Question about chasing tubes in a tight corner with a torch

I overheard a guy at the supply house saying he uses a rosebud tip for tight radius bends on 2-inch schedule 40, and I'm wondering if that's better than my standard heating tip for avoiding wrinkles on the inside of the bend.

3 comments

3 Comments

alex5241d ago

That thing @stone.jesse said about dropping scale inside the pipe is exactly what I’d be worried about with a rosebud on 2-inch sch 40. Do you find you have to keep the torch moving at a pretty specific pace to avoid that, or is it more about keeping the flame a certain distance off the pipe? I’ve never been real clear on the sweet spot distance for a rosebud on smaller pipe like that.

stone.jesse4d ago

Man I remember fighting with a 2 inch sch 40 elbow years ago on a boiler feed line. Tried the standard heating tip and got this nasty washboard wrinkle on the inside. Buddy of mine swore by the rosebud and said it spreads the heat more even. He was right - the rosebud lets you work the heat into the pipe slower so you're not just torching one spot and getting that sudden collapse. Still gotta watch your speed though, too slow and you'll start droppin scale inside the pipe.

evan_dixon673d ago

Rosebuds definitely help with that, but on 2 inch schedule 40 you gotta be careful with the rosebud too. Too hot and you'll start getting that same wrinkle just a different way. The trick is finding that middle ground where you're moving enough to keep the pipe at temp without overshooting it.