Old school pipe welding question.

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Was out 4-wheeling in Death Valley, near a bunch of old mines and some cabins.   I've seen some pipe that is galvanized and about 8" in diameter. It's been sitting exposed in the elements for decades.Anyways, the pipe that's out there looks like it has welds that are similar to a barber shop pole.  The welds themselves spiral around the entire length of pipe.  My buddy said that was the "old and outdated" way of making pipe.  He didn't know what the process was called nor when that way of making it went away.Any ideas what that process was called and what that type of pipe was primarily used for??? I'd like to read about it just for kicks.  I like old history stuff, especially when it comes to steel fabrication of yester-year.Thanks.Lincoln Power Mig 216Lincoln AC/DC-225/125Miller  625 X-Treme PlasmaMiller 211 Forney 95FI-A 301HF 91110Victor Journeyman O/PMilwaukee DaytonMakita  Baileigh NRA Life Member
Reply:They still make spiral wound corrugated pipe for drainage purposes. I've also seen plain spiral pipe used for ductwork. None of this is usually welded, simply crimped when they form the pipe. Can't see why the same principal couldn't be used to make welded pipe. Have any picts?.No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Don't know about the pipe you saw but shotgun barrels where made with similar technique at one time.  I think they may have been hammer forged around a mandrel in a spiral.  IIRC  damascus  steel was used.
Reply:Hello SuperArc, as DSW mentioned they still make tons of that pipe for all sorts of applications. The sheet metal type is roll-crimped and the welded type is generally sub-arced. There is a company called Skyline Steel that is located in the community where I work that recently opened up and manufactures any number of different diameters and thicknesses of just such a product. They use coil stock that is set-up on uncoilers and straighteners and then fed into a machine that makes it into a spiral where it is internally and externally sub-arced while being spiraled into shape. Essentially this allows for the fabrication of pretty much any length that is feasibly able to be hauled or transported without the need for splicing. They ship their products on rail, barge, and by truck. Structural piling is one of the uses of this sort of pipe and there are any other number of applications as well. I believe that the Longview facility is able to manufacture diameters of up to 10' and thicknesses of up to 1"+. A bit more for your consideration. Best regards, AllanI've included a link to a spiral pipe manufacturer located in Portland, Ore. They provide oil and gas transmission pipe as part of their product linehttp://www.evrazna.com/Products/Line...79/Default.aspLast edited by aevald; 01-05-2012 at 06:30 PM.aevald
Reply:Awesome stuff guys, thanks!  Well then that pipe must not be that old after all.  Everything around the old mine was rusted out completely.  There were just some huge lengths of this "other" pipe that had an old coating of galvanized zinc with "white rust" showing severely.  The spiral welds looked very thick all the way down the pipes.   I can't wait to tell my buddy that they still make this stuff today! Thanks again.Lincoln Power Mig 216Lincoln AC/DC-225/125Miller  625 X-Treme PlasmaMiller 211 Forney 95FI-A 301HF 91110Victor Journeyman O/PMilwaukee DaytonMakita  Baileigh NRA Life Member
Reply:In one of the old buildings at work there is still some 36" spiral pipe that is rivited.  It was used for 3lb. Steam.
Reply:spiral-seam pipe is still very-much used for large, high-pressure interstate gas pipelines. I was in a yard recently and saw some 42-inch diameter, I think it was 0.888 Inch wall thickness. Line was built to operate about 1200 PSI I think.For years the longitudinal seam was pretty-much standard, but the spiral seam is coming back apparently.
Reply:Originally Posted by DanD78In one of the old buildings at work there is still some 36" spiral pipe that is rivited.  It was used for 3lb. Steam.
Reply:They even tried using spirals to make rifle shells at one time.