How Would You Survive Without Your Pipe Diameter Tape Measure?

A New Use for a Pipe Diameter Tape Measure
A New Use for a Pipe Diameter Tape Measure

Your pipe diameter tape measure is probably the most valuable and simplest tool in your toolbox. It will tell you the outside diameter of a pipeline (or your arm) when you wrap it around the circumference. What if you lost your pipe tape? How would you measure the diameter of a pipe or any round object?

  • Use a regular tape measure, if it is flexible enough to wrap around the pipe. A carpenter’s tape is made to stay stiff, so it won’t work in this case. Since the end hook won’t let you lay the zero mark against the pipe, you would have to start at the 1 or 2 inch mark. Read the circumference and divide by 3.14159. That’s a lot of trouble.
  • Use an expensive caliper, transfer the reading to a measuring tape, perhaps, then divide by pi. That’s a clumsy way of doing it.
  • Get a real expensive micrometer. Since they have a narrow range of measuring (1 inch), it would have to be a certain size to begin with. Then measure the diameter directly. Reading the markings on a micrometer is not the easiest thing to do. You have to read the shaft measurement, then add the tumbler measurement to it.

So, hang on to your pipe diameter tape measure and it will save you a lot of trouble.

How to Measure the Diameter of a Pipe

How to Measure the Diameter of a Pipe
How to Measure the Diameter of a Pipe

If you need to know the outside diameter of a pipeline, and don’t have an exposed end, this is how you do it. Please click here for a short 2 minute video on this easy task. Let the Lufkin diameter tape do the work for you. There’s no need to use a bulky caliper or micrometer. There is also no need to divide the circumference by pi. A simple pocket-sized diameter tape is all you need. Here is How to measure the diameter of a pipe.

pi symbol
pi symbol

 

 

 

 

How A Pipe Diameter Measuring Tape Can Make Your Life Easier

Pipe Diameter Measuring Tape
Pipe Diameter Measuring Tape

If you are in the oil business, or drilling, or plumbing business, you are always measuring pipes. You also need to know the outside diameter of pipelines and pipe fittings that are part of a piping system. How do you do that without cutting the pipeline and measuring the diameter directly?

  • Use a caliper, and transfer the measurement to a metal rule. This works, but is only as accurate as the metal rule, and your ability to transfer the distance to the rule. Also, who wants to carry around a caliper all day?
  • Use an OD micrometer. But what size micrometer do you need? A 0-1 mic will only measure a pipe that is less than 1 inch in diameter. A 1-2 mic will only measure a pipe that is between 1 and 2 inches in diameter. Who want to keep a whole set of mics with them in the field?
  • Use a flexible measuring tape, wrap it around the pipeline, make a reading and divide by pi. This works, but it’s not that accurate because the markings are on the side of the tape that is not physically next to the pipe. Your are really measuring the diameter of the pipe plus twice the thickness of the tape.
  • At last, the best and easiest way to get the diameter of a pipe: Use a Lufkin Pipe diameter measuring tape. The diameter tape does all the work for you! Just wrap it around the pipe and read the diameter.

    Lufkin Pipe Diameter Tape
    Lufkin Pipe Diameter Tape