For tube producers who need a colored coating with no volatile organic compounds, powder coatings have been the only choice until now. A new process provides this type of coating in a liquid form. The coating dries nearly instantly under ultraviolet light and performs well when subjected to a variety of tests.

For welding in the 1G position (in which the tube or pipe rotates), solid wire is traditional filler metal. However, metal-cored wire is making headway as an alternative. Metal-cored wire requires no land at the bevel, is more forgiving of welding dirty metal, produces less spatter, and allows travel speeds up to inches per minute.

Weld bead scarfing (cutting, removing, and disposing) exposes mill operators to numerous hazards, including cuts and burns from the scarf. Part I of this article discusses the reasons scarf is removed from tube and the mill parameters that affect the scarf removal process. Part II discusses a variety of manual and automated removal and disposal methods. Part III discusses strategies for improving ID weld bead removal and disposal.