ideas (makeshift) - turning pipe by hand ??

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Anyone seen, or have any ideas for rotating pipe while welding?    I'm trying to think of a good way to rotate  pipe while on a couple pipe stands w/ rollers.   It's like 10 foot sections of 3-6" pipe for gas, so it's not like it needs to be superb welding or anything.   In the past I've used a chain vise grips around it, and used free hand to turn while welding.   I'd like to come up w/ something better though.   Hopefully light easy quick for the field. ???
Reply:Electric motor with gear reduction. Supply house should be able to help with rate of rotation. You need to know how fast your welding is to help find right gear reduction. Or use motor with belt drive and sheaves. You local a/c distributor can help with final speed - motor = small pulley, final drive = large pulley ( may be fixed or adjustable.) I would prefer gear reduction and make a permanent roller for future use. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reply:If I was making something like this for continued use, I would make stands with something like these for rollers:  http://www.harborfreight.com/materia...ire-42427.html  Another option would be some small trailer tires with greasable bearings for longevity.  Then I would make a drive system with a variable speed electric motor, either 12V or 110, which ever would be most convenient.  I would use a rhostat switch so I could dial in the speed I wanted.  I would run a chain and sprocket off the motor and use a pocket bike wheel with sprocket like this for my "drive wheel."  http://electricscooterparts.com/elec...ikewheels.html  These have a smooth tire that would get good traction on the pipe without being bumpy, and the wheels have sprokets.Last edited by Justme; 12-18-2013 at 05:48 AM.
Reply:Tack a piece of all thread, rebar, 3/4'' pipe, anything  you can grab to the pipe and rotate as you weld. Or get some old retired guy to roll it for you.
Reply:Gotta spend some money bud. Bite the bullet and get yourself a positioner and dont look back. I hate being bi-polar it's awsomeMy Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Reply:Ah man MIKE, that sure is pretty.    You have ALL the good stuff ! You could use that for decorating your CHRISTMAS TREE TOO !!!
Reply:Thorton has a good simple way
Reply:I want to keep it mechanical.    Something that was similar to a chain vise , then I could weld several pieces of small round stock on sides of chain pointing outward as serve as handles.    My chain vise grips only give me one handle, and don't go to 6" pipe.   Pipe wrenches arent the smoothest the either.    Trying to think of some sort of chain type wrap, with a adjustable tensioning type fastener.    Or something like a adjustable oil filter wrench, that had an open end.   Or if somebody ever knew of a trick of wrapping the pipe w/ a strap, and spun the pipe that way.   For starters, I'd just take some #80 chain or so, weld 1/4 round stock 3 or 4" sticking off every other link or so.   Problem is, I cant think of a good way to fasten or tension the chain.    Keep your ideas coming though.  I appreciate all the responses.
Reply:Originally Posted by BD1Tack a piece of all thread, rebar, 3/4'' pipe, anything  you can grab to the pipe and rotate as you weld. Or get some old retired guy to roll it for you.
Reply:Using #80 chain I would take a pair of 11r vice grip clamp cut the ends off.  Drill a hole in one of the clamp legs then pit the master link through it.  At that point u have the chain attached to the clamp then on the other leg of the clamp grind a notch that the roller of the chain will fit in. I have made them before.  Then you just hook the roller in the grove and clamp I hope that made some since.  Then take some ¼" rod and weld flat washers on the end and stick them through the chain before you clamp it to the pipe. Then u will have removable handles
Reply:If you can get an old serpentine belt cut it and make a handle a little wider than the belt. Cut a slot for the belt perpendicular to the handle, then just above the slot rivet or bolt one end of belt to it. Wrap the belt around the pipe and thru the slot, kind of like a big *** strap wrench.Miller xmt304,  Miller S22 p12, Miier Maxstar SD, Miller 252 w 30A, Miller super32p12, Lincoln Ranger 9, Thermal Arc 181I with spoolgun, Hypertherm 10000 ,Smith torches. Esab 161lts miniarc.
Reply:Hook two or three of the chain vise grips together, takes care of more handles and makes a longer chain for bigger pipe.Mike
Reply:We had a guy up in Anchorage make a home made positioner with a rollout wheel, a drill motor, some gears and a sewing machine foot pedal.
Reply:Ok, so this is a super primitive "drive" system for your positioner, which is probably not what you want to do, but it popped into my head anyway.  I've liked the technology that the Greeks developed.  They made all kinds of hydraulic devices, including hydraulic clocks and musical instruments.  They even developed steam turbine-like devices.  I read once that their steam turbines could have then led them to the development of the steam engine, which could have set off the industrial revolution 2000 years before it really did occur.  Anyhow...  Once you figure out how to clamp some kind of strap, chain, rope, etc.  you could make a weight that is heavy enough to rotate your pipe on rollers.  If you wrapped a rope around the pipe once, and let go of the weight, it would rotate your pipe, but at an uncontrolled speed (well, controlled only by gravity).  To control the speed, you could make a simple hydraulic cylinder out or some large diameter PVC tube, or really any sacrificial water container.  On top of the water, you would put material with enough buoyancy to hold up the weight.  Then, you could add a plug or valve to the bottom or side of the water container, and open it up, so that the weight would drop as the water is let out (say into another container).  It might take some trial and error to get the flow rate right, but once you did, it should create a regulation system for your weight to pull the rope to turn your pipe.  Just an idea that would cost little, and be sort of a fun little project.Miller Dynasty 200 DXMiller CP-300 with 30A feederHypertherm Powermax 900Oxy-fuel w/Harris torchesScotchman Glide-in bandsawMonarch 10EE latheEmi-Mec Autoturn latheDeckel FP2NC milling machinePro-Tools 105 Bender
Reply:How 'bout an off-the-shelf chain-wrench or strap-wrench?They'll "ratchet" and are available in all weights and sizes.
Reply:sounds like alot of good responses.   I need to start the job next week, so I'll try to drum up something over the weekend.   Maybe I'll combine pbunqum and Denreps ideas together.   Possibly wrapping the ratchet strap around the pipe, and tie it onto the water 1 gallon crystal geyser water bottle I drink out of through the course of the day, using my other hand as a brake.  thanks everyone.
Reply:Originally Posted by 123weld. . . Possibly wrapping the ratchet strap around the pipe, and tie it onto the water 1 gallon crystal geyser water bottle I drink out of through the course of the day, using my other hand as a brake.  thanks everyone.
Reply:I would put the pipe on roller V-stands, then I'd wrap a rope around the pipe 5 or 6 times, tie a weight heavy enough spin the pipe to the rope on one end and stand on the other end with my foot. When you need to spin it, lift your foot off the line and let it slide slowly, allowing the pipe to spin. Kind of like a capstan winch in reverse. Low cost, and fast.... Just my 2 cents. Good luckLast edited by mammaogi; 12-19-2013 at 03:56 PM.Reason: Didn't finish my thought....
Reply:i was an apprentice and working for a for a local crane yard and a welder was splicing pipe for a boom repair and he had a rope wound around the pipe, it was connected to a flat piece of wood on the floor set up like a gas pedal. as he applied pressure to the wood the pipe rotated slowly. there must have been more to it but it was a long time ago.i.u.o.e. # 15queens, ny and sunny fla