Fitting pipe aka skinning cats

[chim]

Harv, when I needed to make a couple joints like that, the method I used was perhaps a bit slower. I cut what would be your horizontal pipes to length with a holesaw the same size as the OD of what would be your vertical pipe. Just marked pilot bit locations on opposite sides of the pipe and drilled in from both sides. Probably wouldn't want to do a couple dozen like that, but the fit was great......................chim

 

[em14]

I remember back in the 60's when you could buy these short couples/pre-cut round tubes that the tubing fit into so that you didn't have a butt joint to weld and the notch was machine cut to fit the tubing you were jointing to. I like your method of cutting using the angles ... That is straight forward and simple ... I remember what a job it was for me to fit chrome moly. I just never was very good at it. The fit had to be right on the money.
Leo

 

[IDjunker]

I Have A jig and 1/2 " drill with hole saw's works good and portable.

 

[slowzuki]

You can do the porta band trick even faster with a chop saw! Pro-tools sell and really nice portable notching jig. Harbour freight (shudder) sell a cheap version too I hear but it chatters and shakes.

 

[GaryM]

Guys welding frams for homebuilt aircraft use a tool that takes a hole saw of the correct diameter and has a provision for setting the angle. Insert your tubing and cut the tubing with the hole saw. used for cluster welds where several tubes meet.

 

[GaryM]

Sometimes they weld FRAMES too!

 

[40Kchicks]

Harv
I’m glad you have been polite to those who have smashed the pipe.

I must confess I am a recovering pipe smasher. Last year I had a cow come down with pink eye. I got her in the barn put a loop around her neck, wrapped the rope around the manger stanchion and moved the cow back and forth. Each time the cow moved past the stanchion my wife would take the up the slack in the rope until finally the cow had no slack and I could medicate the eye. We realized we needed a cattle squeeze. The trouble is I also needed the $1500 that the farm store was asking for one. So I got some tubing and made one. On the main frame I coped the pipe but on the upper section I smashed the pipe ends and welded them up.

I learned some things in this project. One pipe is cheaper than seamless tubing and buy standard pipe and use a notcher. I learned these things two late but in my defense the cows have not complained about the smashed tubing ends at all and even paying to much for supplies I still saved a thousand bucks.

Eric