Pipe Fit Up Tools

Mathey Dearman Beveling Machines & Equipment

Count on WeldingMart for excellent prices and shipping on Mathey Dearman pipeliner tools.

Pipe welding is a type of welding that requires welders to be at their best, ensuring precision welds in suboptimal conditions. That means pipeline welders are incredibly dependent on their equipment.

For more than 80 years, Mathey Dearman has been supplying pipeliners with the advanced tools and machinery they need. Ever since Chester A. Mathey sold his first pipe cutting and beveling machine in 1936, his company has been at the forefront of innovation and advancement. Acquiring the rights to the Dearman clamping systems in 1996 expanded their ability to help pipelining professionals do better work in less time. WeldingMart is an authorized dealer of Mathey Dearman piping tools and equipment for working on new construction, refineries, ships, municipal pipelines and other large-scale projects.

The Mathey Dearman pipe beveling machine continues to set the standard for quality piping work. Our selection includes jolli chain pipe cutting machines and saddle machine retrofit kits along with replacement parts and accessories. We also have a section of pipe alignment and reforming products. Find heavy-duty pipe clamps, chain clamps, ratchet cage clamps and other ways to keep pipes pointed the right way. You can fit them together with Mathey Dearman pipe stands, framing squares and other pipefitting tools. These long-lasting pipe tools give you great value that lasts, and our team has more than 50 years of industry knowledge to help you make the right choice.

Contact us today to learn more about this company's products and why they are worth your time and investment. Our staff of welding experts has worked in the field just like you and can share firsthand information about these products.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's included in a typical pipe fit-up tool set for a pipeliner?

A pipeliner's fit-up kit typically includes: external chain-type pipe lineup clamps (to pull two pipe ends together), pipe lining bars (leverage tools to push or pull the pipe into position), a pipe jack or skid, a root gap gauge and hi-lo gauge (to verify joint mismatch and root opening to spec), center punches for tack weld placement, and pipe-specific framing squares. With 149 products in this collection, the range covers individual tools as well as packaged sets for different pipe size ranges.

What is a 'hi-lo' gauge and when do I use it?

A hi-lo gauge measures the wall mismatch (offset) between two pipe ends at the joint — the 'high' and 'low' sides of the two pipe walls as they meet. Most welding codes (ASME B31.3, API 1104, ASME Section IX) set a maximum allowable hi-lo of 1/16 in (1.6 mm) for standard pipe joints; exceeding this without documented engineering exception can cause rejection. Check hi-lo around the full circumference — not just at one point — because ovalised pipe or a tilted cut can create hi-lo that varies around the joint.

How do I set the correct root opening gap before tacking?

The root gap is set per your approved WPS (Welding Procedure Specification) — typically 1/16 in to 3/32 in for E6010 open-root stick passes, or 0 to 1/8 in for GTAW root passes depending on the process, wall thickness, and bevel geometry. Use a flat root gap gauge (a feeler-gauge style tool in the correct thickness) inserted into the joint to set the gap uniformly. After tacking, verify the gap hasn't closed — thermal contraction from tack welds can pull joints shut, especially on thin wall.

What's the right way to use a chain-type external lineup clamp on heavy-wall pipe?

Wrap the chain around both pipe ends spanning the joint, engage the locking dogs or cam mechanisms, then apply tension using the integrated ratchet or hydraulic ram to draw the pipe ends together. The clamp equalizes the OD alignment around the circumference. Tack weld in at least 4 equally spaced positions (clock positions) before releasing the clamp — releasing too soon lets the joint spring back. On heavy wall above about schedule 80 or wall thickness over 3/4 in, a hydraulic chain clamp provides significantly more clamping force than a mechanical ratchet type.

Should I leave fit-up clamps in place during the root pass or remove them after tacking?

This depends on the tool and the joint design. Most external chain clamps are removed after the pipe is tacked in at least 4 clock positions, because the clamp body blocks torch access and the tacks hold the joint geometry. Internal lineup clamps (pigs) can be left in for the root pass and then retracted or removed — this is common practice on pipeline work where the clamp moves from joint to joint via the internal string. Check your WPS or QC procedure for the specific requirement; some procedures require the clamp to remain through the entire root pass completion.

Are pipe fit-up tools from this collection compatible with Lincoln Pipeliner® filler metals?

Fit-up tools are hardware — they're compatible with any filler metal or welding process. Lincoln's Pipeliner® family of electrodes (7P+, 8P+, Arc 80 stick rods; Pipeliner 70S-6 and 80Ni1 MIG wires; NR-208-XP self-shielded wire) are designed for pipe welding and are sold separately in the filler metals section. Good fit-up — consistent root opening, low hi-lo — directly improves the quality of any root pass regardless of filler metal.