If you need a steel pipe of a certain length, you may not be able to get a pipe without seams. As a result, you will have to choose a pipe that has been welded together. Wondering if a spiral welded steel pipe is right for you? Here is a look at the myths behind these types of pipes and the truth behind them:

Myth: Spiral welded tubes cannot be bent.

Truth: In the past, when manufacturers or builders tried to bend spiral welded tubes, they had issues with the tubes buckling. However, thanks to advances in induction bending methodology and in the spiral welds used to hold these pipes together, it is now possible to bend them without producing odd kinks. That makes it possible to position these pipes along a range of paths, even if they have to bend.

Myth: Spiral pipes are difficult to weld.

Truth: In fact, whether or not you can easily weld a spiral pipe depends on the type of metal involved. For example, if you have a steel spiral tube with high levels of carbon, it tends to be hard and resistant to welding. Alternatively, if you have a spiral tube made of a steel alloy with low levels of carbon, it's going to be relatively easy to weld.

Myth: Spiral welded pipes are hard to coat.

Truth: If you want to add a protective coating to your spiral welded pipe to improve its weather resistance, to add a decorative final touch or for any other reason, you may have heard the myth that these pipes are hard to coat. In the past, when their welds were raised, this assertion may have been true. However, modern spiral welded pipes are completely smooth, and as a result, it's easy to coat them with whatever coating is needed for the application.

Myth: Spiral welded pipes are not that common.

Truth: In general, there are two major types of welded pipes: longitudinal-submerged arc-welded (LSAW) and spiral-submerged arc-welded (SSAW) pipes. SSAW pipes are more cost effective, and as a result, they are often preferred over LSAW pipes. In fact, SSAW pipes are used around the world for a range of applications.

Myth: Spiral welded pipes are more likely to crack.

Truth: Compared to LSAW pipes, SSAW or spiral welded pipes are often much less likely to sustain a crack. Imagine that an LSAW pipe is made from plates of metal welded together. If a crack starts, it's likely to run the length of the plate before stopping. In contrast, spiral pipes feature coils of metal welded together with a helicodocial process. As a result, if a crack starts, it's likely to only run through the relatively short length of the coil before it gets stopped in its tracks by a weld seam.