If you consistently find yourself welding pipe, you already know how much of a hassle it can be to move around the piece as you weld. Every single pass of your welder will leave you having to reposition the pipe to get it into the right spot, which is not only time consuming, but makes it incredibly difficult to create a steady, clean-looking weld. For this reason, frequent pipe welders usually invest in a roll-out wheel that is used for their welding projects. This wheel allows you to make a complete pass around a pipe without having to move your equipment or the pipe itself. Here is a look at a few of the most common mistakes novice welders make where roll-out wheels are concerned. 

Mistake: Assuming a homemade roll-out wheel will work just as well as a professional one. 

Why? The roll-out wheel that you purchase from a welding supply center, such as Roly, may not look like much, but it is actually a pretty complicated piece of equipment. If you try to DIY a roll-out welding wheel, it is highly likely that you will end up with something resembling the real deal, but will be far from it where functionality is concerned. Professional grade roll-out wheels have things like a backing plate integrated and safety stops to prevent the wheel from turning beyond a certain point when it's in use. 

Mistake: Improperly setting up your roll-out welding wheel. 

Why? When you initially invest in your professional roll-out wheel, it will come with specific guidelines on how the equipment needs to be set up. Straying from these guidelines at all can leave you with a potential disaster when you try to weld something with your wheel for the first time. For example, some roll-out wheel versions must be anchored to a welding table with sturdy bolts, and not doing so will put the wheel at risk of toppling over during use. 

Mistake: Not following recommendations about pipe sized you can use. 

Why? Most roll-out wheels are designed to accommodate pipes of different sizes. However there will be a limit on the size and weight limit that the wheel can ideally support during use. Trying to stick on  pipe that is too large or too hefty is always a bad idea. Not only could you create a safety hazard while trying to weld your pipe, you could also cause damage to the wheel itself.