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<strong>SERVICE</strong> <strong>TIP</strong><br />
Proper Care and Storage Result in Better Pipe<br />
Proper care of headers (caps) and pallets (base rings) prior to storage will result in better pipe and fewer<br />
problems, both in manufacturing and in the field. Here are a few tips for getting maximum performance from<br />
your headers, pallets, and shaping rings:<br />
• Both pallets and headers should be cleaned and lightly oiled before storage so they will be ready for<br />
immediate use. Pallets should be cleaned with steel wool and a scraper or powered wire brush. Steel<br />
wool and oil should be used on headers. Snap rings and set screws should be examined and replaced if<br />
necessary, then reassembled.<br />
• Concrete build-up must be removed before storage, and this must be a daily practice as well. If concrete<br />
is not cleaned from pallets, bad bells can result. The pallet will also be difficult to remove from the pipe,<br />
possibly causing the bells to break or crack.<br />
• Keep the inside diameter (I.D.) and outer diameter (O.D.) of the pallet clean. This is vital because a dirty<br />
pallet O.D. will make the mold hard to close. Also, if the pallet is tight in the mold, it will not turn freely<br />
during bell cycle. This may cause damage to the bell down unit.<br />
• It is additionally important to keep the I.D. of the pallet clean, because if it is dirty, the longbottom will<br />
stick in the pallet. As the longbottom is turned on, the pallet will spin with the pallet, the pallet legs will<br />
either be knocked off or the bell down unit itself may be damaged.<br />
• Maintenance should always be performed on headers and pallets before storing them. Problems such as<br />
broken legs, cracked pallets, or broken flanges should be reported to maintenance personnel and<br />
corrected. If they are not, poor pipe can result, as well as machine damage.<br />
• If possible, store pallets and headers indoors to keep them from rusting. If pallets are kept outside, they<br />
should be covered with a protective coating (such as EN-50), and they should be under a tarp or some<br />
type of roof. An oil-base product should be applied to caps. Should rust still appear after long storage,<br />
remove it with steel wool or a grinder with a wire brush.<br />
• Always store pallets and headers stacked, never standing on edge. This prevents them from going out-of-<br />
round, especially in the larger sizes.<br />
• When handling headers, they should always be laid down, never dropped.
• Shaping rings should be treated like headers with regard to care and maintenance. McCracken also<br />
recommends that after each day’s run they be washed off with water, and then cleaned to prevent<br />
concrete build-up.