The 5 Types of Pipe Beveling and When To Use Them

Pipe beveling is a crucial technique for matching up pipes during installation. Even small differences in size can cause ridges during the joining process, weakening the pipeline. Learn the five types of pipe beveling and when to use them.

Why Is Beveling Necessary?

Even with modern technology, industrial pipes are rarely without tiny flaws in diameter. This means that when you weld two pipes together, there will be some misalignment, often specifically called hi-lo misalignment. Without beveling, welding two misaligned pipes creates a ridge that will affect the flow of the pipe’s contents and possibly trap bacteria, leading to corrosion. Beveling fixes the problem by removing excess material from the misaligned pipes.

Single or Double Bevel?

Some welding guides will instruct you to bevel the ends of both pipes that you want to connect. In other cases, it may be fine to weld pipes where only one butt has beveling. Not beveling both ends can give you more material to work with in certain kinds of welding.

1. V-bevel

V-beveling is the most common type of pipe bevel. It involves machining the pipe butt (or end) at an angle. When you place two beveled pipes together, it will create a V shape, which is where the beveling style gets its name. V-beveling is most useful in hand welding situations.

2. J-bevel

The J-bevel gets its name the same way that the V-bevel does. However, the J shape creates a better connection point for certain kinds of pipes because it brings out the root face. J-bevels are especially common in orbital welding because they create such seamless welds.

3. Compound Bevel

A compound bevel is a combination of more than one bevel angle. The idea here is to remove less material the closer you get to the inside of the pipe, which prevents the walls from weakening. By removing more material on the outer diameter, you create more opportunity for a smooth, seamless weld.

4. Face Bevel

A face bevel is a special kind of connection used to weld a flange to a pipe. It involves setting the weld back a certain amount to create a smooth root face for the weld. This type of weld is specific to the situation, so you may not need to use it very often, depending on your work.

5. Counterbore Bevel

Counterboring is the process of removing material from the inside of the pipe to enlarge the ID (inside diameter). Counterboring is most common when attaching fasteners, but it can also create smoother welds.

We hope you find this list of the five types of pipe beveling and when to use them useful. Knowing when to use the right bevel is crucial for getting a long-lasting pipe weld.

Image Credit: Adobe royalty-free stock image: 77338914