Even stronger without welding: joining shaped pipes (+ a clever way from the old masters)

Sometimes you need to connect profile pipes without welding. There are options for joining pipes using fasteners.

Often, such a connection is used for a fence, construction of a gazebo, shed, greenhouses, shelving, etc. As a rule, they are used in the work of the crab system.

These are a kind of clamps that are made of galvanized sheet with a thickness of 1.5 mm.

Up to 4 pipes can be joined. Manufacturers say that the strength of such a joint is comparable to the strength of a weld. The advantage is that the structure, unlike welding, can be assembled and disassembled. There are disadvantages of this connection method:

• possible only at an angle of 90 degrees,
• cannot be used for pipes larger than 40x40 mm.

There is a way to connect using flanges.

It is a flat ring or rectangle with holes for studs or bolts.

Another way is clamps with bolts. The fastener consists of 2 halves. This method of joining is called a clip. The clamps are adjustable, which helps them to be used for pipes of any cross-section.

there is fitting. The pipe can be installed inside the fitting or vice versa.

Minuses: insufficient strength, therefore experts recommend strengthening the joint by welding. Such a connection will be simply irreplaceable for pipelines with various bends.

They showed themselves at their best crab systems. But there are limitations for them too. They are used for gazebos, fences, greenhouses, partitions and other structures that require disassembly and possible movement.

Strong connection of pipes without welding - the way from the old masters

It is quite possible to connect (lengthen) 2 pipes in this way. Draw cutting lines with a black marker on one pipe. We grip the pipe in a vice and cut off the "tails" along the outlined lines. We use a grinder.

Then we clamp the second (whole) profile pipe in a vice. And the one that we have prepared we drive into the whole one until the holes are hidden. To increase strength, we drill a bolt hole. We tighten the nut with a wrench.

A collapsible connection is also obtained, but very durable, not inferior to welding.