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Getting a manway out of round can seriously hinder your production schedule and in some cases can even cause unrepairable damage to your manway. Today, Jeremy is going to show you how to install a manway in a small tank head while keeping it round in the process.

Jeremy Krempges is a Craftsman Welder here at Paul Mueller Company.

Step 1:

Add quarter marks to the head to divide it in four equal sections.

Step 2:

Tack the head down to the table you are working on or otherwise secure the head down. This is will ensure that the head is held in place during the welding process.

Step 3:

After test fitting you may have to grind some areas back on the head to ensure a good fit for the manway.

Step 4:

Use a jib hoist or another lifting mechanism to lower the manway into the head and line it up with the quarter marks you made earlier.

Step 5:

Make sure the manway is sitting level in the head before you tack it into place.

Step 6:

Tack the manway to the head. First, tack the manway at the quarter marks and then proceed to close tack it all the way around.

Step 7:

Place a heatsink inside the manway and clamp it into place. A heatsink will ensure that the manway does not get out of round during the welding process. If you do not have a heatsink, you can use a piece of 3/4" thick plywood. Cut the plywood to match the inside of the manway so that it fits snugly inside the manway. This will keep the manway from going out of round during the welding process just like the heatsink does.

Step 8:

Weld the manway to the head all the way around.

Step 9:

After the outside of the manway has been welded, let the manway air cool completely before cutting the head loose from the table.

Step 10:

Flip the head and manway over and weld the inside of the manway to the tank head. Be sure to leave the heatsink or plywood board clamped to the inside of the manway until you have finished welding and the weld area has air cooled completely. Then remove the heatsink.

That's how you install a manway in a small tank head while keeping it round in the process.

If you have any questions, call us here at the Paul Mueller Company.

If you liked this video, then you'll like what you find in this free guide to learn more about common terms used in the tank components industry.