Three way Ridgid Pipe threader?

   / Three way Ridgid Pipe threader? #1  

MotorSeven

Elite Member
Joined
Aug 17, 2005
Messages
4,265
Location
NE TENN (Hancock Co)
Tractor
Kioti DK40SE Hydro
I need to run quite a bit of 3/4 & 1/2" black pipe into the house(new construction) from a propane tank. I'm looking at the Ridgid model 30-A & 31-A. Can anyone tell me the difference between the two? They look identical and take the same dies. Anyway, they are real expensive($200+) new, but I see them on fleabay for around $50.

If anyone has used one or something similar in a manual threader to thread pipe, and info is appreciated.
 
   / Three way Ridgid Pipe threader? #2  
I believe that the 30-A is an older model number and has been replaced by the 31-A
 
   / Three way Ridgid Pipe threader? #4  
When we did our basement (hardline Black pipe for propane), I drew up a plan for where the runs needed to go (and for any wish list or down the road items we might get) and then just bought the 3/4 pipe for it. It was threaded on both ends. I put in shut off valves off every tee, and off every appliance.
Once I had all that done, my propane company came in and checked all the joints and ran flex pipe off the 3/4 main to the appliances. They were real reasonable to hook it up and check the line.
They used the propane (yellow) teflon tape and some type of liquid blocker to hook it up. They made it look real easy. I used blueblocker, man that stuff gets everywhere. When I did it after using the blueblocker it was three hand turns and then using the pipe wrench three more turns.
 
   / Three way Ridgid Pipe threader? #5  
Threading pipe is messy so make sure you have lots of cardboard you can put down and be careful you don't step in the oil and track it around your house. I would suggest getting an oiler. You can buy thread cutting oil in spray cans but, at least in my case, I felt like I wasn't using enough oil when using the spray cans. With the oiler I would just flood the dies and let it run back into the pan. Also, I would thread the end of the pipe cut off and then leave it angled so any oil still on the pipe would run into the pan.
 
   / Three way Ridgid Pipe threader?
  • Thread Starter
#6  
Ok guys, thanks. I just bought a used 30-A with good cutter dies for $39 shipped, and a vintage Reed pipe vise for $23 shipped. This should cover any situation where I have to cut and thread.

I wish my propane company would do the final install for free, but they won't. What they will do for free is a pressure/leak check of the entire system. So I figure it's cheaper to buy a couple of tools & do the install myself.
 
   / Three way Ridgid Pipe threader? #7  
you may want to get a schrader valve and a reducer plug, that will accept the valve, and a tee with a gage on it as well, , and a cap and pressure test, ever so often, especially if you have a number of elbows, so you do not have to back out a bunch pipe if a leak occurs and needs an extra turn or so, pressure it up and some soapy water and a brush, if it leaks you will see a mess of little bubbles, (big leak bubbles may not form as they will be burst before forming, but the gage will be drooping, air and let it set for 30 Min's and see if the PSI holds, and also soap teat,

check the entire fitting as I have seen some fittings that are porous,

apparently they make a premade unit, Gas Line Test Gauge - Google Search
 
   / Three way Ridgid Pipe threader?
  • Thread Starter
#8  
I appreciate the tips, keep 'em coming. Here is what I have & what I plan:

Purchased a 605 gallon tank to be set 40' from the house.
3/4" black pipe into house, then straight down the center of the basement(through 1'st floor floor trusses).
trunk off the 3/4" with 1/2" flex pipe to:
-tankless propane hot water heater 6.3 gpm(mounted outside directly to incoming 3/4 pipe after the regulator of course)
-stove top
-propane fireplace insert(it might require a 3/4...have not purchased it yet, <30,000 btu)
-gas grill on deck

So as you see the load is not huge. I am heating with wood, so the gas fireplace is more for ahhhhmbeeeance.
 
   / Three way Ridgid Pipe threader? #9  
If the pipe fron the tank to your house is buried, be careful. I have been in the mechanical business for over 40 years, and we never bury black pipe. In time it will rust out and then you have a real problem.
For buried we use a product called X-TRU Coat. It is black pipe with a factory applied plastic coating and it will last a long time. Since you are a home owner and not a contractor you probably do nit have access to this product. Another point, 40' of pipe is going to require a joint underground. Not a good idea. I suggest using type "k" soft copper ( comes in 60' coils) tubing for the underground portion of the piping.
 
   / Three way Ridgid Pipe threader? #10  
I would take the advice of the last two posters, clearly professionals. I didn't go thru the UA because I worked in a merit environment, but my two primary bosses did, and were actually long-time instructors for the UA. As such, they took the time to teach me very well. And the advice you have recieved from PICK and Artisan is top notch.

I would add that if you are running underground, look at plastic gas pipe. As far as threading, I would get my ducks in a row and then go rent a machine and be done with it in a day. Hand threading never seemed like fun.
 
   / Three way Ridgid Pipe threader? #11  
DO NOT BURY BLACK PIPE.

DAM this is SO WRONG! Man, You need to call a plumber dude...

I am done. YOUR GOING TO GET SOMEONE KILLED
 
   / Three way Ridgid Pipe threader? #12  
regardless of what one buries, have the pipe exit above ground before entering the building, that way if a leak would develops (the gas will many times follow the pipe) it will exit into the air, and not in your crawl space or basement,

the problem with propane is it can pool, it is heavier than air and in a basement or craw space it can build and build and when it goes it goes big,

on the buried line, you could talk to a contractor or gas company and they may sell you a line made up that is proper to bury, (many are using a poly type pipe system, HDPE Yellow Gas Pipe | JM Eagle for the pipe that is buried,
 
   / Three way Ridgid Pipe threader? #13  
I would look into CSST for the exterior. Easy to work with and will not rust. Also you may need a Dielectric Union to isolate the exterior pipe from the house in case of a lightning strike.
 
   / Three way Ridgid Pipe threader? #14  
We have the snowman tanks (2) i think they are 250gallons a piece, from there they have copper to regulator to copper (1/2) tubeing into the house. From there it hits the black pipe.
I was thinking for you I would put a tee in for a gas dryer, and a tee or two for the three brick burners to heat if needed in the workshop or just basement, and just make sure you have shut offs.
we have a 30k lp heater (jotul looks like a wood stove) for the entire upstairs of our house. I have 1/2 flex coming off the 3/4 to the lp stove, same with the kitchen stove. If you need any pics I will be glad to post them. Its not difficult, and for me it was 280.oo to have the lp stove hooked up, only because they found a leak in one of my shut off's so we had to cut it out and put in a coupler and a shut off it added over an hour to the job. They also put caps on the ends of every pipe. They were there over 3 1/2 hours.
 
   / Three way Ridgid Pipe threader?
  • Thread Starter
#15  
DO NOT BURY BLACK PIPE.

DAM this is SO WRONG! Man, You need to call a plumber dude...

I am done. YOUR GOING TO GET SOMEONE KILLED

Really? Too much coffee today Art? Ease up man your going to have a stroke. A simple recommendation on what pipe you would recommend for direct burial would have sufficed.

According to what I have been reading, there are coatings available. I will not use copper, I have seen it corrode and fail and I am looking at the poly coated pipe but it ain't cheap.

Crazyal I looked up CCST and it does not mention burial?
 
   / Three way Ridgid Pipe threader? #17  
seems like way overkill, couple years back, had some were i want to say 200 to 300 feet of line put in. from tank. 1 run to shed, 1 run to house. it was a plastic hose. and then a tracer wire put in the trench. very cheap compared to copper or black pipe. only cost really, was the pipe protector as the plastic hose came up out of the ground. but that was even fairly cheap.

once plastic hose was put in outside, and ran between tank and then regulator on house. i ran some black pipe inside, to create a "manifold" bunch of tees and valves. and then changed to "copper pipe" off the manifold with compression fittings. to run copper lines through out the house. ((i took option of paying a little bit more for more copper being ran through house, so i could have all my gas valves (stove, water heater, couple wallinging space heaters, dryer) all in one spot.)) even then i saved a lot compared to using black metal pipe.

only reason why i went with black pipe inside for manifold. was i could quickly build the manifold and have a smaller manifold with black pipe. and it was more strong, so when i do shut things off. i would have less chance of botching up a copper pipe. that and it was easy enough to goto menards, and just grab what i wanted and build the manifold right there in store and picking parts out of the bins. without having to thread any pipes.

i went with copper tubing between manifold and each individual thing. due to it was much easier to run. and i did not have to thread any pipe, it was more easier to work in tight spots. and with a basement with "drop down ceiling" errr basement has ceiling tile that hangs down a couple inches. i did not have to drill through anything, and could just use little plastic hangers. and little bit of were pipe went up through walls. was very short. and i did not have to put in any sort of wall stud blockers, due to gas lines did not run through the walls.

==================
as much as Artisan might seem to be yelling, i am with him.

if anything just buy the plastic hose and tracer wire from gas company. for between tank and house. for the outside. so you get correct type of plastic pipe. and then pipe protector, for ends of plastic pipe that are above ground.
 
   / Three way Ridgid Pipe threader? #18  
Around here compression fittings are NOT used on propane, only flaired are allowed. All interior pipe must be black iron up to a shut-off, then copper the last few feet to appliance
 
   / Three way Ridgid Pipe threader? #19  
I would have rented the power threader. When I built my house 15 years ago, I went to an auction and bought a bench threader. Best money I ever spent. $75 to be exact.
 
   / Three way Ridgid Pipe threader?
  • Thread Starter
#20  
Thanks for all the info and links.......good grief, it seems the local codes are all over the place. The more read the more confusing it gets. I have a local propane delivery guy who checked out my tank. I'm going to give him a call and see if I can talk them into running the line from the tank to the house.

Plumbing the 3/4 black pipe in the house is pretty straight forward and I may or may not need to thread anything, but I will have the ability if needed.

It's too bad you can't use PEX underground, what a easy simple system that actually works.
 
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