Coping tube or pipe

[arizonian]

I have probably posted about this before (I think) but I am going to post it again. Coping pipe or round tube can be accomplished with the judicious use of a chop saw. The trick is to figure out the angle of the miter and how deep the miter needs to be cut.

On a perpendicular fit, the miter should be about 3/8 of the diameter of the pipe and cut from both sides at about 35-38°. There should be a flat left at the center.

On a slant or angled fit, the miter will be about double the slant and only go to half of the diameter. The second cut will be at the angle of the slant and only take off the tips at the center of the pipe.

Beats a grinder any day.

[Whitetrash]

Thanks for this I've always just eyeballed it having a general rule of thumb will improve my final results.

[Ironman]

I've never been that good so I use this program
It lets you print a paper to wrap around the pipe and mark the cope. If I have lots to do, I transfer to a bit of sheet aluminum and that is durable.

[arizonian]

Originally Posted by Ironman

I've never been that good so I use this program
It lets you print a paper to wrap around the pipe and mark the cope. If I have lots to do, I transfer to a bit of sheet aluminum and that is durable.

The question then becomes how do you make the cut? Grinder, torch, plasma, or saw? I've done all four and the chop saw has become my favorite.

Speaking of Marvel saws in another thread, I've used the Marvel to make an extremely steep cope on 4" pipe by elevating the end of the pipe and tipping the saw to it's maximum of 45°.

In the field, a wrap around and a torch are key.

[Grizz]

on 90 s and shallow angles , a saw works well, on steeper stuff I use a hole saw welded to a piece of pipe or tubing in my lathe, with the vise that I built for that purpose.

[Scotts]

Originally Posted by Grizz

on 90 s and shallow angles , a saw works well, on steeper stuff I use a hole saw welded to a piece of pipe or tubing in my lathe, with the vise that I built for that purpose.

Do you happen to have any pictures of your setup?

Scott

[Grizz]

I don't have any handy, but I will have a bit of a look

[randydupree]

I have coped a lot of tube building race cars,we used mostly 1 5/8 tube,some 1 3/4.
if you use the weld seem as a guide you can match up the copes end to end with ease and on 1 5/8 tube i found cutting a 3/8th deep cut will make the fit up pretty nice.

We also used a "low buck tools' tube notcher and we used the hole saw notchers too,but they are slower than the Williams low buck tool notchers.

I did a quick search for William's and i found comments about the tools,but no link to the business.
Its been a while since i bought one so maybe hes gone out of business.

I still have one,i can get pics if someone wants to build one.
they are fast and work very well.
Hell,i would sell the one i have,my shoulders do not allow that kind of work anymore.

[chumly2071]

Irvan Smith sells some Williams stuff still.

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