed at the steel for cutting. This process creates a chemical reaction between the steel and oxygen, which generates iron oxide (slag). The oxygen jet then removes the slag from the steel pipe, so the surface cuts are clean.

You can create beveled ends through the cutting process as well. In this process, “an angle is formed between the edge of the end of a pipe or tube and a plane perpendicular to the surface.” The standard pipe bevel angle is 37.5 degrees. As noted below, pipe beveling is required to join two pieces of pipe together for welding purposes or is done for safety or aesthetic reasons. A pipe end cut at 90 degrees perpendicular to the pipe is called a plain-end pipe.

Splicing

There are many ways in which steel pipe can be spliced for projects:

1. Welding: Also known as a butt splice, this method of splicing requires two pieces of pipe with beveled ends to be joined together by heating the surface to a high temperature until the pieces have melted together. This can be done via blowtorch, electric arc, etc. This application is good for pressure applications (i.e. when pipe contains gas or liquids) and/or for some structural applications.

1. Threading and couplers: This method of splicing is good for pressure applications where pipe contains gas or fluids. It is also good for pipes that are used as a bottom weight for drops and scrims. In this type of splice, each pipe has threaded ends that enable the pipe to fit together. The pipe is connected with a coupler. This method is not suitable for those applications where pipe experiences pressure or weight perpendicular to it.
2. Internal Spline: An internal spline is best suited for joining pipes used as structural or weight-bearing material. Splines are ridges on the end of a pipe that match with an equal number of ridges on a matching piece of pipe. There is typically a fastener (i.e. bolts, plug welds, blind rivets, hardened roll pins) on either side of the joint.
3. Expanding Splice: This method of splicing is perfect for temporary joints and requires access holes to be drilled into the pipe.

Coating Removal

There are multiple methods for removing coating from pipe. The first, is abrasive blasting (also known as sandblasting), whereby a forceful stream of abrasive material is directed at the pipe surface with high pressure. Compressed air or a centrifugal wheel is used to propel the sold particles at high speeds across the surface of the pipe. This will allow for the removal of the coating and can help to smooth the surface of the pipe as well. Hydro-blasting is another way that coating can be removed. Hydro-blasting uses water at high pressure to remove the coating on the surface of the pipe, without disturbing the integrity of the steel.

End Plating

End plating requires caps that are liquid or air-tight to cover an open end of a piece of pipe, which are secured through the welding process. In the piling industry, end caps enable a piece of pipe to be filled with concrete, which adds strength to the existing steel when the material is used for structural applications.

More Information

Titan Tube + Metal can customize your steel pipe order with any of these services and more.  Contact us at info@titantube.ca or visit our website for more information: https://titantube.ca/services/