Backpurging pipe HELP GUYS

[Teglove2]

Hey guys my name is Ryan and I am an aviation tig welder and fabricator of custom turbo kits on the side. I do A LOT of pipe welding and I REALLLLY need to find plugs I can use for the ends of my tubing to backpurge with and I do not have the time to make them and I know someone out there makes them. I searched and searched and couldnt find anything please help me out. Thx guys
Ryan.

P.S. the pipe im welding is 1.25/1.5/2.0" ID

[davedarragh]

Teglove2: There's 3 Forum members that might be able to help you. KB Fabrication, Turbo38t, and Fusionking all work with stainless (pretty sure). If nothing else, send them a PM if you don't hear from them soon. I'm sure there are many others, but these 3 come to my mind "right off the bat."

Good Luck

Dave

[Showdog75]

If I don't have the right size plug I break out the masking tape and paper .

[fabricator]

A plastic end cap off of the pipe that the manufacturer sends the pipe wth works well if the end to purge has no flange to interfere wth.Other options are purge paper,cardboard,foil or maskin tape.

[KB Fabrications]

If I don't have the right size plug I break out the masking tape and paper .

That's really all you need. Argon so readily displaces atmosphere that setting up a purge is not difficult at all. In fact, You don't want any kind of airtight seal as it would negate the positive pressure that a little "leaking" will provide. Lots of times I will just use a spring clamp to attach the argon hose inside a tube and then just tape around the whole thing. Blue painters tape works very well as it leaves no residue behind. Of course, that is dependent on how close you are to the seam but aluminum foil works equally as well.

If you really are

an aviation tig welder and fabricator of custom turbo kits on the side

then this should be a no-brainer. If you really need to have some off the shelf products for your application and have plenty of cash, you might try a google search.

http://www.cob-industries.com/argweld.htm

[Teglove2]

thx for the quick replys fellas but nothing that was said can help me...the tubing gets VERY HOT and I cannot use any sort of tape I need metal plugs with holes I saw a guy on a honda forum that builds manifolds and he had a billet plug and thats what I need but in 3 sizes like stated above. Tape is also too weak and when I put the argon line in the tape the weight of the line itself tears the tape and leaves a nasty residue thats very hard to get off.

[enlpck]

Cut two sheet metal disks (22Ga or so) a little larger than OD of tube

Notch edge in a dozen or so places to form tabs

Bend tabs over to fit the OD of the tube

(you can also notch and bend to fit ID)

Drill hole in center of one disk for hose fitting.

Stick one over each end of the tubing (if needed, squeeze a couple of the tabs tighter to hold in place, or use a hose clamp over the tabs) and turn on the gas.

You don't need or want a tight fit... if there isn't the ability for some venting, pressure buildup will make closing up nearly impossible. If there is too much leakage, wrap (or stuff into the ends under the caps) some kaowool to cut it down.

Low flow rates fed from the bottom are better (less mixing while purging)

[KB Fabrications]

Cut two sheet metal disks (22Ga or so) a little larger than OD of tube

Notch edge in a dozen or so places to form tabs

Bend tabs over to fit the OD of the tube

(you can also notch and bend to fit ID)

Drill hole in center of one disk for hose fitting.

Stick one over each end of the tubing (if needed, squeeze a couple of the tabs tighter to hold in place, or use a hose clamp over the tabs) and turn on the gas.

You don't need or want a tight fit... if there isn't the ability for some venting, pressure buildup will make closing up nearly impossible. If there is too much leakage, wrap (or stuff into the ends under the caps) some kaowool to cut it down.

Low flow rates fed from the bottom are better (less mixing while purging)

More good advice but the OP said he doesn't have the time to make anything. Anywho, commercial products like this are easy to find but you have to know what to type into a search engine.

http://www.arc-zone.com/index.php?ma...x&cPath=10_616

ROFLMAO, hold onto your wallet.

[enlpck]

Of course, I SHOULD mention that pretty much all I use is aluminum foil. Slap it over the end and squeeze. Then again, I don't have the need to purge very often. A length of brake line (I think its brake line... looks like brake line and the same size) on the end on the hose bends whatever way needed to hang the hose off the work, and is also heat resistant, and the foil squeezes over this as well as a plain end.

[Laiky]

Lets see,

Speed tape

heavy duty alluminum foil (use some safety wire to secure if necessary)

Take some scrap pipe and pound annealed aluminum over the end to make a cap

cap a piece of scrap pipe, grind a taper in it and tap it into the hole

Find a machine shop

fiberglass cloth

steel wool?

If the hose is melting shove a piece of soft copper in it and bend the copper into a hook.

As a Fabricator, this is really something you should make to suit your needs. If you want to buy it your certainly entitled but its something like a chef ordering out. Hope you don't take that the wrong way!