Low Cost Weld Purge Plugs for Tube and Pipe Weld Purging

Due to tight budgets, welders sometimes have to construct their own Weld Purging Equipment, often made from materials such as paper, card, sponge or foam. Homemade dams made from such materials can often lead to loss of welds when they leak or slip from position thus flooding the welding zone with oxygen.

The Pipestoppers® Division of Huntingdon Fusion Techniques HFT® manufacture a range of low cost, lightweight Weld Purge Plugs for a variety of applications where the pipe sizes are 0.5 to 6” (12 to 150 mm) diameter.

Ron Sewell, Chairman for HFT® said: “Our Weld Purge Plugs are a great barrier for purging pipes when welding alloys and stainless steel. Manufactured with a hollow shaft, these plugs can be used for weld purging smaller diameter pipes and miscellaneous stubs.”

They are available in a number of ready-made kits containing plugs ideally suited for the most popular size of pipes, all of which are available for immediate delivery.”

The rubber seals are made of natural black rubber but can be manufactured with sealing rings made of silicone, viton or nitrile rubbers, which make them suitable for use with petrochemical fluids, high temperatures or any other conditions that might arise during use.

The plugs are supplied with a hollow shaft with an outside ½” BSP thread for screwing on a standard hose connection or solid shaft versions up to 1.5” diameter for pressure testing.  

HFT’s Nylon Plugs can be used for many other applications, including garden ponds, pool and spas and on yachts. Other applications include the stopping of pipes to prevent foreign bodies or liquids from entering or gases and liquids from escaping, blocking pipes in order to carry out routine maintenance, repair work and leak testing. As “overnight stoppers” they provide a strong barrier in pipeline activities, to prevent foreign bodies entering the line during downtime.  

Source:Tube 2020