So what's the easiest way to square off this pipe?

[Shield Arc]

Something like this?

 

[sparc]

I have this piece of pipe, roughly the size of a 55 gallon barrel that was rough-cut with a torch. I need to square the ends off so I can design and build my shop wood stove.

Although it can't be seen in the pics below, there is about an inch or 1 1/4" gap on one end, I believe that's about the worse part.

The piece is about a 1/4" thick and weighs 75-100 lbs. I have a grinder, abrasive saw, bandsaw and air grinder/cutoff tool. No torch or plasma cutter (I wish).

Any ideas for squaring this off?

Thanks,

Wrap-around to mark it square and grinder with 1/16 or 1/32 cut-off wheels (many of them).


Sorry Shield Arc, didn't see you had already responded when I made this post.

 

[square1]

Wrap it

Mark it good

I've cut pretty heavy steel with an Aluminum Oxide blade in a circular saw. I'd venture that would be cleaner and faster than an angle grinder.

 

[Gary Fowler]

A wrap around would get you a square line to use a cut off wheel on or your bandsaw. Not having a wrap-around, you could measure off the bottom end (it looks like it is setting level in the photo)to the shortest point on the pipe to start your marks. Measure and put a mark about every 2-3" then use a steel tape to align with the marks and mark a straight line with soapstone or majic marker. Then you have both ends square with each other. I may take a while to cut with either a bandsaw or abrasive wheel but you have no choice other than that since you have no torches.

NOTE when measuring you may want to use a level to make sure you are measuring perfectly vertical for each mark.

 

[Arc weld]

If one end of the pipe is close to square, you can use a 2' square to check all around the circumference. If the square won't reach across the width of the pipe, use another square opposite and see how they line up together. Then you grind down the high spots to get it even closer to square. Then you can measure to the other end and do like Gary said. A wrap-a-round would be easiest though. Use a zip disc in your grinder to cut it.

 

[nc redneck]

I think Shield Arc has the best solution. Back 20 years ago when clipping cars ( cutting them in half and rewelding new front or rear on them ) was acceptable and legal. We used a similar method to cut windshield posts accurately. Very easy and it works well.

 

[like2wheel]

Run down to the local automotive supply store, and buy a roll of gasket material. Use it like a large wrap-around.

??
While I agree with the method, I'm not sure buying a giant roll of gasket paper is the most cost effective solution

 

[CalG]

??
While I agree with the method, I'm not sure buying a giant roll of gasket paper is the most cost effective solution

A couple of sheet of news paper taped together will do.

 

[joshuabardwell]

My two cents: cutting it off with (lots of) cutoff wheels in an angle grinder, or an abrasive wheel in a circular saw is going to be better than grinding it down. A torch or plasma is really, really the best tool for the job. Maybe call up a local fabrication shop and ask them what they'd charge to do it for you. It would probably take no more than 1/2 hour of billable labor, especially if you pre-marked the line and just had them do the cut. You might come out ahead.

 

[Redneck in training]

I would not cut it at all. I would weld strip of metal to the outside. In example if the imperfection is 0.5" then I would use 1" wide strip, wrap it around and weld it to the pipe. I would also not weld the top cover to the pipe but make it removable. I would weld the strip the the top cover and then weld pice of metal on top the the pipe so the cover would lay square on the top.