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Best electric pipe threader that won't break you

wkennet
wkennet Member Posts: 1
in Plumbing

Four years ago I purchased an electric portable pipe threader from Harbor Freight. I have cut over 180 threads, mostly 3/4" and some 1.5" diameter pipe for natural gas piping jobs. This thing is powerful, consistant, and easy to use and clean. It has never has let me down and I am still using the same pipe dies it came with! Portable enough to use all barely accessible spots. It only cost me $280 — new at the store. Go Harbor Freight! Surprise!

One thing I have found though, is that it cuts the best threads when using Oatley Dark Thread Cutting Oil from available at Home Depot. Other brands don't produce those same perfect threads that I get with the Oatley. Not sure why the cutting oil makes such a difference, but I am pleased as punch with this machine. You all stay safe out there.

Mad Dog_2Long Beach Ed

Comments

  • GroundUp
    GroundUp Member Posts: 2,323

    I use a REMS Amigo primarily but was caught in a pinch last year where I had to buy another one and purchased one from Vevor for around $200. I honestly think I like it better than the REMS, and it won't hurt my feelings if I have to throw it away. I gas piped a whole clinic with it and well as some boiler room threading in the same building (roughly 1700ft of pipe 1/2"-2") without a hiccup using Ridgid aerosol oil. Cordless would be nice, but I tried out the Milwaukee 18v probably 5 years ago when it first came out and was not at all impressed.

  • mattmia2
    mattmia2 Member Posts: 12,191
    edited March 5

    Threading is a lot of power to try to get out of a battery.

    Cutting oils should have extreme pressure additives to make them effective where the die is shaving metal off the pipe. I'm not sure all of them have that.

    The manual harbor fright threader I have was very loose after about 100' of pipe and replaced under warranty.

  • ratio
    ratio Member Posts: 3,944

    You can have my 65R when you pry it from my cold dead hands.

    Although, I might feel different if I used it for more than the occasional handrail.

    Long Beach Ed
  • Mad Dog_2
    Mad Dog_2 Member Posts: 7,893
    edited March 5

    The best threading oils do a better job of cooling down the stock & cutting dies. The use high sulphur & lard content. Mad Dog

    Consulting by Mad Dog & Matt Jr.
  • Mad Dog_2
    Mad Dog_2 Member Posts: 7,893

    Cant beat Ridgid dies & tools. No reason to use anything else when you do this for a living. Mad Dog

    Consulting by Mad Dog & Matt Jr.
    delcrossvLong Beach Ed
  • offdutytech
    offdutytech Member Posts: 187

    I have the Ridgid R11 dies with Milwaukee cordless threader. The Ridgid dies work much better than the Milwaukee dies

    Owner of Grunaire Climate Solutions. Check us out under the locate a contractor section. Located in Detroit area.

    Intplm.
  • EBEBRATT-Ed
    EBEBRATT-Ed Member Posts: 17,466

    I have found in the past that the dark cutting oil works best.

    I have a Rems that I bought used about 28 years ago. At least I think I have one. My brother confiscated it years ago so I havent seen it in 15 years. Works very well.

    I have used Ridgid 700 but find them heavy the Rems is much lighter and does the same job

    I also have a Mini Collins (which was taken over by Rothenberger). These are no longer made. It uses the Ridgid 12R dies and is lighter and has a lot of power. Bought that one on E-Bay for $200 and it was a steal. It was just the machine and the carrying case (no dies) but I am not sure it was ever used it was like brand new.

    Ridgid is good but there is other stuff out there that is just as good.

    Suprisingly some of the Harbor Freight stuff is ok especially if only used occasionally

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