I need a hand with lay-out of a 4 on 4 tee

admin

Hello everyone!Figured I would jump on here and see if anyone could give me a hand with something.A quick background... I'm currently in my 5th and final year of apprenticeship with Baltimore UA Local 486 Plumbers & Steamfitters.Every year there is a Pipe Trades competition where the schools select their best 5th year apprentices, one plumber, one welder, one fitter, and one hvac tech, and they have a competition comprised of numerous skills learned throughout the apprenticeship program... either in school or on the job.Because of my performance, grades, attendance, and skills, I have been fortunate enough to have been selected to represent Local 486 this year as the fitter.I leave for the competition this coming Easter Sunday, so I have the balance of this week to practice a few skills.So, onto my question...One of the items on the list is the fabrication and fit-up of a 4 on 4 tee... from scratch.4" SCH 40. I cannot use or bring or make a paper template. I will be allowed a wrap around, stick rule, soap stone, and a torch.If anyone in the trade is familiar with the "Franklin" book, (the welder & fitters little black bible) I have read through it, and followed the instructions in there exactly in laying out and burning the header and the branch.Needless to say, the fit was horrible.For reference, the way I went about it was:for the branch: 1/4 the pipe, extend the lines. on the top and bottom lines, mark from the end of pipe 1/2 of the pipe OD. Connect the lines. To round the points, mark double the pipe wall thickness back and free hand a curve.On the header, mark the circumference with a wrap around and soap stone. Then 1/4 it and extend the lines. Then mark 1/2 the branch OD in each direction, and again, to round the points, mark the corners back by 2 times the pipe wall thickness.next step, by the book is to burn it radial (straight cut, no bevel).Did all this, double checked the measurements, burned it, and it's junk.Tried it a second time, and had a fellow fitter follow along, and the same thing. The fit is off... way off.So... if you're still with me, and you have any suggestions for this, I would greatly appreciate the help!Thanks in advance,-Steve
Reply:Steve,Congratulations on being chosen to represent your local in the annual competition.  Welcome to the forum.I followed the steps you listed in your original post.  I checked my copy of the black book, and the only difference I noticed is that the black book states that you need to bevel the T at a 45° angle after you make the radial cut.  Did you do this in your practice fit-ups?In prepping the branch, it says specificly not to bevel the branch half of the joint.If this isn't the source of the problem, can you post a photo of one of your practice fit-ups?  Maybe that will help us spot the source of the problem.Good luck.Benson's Mobile Welding - Dayton, OH metro area - AWS Certified Welding Inspector
Reply:Have you tried your Horton book for saddle and lateral layout? And, yes a pic would be good.UA Local 598
Reply:check your pmUA Local 598
Reply:Can you use a compass?  If so, butt the pipe up in a T configuration, then open the compass to the widest point of the open area.  Then using the curve of the bottom pipe, just trace around the curve to get your cut line.Use a soapstone, go over the pencil mark to highlight it.  It should be pretty close, then a bit of grinding, it will fit perfect.MarkI haven't always been a nurse........Craftsman 12"x36" LatheEnco G-30B MillHobart Handler 175Lincoln WeldandPower 225 AC/DC G-7 CV/CCAdd a Foot Pedal to a Harbor Freight Chicago Electric 165A DC TIG PapaLion's Gate Build
Reply:without using a template i would square cut my branch pipe and clean the end so there are no burrs, make it a little long, now stand the branch on top of another pice of pipe, make sure your square, take a flat soap stone and lay it flat against the branch with the sharppened side closest to branch, trace around the branch and mark the cut on the bottom pipe(on the sides of the tee you will have to slide the stone down to make contact with your pipe,be sure to keep the stone flat against the branch) this will give your cut for the bull of the tee, clean the pipe after cutting then insert the branch, square it then mark the cut line, cut the bull becareful because you will need a clean cut, clean it up and break out the 5p,   hope this helps youmember of plumbers and pipefitters local 630 lincoln 130 inverter1965 red face sa 200
Reply:If you end up wanting to check your layout method (or make a template) check out 'www.pipesaddlelayout.com.  You can enter your four dimensions and your layout ordinates will be displayed.  Let me know how this works for you.DNC
Reply:He says he left for the competition on Easter, wherever that might be or have been.That cut has GOT to have a bevel to it, no straight in cut can work, imho.City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny