A note about the creator of the Flange Stand

Keith Greenawalt got his first taste of welding in 1979. He was just a 12 year old kid needing his bicycle fixed. He went to visit the local welder and sawmill owner who promptly informed Keith he was leaving for the woods to cut logs. He pointed to his welder and told Keith he could use it to fix the bike himself. Unsure what he was doing but desperate to fix the frame on his bike, Keith took stinger in hand and within no time mended his frame and was out popping wheelies.

Flange Stand in operation

Keith had no idea this experience would spark such a passion for welding. At 14 he assisted with fabricating and doing most of the welding on a rotisserie pig roaster - still in use today. He bought his first welder before graduating high school, obtained a pipe welding certificate, and started his own portable welding business – still going strong.

With over 30 years of welding experience under his belt, Keith spent a great deal of time working with flanges, fittings, and pipe. He found setting up flanges to be a challenge and tried to develop makeshift jalopies out of vises and clamps. These he attached to the back of his truck. Keith wasn’t satisfied. The crazy contraptions worked, but they were limited. He felt the process was too time consuming making the effort greater than the welding task.

Frustrated, Keith set out on a mission to locate a tool, a portable device that could hold and level flanges, fittings, and pipe. He wanted something he could toss on his truck and be able to carry it to any location – indoors, up several floors or outside in the middle of a cornfield; portability was a must.

Keith wanted a holding and leveling device that would be durable and preferably made from stainless steel; the ultimate weather resistant metal. He only wanted to buy one and have that one last his welding career.

Keith not only wanted a portable tool he could take virtually anywhere and a machine durable enough to handle being tossed around and left in nature’s elements, he also wanted a device that would not only hold a flange, fitting, or pipe but could have the capacity to move in different angles and positions in order to get a precise level. Most importantly Keith wanted to find something that would KEEP THE PIECES FROM MOVING.

Keith wanted this ultimate machine to have the strength to hold and level multiple pieces that would include flanges, fittings, and pipe.

Keith looked for such a device and soon discovered there was nothing available to suit his needs.

So he built one.

Made out of stainless steel, assuring it would withstand anything Mother Nature could throw at it, the holding and leveling device is composed of two parts that include a foldable tri-pod stand and flange, fitting, and pipe holding assembly.

This device can rotate, pivot, and swivel for a full range of motion. Equipped with 7 different locking points you can be assured that no piece will move or slip out of place.

It wasn’t until Keith had the holding and leveling device on location and people around him started making comments like, “Where did you get that?” and “Where can I get one?” that Keith realized he may be onto something.

Believing this amazing machine could help other pipe fitters and welders, Keith launched a plan to give the device a name, have it patented, and be made available for purchase.

Keith Greenawalt, welder and pipe fitter, is proud to introduce the Flange Stand: the ultimate device for holding and leveling flanges, fittings, and pipe.

To learn more about the Flange Stand click here.