I need some tips for installing spiral pipe

[Bird]

I'm installing a dust collection system in my shop and using spiral pipe. Some of the fittings go together like, well, hand in glove--no problems. Others are a super tight fit. I'm using lubricant, clamps--all kinds of shenanigans. Is this typical? Did I order from a sloppy supplier? And yes, I do have the correct male to female ends. It's making me rethink the expense of the clamp-together stuff.

Frustrated,
Bird

 

[chrisrosenb]

In the 30+ years that I have been using spiral pipe, I found that inconsistent  fits is just the nature of spiral pipe.
I bought used & new spiral pipe that that came from several different manufactures. It all had inconsistent fits.

 

[Bob D.]

In the 30+ years that I have been using spiral pipe, I found that inconsistent  fits is just the nature of spiral pipe.
I bought used & new spiral pipe that that came from several different manufactures. It all had inconsistent fits.

One of the advantages of spiral pipe is you can use one size stock to create just about any diameter pipe. That means you are setting the machine up for each size. Mixing pipe and fittings made in different shops will be problematic as each shops machine may be set slightly different yielding two pipes with diameters that do not mate well even though they are both supposedly the same.

 

[Bird]

I was afraid this might be the nature of the beast. I appreciate what you're saying, Bob. All my pipe is coming from the same supplier but I don't know that it was all made in the same place.