It was a cold February morning, and a welder named Mike was doing what welders do best: trying to make a round thing behave like a square thing. He eyeballed a wrap-around line on a pipe, struck an arc, and - because the universe loves comedy - his “close enough” turned into “uh oh.”
Right as Mike was about to commit to a cut line that would’ve guaranteed a long afternoon of grinding, re-fitting, and explaining himself to everyone within earshot… his buddy tossed him a KCI Rap-Around and said, “Here. Save your life.”
Did it stop a runaway forklift? No.
Did it prevent a dramatic slow-motion explosion? Sadly, also no.
But did it save Mike from the real danger- being the guy who measured wrong? Absolutely.
And in a welding shop, that’s basically a heroic rescue.
What a Rap-Around Actually Does (and Why You’ll Use It Constantly)
A rap-around is the fast, reliable way to get clean, accurate layout lines on pipe and round stock - straight cuts, angles, and repeatable marks without the “hold your tongue just right” method.
KCI’s Rap-Arounds are built for real shop life:
- Double-ruled so you can use either side - it’s never “upside down”
- Heat & abrasion resistant material that holds up around slag, sparks, and everyday abuse
- Ships in its own protective tube so it doesn’t get trashed in the gang box
- Non-asbestos material (modern, safer choice)
And if you ever need something specific? KCI notes they manufacture rap-arounds in-house and can handle special needs as they come up.
“Which Rap-Around Do I Need?”
KCI carries multiple options so you can match the job:
- Standard sizes like 150, 170, 177, 179
- Sold-by-the-foot options like 184, 185, 187 (great when you want exactly what you need)
If you’re not sure which one fits your typical pipe range, the easiest move is to start at KCI’s rap-around search page and pick the model that matches your work.
The Bottom Line (February Edition)
In winter, everything feels harder - cold metal, cold gloves, cold coffee. Don’t let layout be the thing that slows you down.
A KCI Rap-Around is one of those small tools that quietly saves you time, improves accuracy, and prevents expensive “oops” moments - day after day.
Call to Rap-Around!
Get the right Rap-Around for your shop and order online from KCI Incorporated today!
#WeldingTools #PipeFitting #ShopProductivity