On 06 Nov 2003 02:01:37 GMT, (JMartin957) brought
forth from the murky depths:


On 04 Nov 2003 19:02:50 GMT, (JMartin957) brought
forth from the murky depths:


Hold the end of one pipe on a piece of paper (or use a coin the same
size if possible, and draw a circle. Fold the paper in half so the
arcs line up and cut out the circle. Wrap that around the pipe, mark,
cut, and grind to suit. Flop the cut piece over and weld it.
Easy enough?



Easy enough, but it won't work.

Your way, you'll get an arc (a half-circle, actually) with a chord length
equal
to the pipe diameter, and with the arcs tangent at 90 degrees to the
chord.

Wasn't the OP asking for a tool handle? Did he ask for
mil-spec welding info? "Why seek perfection for a bloody
pipe/handle?" I ask in earnest.

P.S: I grant that your method would be much prettier.

Larry:

It's not a question of perfection. What you suggested he do just plain
won't
work. It won't even come close. Try it and see. Or, if you want, work out
the math.

Take 1" (example) pipe, cut in half.
Hold end to paper, draw 1" circle.
Fold paper in half at circle.
Cut out 1" x 1/2" semicircular arc.
Fold paper around end of one pipe.
Draw arc.
Rotate pipe 180 degrees, draw arc.
Cut out arcs.
Grind to fit pipe. (requires no math
Weld together.

What won't work?



I guess you didn't try it, did you? Because if you did, you'd know exactly why
it won't work.

You are talking about using the pattern to cut the point on the end of a piece
of pipe, rather than a vee in the middle, but no matter because it's the same
thing.

Given your example, the two ends of the arc on your pattern are exactly 1"
apart. On the piece of pipe you want to cut, the two points or the bottoms of
the vees will be 1" apart, as that is the diameter of the pipe. But, when you
wrap your pattern around the pipe, the ends of the arcs won't make it halfway
around the pipe - because halfway around the pipe is really 1.57", or pi over
2. Because the paper has to wrap around the surface of the pipe, doesn't it?

And not only will your pattern not stretch halfway around the pipe, as it
should, but when you trace it you'll find that the ends of your arcs meet the
square end of the pipe at an angle (tangent) of 90 degrees. Not at 45 degrees
as they should.

The poster who suggested using a rubber ring as a pattern will get the same cut
you do, although with the flex and stretch of the ring he'll get closer.

John Martin