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How do I thread 3\"?
GW
Member Posts: 4,832
Hi guys,
I'm starting to do more and more boilers, and 3" has come up twice this week- I've been simply nipping the headers so far. What machnine do I need next?
Gary
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I'm starting to do more and more boilers, and 3" has come up twice this week- I've been simply nipping the headers so far. What machnine do I need next?
Gary
<A HREF="http://www.heatinghelp.com/getListed.cfm?id=171&Step=30">To Learn More About This Professional, Click Here to Visit Their Ad in "Find A Contractor"</A>
0
Comments
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Ridgid
We bought this universal at an auction about 15 years ago; it locks into the jaws of a Ridgid 300 mule. The size range is 2½" - 4". It gets the job done, but it's very slow since it's geared down so the small motor can turn it.
If we did more steam work, we'd probably get a faster machine.
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nice
although I can't picture in my mind how it works!
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Imagine
it in the horizontal position with the long bar in the jaws of the threader.
It ends up looking like a terribly large growth on the front of the mule.
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We use..
That same thing, #141, but we drive it with our #700 pony. Must take about 5 mins. per thread, feels like 50 when your on the tail end of that pony! We set the pipe in the stand, use the wedge screw in the tri-stand ( yeah, that's what that things for) and locate under shop door,or a ceiling above. Then the #141 chucks up on the pipe. Next comes the pony which has a socket tye adapter to couple to the pony. #141 makes a BEAUTIFUL thread, but you better have one tough back!
Play it safe bro' MERRY X-MAS Scott G.0 -
Gary
Maybe you could rent a threader from a tool rental place. My supply house used to cut and thread 2-1/2 to 4 " pipe but they were way too ridiculously expensive.
I know you are not a farm boy but have you ever seen a PTO shaft like on a tractor? This threader clamps onto your pipe with set a screw and a drive shaft runs from your 300 machine to the threader. Like every one else has said it has some gear.
I have done 3" with a ratchet by hand, it takes a while. Me and my partner Bob repiped a tank farm one winter and we used my little 270 to turn the threader. A not so fond memory.
If you buy a new one can I borrow it sometime?0 -
If You...
...watch ebay, there are 141's rolling through regularly. I picked one up for just over $400. It was used (and listed as such), because it was oily, but the paint wasn't even scratched or chipped. Watch for chipped dies. There are 5 of them, and they're pretty pricy to replace. Even came in the Ridgid metal box. Don't get suckered into a 4PJ. It was the ancestor of the 141. They work fine, but they're a pain because you need a separate set of dies for each size of pipe. I don't think they have a clutch to prevent jamming either, and the 141 does. The 141's have a simple adjustment that lets you do 2-1/2" thru 4" with the same set of dies. We drive ours with a 700, but then we don't do that much threaded pipe over 2". For us, 2-1/2" and up is usually welded, or Victaulic, depending upon the service.0 -
Weld it !
The guys have given good advice for threading. We weld everything over 2" and fit in with nipples and flange joints. It makes a clean job and the welds do not leak.0 -
REMS
I can get you a quote on a Rems that will do from 1/2" to 4" if you want Gary. Runs on 110V power and you can also get grooving attachments that will go all the way to 12" if you want. I bought one a year ago and haven't backed away from a piping job since. I wish all of my investments worked out as well as that machine has.0 -
Hey Tony
We have a ridgid 300 Could it drive the 141? And if so how does it work? Obviously pipe cant go through the machine. Does it go into threader 141 from the front?
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Hope you're not welding on all your steam
You need the tread joints to allow movement. Saw another 3 year old WM LGB already leaking that had a welded header. Not good!
Boilerpro
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How about
Mad Dog, Boilerpro, Noel and all the others that don't touch pipe less than 3". What do you guys use?
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I stopped, and drive a desk, now.
I bought pipe cut to length, above 2".
I used a 300 for 20 years.
Noel0 -
You Can...
...get a driveshaft for the 141, so it can be run off a 300 or 535 or there's like an optional jobbie like big chain link on the 141 that goes over one of the arms on the 300, and the drive shaft (more like a stub) on the 141 gets set into the chuck. The Ridgid catalogue shows both. The pipe gets fed from the front of the 141, so you either need a tristand or a roll stand to hold or support the pipe, depending upon how you're driving the 141.0 -
Gary, with all the steam I do, and you know I like
my 3" headers......I have my supply house cut and thread anything above 2". Also, when you work with the same boiler all the time, you start to use the same size nipples all the time. Another thing...that's why we love dropped headers.....lots of wiggle room...a nipples a little short a little long...so what, just swing it where you need it. I love having the right tools, Gary, but unless you are going in to commercial work big time, save your money. Mad Dog
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Welds
We leave room for movement with threaded nips where required. We do very little under a million btu so the 4" and up all has to be built with proper length and such to allow for movement. Even a little 100 hp boiler needs a huge U bend every so often in the main to allow for length growth.0 -
swing
i find it amazing at all the guys you meet up with that think they are expert pipefitters and have not a clue how to make use of swing joints aned how important they are.a proper swing can make an impossible joint a cinch.0 -
I hear ya Bob,, I had the unique opportunity to
install 12" Screw pipe and fittings on a fire sprinkler main in Rockefeller Center. I was a union apprentice and was lucky to work with one of the best in the business - John J Nolan. The pipe had to be prefabbed on Long Island at a shop that had a 12" threader. We'll, John's measurements were perfect. Went together relatively easily. It took 3 of us young bucks to screw on the tees. We made it up with a huge compound wrench. When that o.t. job was over, we all got smashed at Historic Hurley's Saloon - next to Radio City. Mad Dog
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There's a 141...
... on ebay right now. The item # is 2584030815. You'll need to have some other bits of equipment to be able to thread, though. Look in the Ridgid catalogue to see the other pieces you require, depending upon which method you choose for the drive. In addition, the same seller also has a 450 tristand listed that looks like it's never actually had a piece of pipe in it.0 -
thank you Gary..I did not realize
how many pretenders we had here!!!0 -
That's how we do it too
used that very setup when repiping the Trane Vapor system this past fall. A little slower than we're used to, but it worked.
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Towson, MD, USA
Steam, Vapor & Hot-Water Heating Specialists
Oil & Gas Burner Service
Consulting0 -
No ones going to mention
having the universal " walk " across the room and pin you to the wall ?
I guess the apprentice I saw it happen to was the only one
.
The pipe was strapped to the pipe vise and the machine faced it with the universal run by the Ridgid 300. If you did'nt watch closely the threader jammed on the pipe vise and started to turn the whole thing. Ever notice the holes and the bottom on the tri-stands legs, thats so you can screw the whole thing to the floor. Other wise she starts walking across the floor. Watched it pin an apprentice to the wall untill we were able to un-plug it.
Ahh the old days.
Right up there with burn's from the hot lead, hitting your hand with the packing iron and having the two foot wrench slip of the pipe and hit you in the mouth (not me).
I smile when the younger guys tell me how hard a job is . LOL.
Scott
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.
.0 -
Yeah scott..I've seen it on a job too
after that we cal;led it the widow maker....it destroyed everything in its path until the breaker blew. Mad Dog
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Gary didn't imply that
MD
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I've seen it happen too...
and it's why we prefer to use a handheld drive like the Ridgid 700 (I think that's the number). We have a really old hand held drive (I think it's a Toledo) that fits onto the 141 square shank. It's handle is long enough to give you the leverage to keep it under control. And if you just let go everything stops turning without any damage.
Thankfully, it's not that often that this equipment has to be used! Threading 2-1/2" and up is NOT fun.
-Jared0 -
I don't understand
what you mean, can you rephrase?
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The guy calling himself mechanic seems to imply
that you, "Gary," were calling somebody a pretender? The onlt thing I can think of is the post by "bob" that talks about "expert pipefitters" to paraphrase. I agree with Bob, there are alot of "pros" out there who think they know it all. Mad Dog
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The guy calling himself mechanic seems to imply
that you, "Gary," were calling somebody a pretender? The onlt thing I can think of is the post by "bob" that talks about "so-called experts" to paraphrase. Mad Dog
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This Isn't...
... directed at anybody in particular. Anyone who thinks they "know it all" about pipe (or pretty much anything else, for that matter) is just fooling themselves. I've worked with piping systems for a long time now, and I still routinely learn things about pipe all the time. There's always something popping up regarding functionality, installation/maintenance or code requirements that's news to me. I always smile when I hear people say "Well, it's JUST pipe..." There's no such thing as "just pipe".
Most of you guys could run rings around me when it comes to soldering copper pipe. I've never done enough of it to be any good at it.
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I agree Tony.....its always the loudmouth know
it alls who really can't back it up. I remember alot of guys bragging how good or fast they were and I would say boy, I'm not that good or fast.....until I saw them in action. Like big mouth bully - full of it. Its the quiet guys who don't brag that can kick it when they gotta. Mad Dog
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Widow maker
That is the reason we all should have foot switches on the threaders. The power drive is different. Our crew worked around an outfit that did not have foot switches. One of thier creww got cuaght up in the machine and broke his arm in several places. Our guys shut the thing down.
Everbody is entitled to go home all thier aparts attached.
Mike0 -
400
ever witness a " 400 " flipping? a bit more torque than the 300 very scary0 -
400
That would be scarey my 400 is mounted on a cart so I can push it around the shop, and I only C/Thread maybe 11/4 max
but ever so often I see it wanting to lift.0 -
Dancing with an Oster pipe threader...
Been a long time ago, but was using my dads old Oster power vise for threading an 1-1/2" gas line we were doing in a dry cleaning plant. It some how got turned over and looked like a mad three legged widow maker flipping and flopping around. Even after I pulled the plug on it, it was geared down so low that it kept flipping and flopping for a couple more times. Scarry stuff for sure.
ME0 -
oster
I Have an old Oster 400 type machine that has so much torque it seems to be alive. and weighs about a million pounds. the guys would rather thread by hand than drag that baby out of the basement and set it up. you always gotta make a new set of legs since they are fabbed from one inch pipe they always seem to get used for something else.0 -
Many a mechanic
one time or another has wished they where smarter then the pipe. A good mechanic understands why the pipe is smarter.
Best Wishes J.Lockard0
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