Pressure Testing a welded pipe? (Home job?)

[stradlater]

I just welded up a pipe myself, and I need to make sure that it won't leak.

It's got a swivel threaded end on one end, and straight up pipe on the other.

I'm trying to figure out how I might pressure test it without taking it somewhere? Short of holding my hand over one end, I can't figure out another way?

Any ideas?

[J0RD0]

i found this out by accident, i had a leaking oil drain pipe i made and i welded where i thought it was leaking. I sprayed the inside with degreaser and sealed both ends with my hands and shook it, as i did this pressure built up and degreaser started spraying out a tiny pinhole where the last place i would of looked. The pressure wasnt extreme but enough to find a pinhole leak that i was trying to find for a long time

hope this helps

[Donmik]

What's the pipe for??

You could always block one end and fill it with water.... Water always seems to find the leaks...

[stradlater]

Hey, that's a great idea. My pipe is for exactly the same purpose. I might give that a shot! Thanks mate!

[stradlater]

The water thing is actually pretty hard with this because it's damn hard to block the end!

[Donmik]

Can you fit a rubber hose over one end??? And just block the rubber hose with a bolt, maybe use some hose clamps aswell to enure it seals...

Or else, depending on how big the pipe is, use your fingers to block each end and dunk it in a bucket of water and look for air bubbles...

[thechuckster]

- screw some sort of plastic plumbing fittings over both ends
- screw in smaller brass fitting (that you can fit a hose over) into one of these plastic ends
- pressurise with air compressor or (if the fitting allows) a bike pump.
Fill with water before doing this.

If you can't attach something to one end:
-get some radiator/intercooler hose that does fit over your pipe
-make a bung (short length of tube with something welded over one end) and fit into other end of hose

[LeeRoy]

If you're going to pressurise it make sure you use water - it makes it easier to spot leaks and if it splits a weld the pipe won't explode. Filling with compressed air can be very dangerous.

[thechuckster]

i remember Wilbo making up some intercooler pipe bungs that had air fittings on them. One had a gauge and the other had tyre valve in it so you could fill it up and then watch the gauge for signs of leaks.

[Shakotan_Aaron]

I made a little pipe for my heater hose and put a bleed screw in it (welded a M8 nut to it) i taped up both ends, filled it with water then poked the air squirter in the to pressurise. Wasnt 1000psi but was enough to spot a small leak. It was only seeing 1.1bar anyway being in the cooling system.

[Duk]

If you're going to pressurise it make sure you use water - it makes it easier to spot leaks and if it splits a weld the pipe won't explode. Filling with compressed air can be very dangerous.

Spot on (yada yada etc. etc.)!

[ToyTA22]

When testing anything above atmospheric pressure , 14.7 psi, always use water. Referred to as hydrostatic testing. Far less dangerous than using air and as mentioned easier to see leaks, I sometimes use food colouring to make seeing initial leak easier.
When I used to test engine blocks and heads I would block all openings except the lowest and highest point, which you connect hose to lowest and bleed air out top one then plug. Using council water supply pressure and leave sit overnight.

[stradlater]

Hrm.. So water it is...

The biggest issue I have is sealing both ends. I'll investigate a bung with a combination of air compressor fittings.

Thanks for the guidance guys, given me the ideas I need.

[andrew_mx83]

what about petrol/kero? its how i leak test rings and valves etc

[wilbo666]

This is my setup for IC pipes - it worked pretty well.



What is the pipe you've welded for? Got a pic?

Cheers
Wilbo