RIDGID RT3422 Operator's Manual
Tapping Tool
OPERATOR’S
MANUAL
RT3422
WARNING!
Read this Operator’s Manual
carefully before using this tool.
Failure to understand and follow the contents of this manual
may result in extensive property damage and/or serious
personal injury.
99 Washington Street
Melrose, MA 02176
Phone 781-665-1400
Toll Free 1-800-517-8431
Visit us at www.TestEquipmentDepot.com
Ridge Tool Company2
RT3422 Tapping Tool
General Safety Information
WARNING! Read and understand all instructions. Failure
to follow all instructions listed below may result in propery damage and/or serious
personal injury.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS!
Work Area Safety
• Keep your work area clean and well lit. Cluttered
work area invites accidents.
• Keep bystanders, children, and visitors away while
operating a tapping tool. Distraction can result in improperly using the tool.
Personal Safety
• Stay alert, watch what you are doing and use
common sense when operating a tapping tool.
Do not use tool while tired or under the influence
of drugs, alcohol, or medications. A moment of
inattention while operating tools may result in serious
personal injury.
• Dress properly. Do not wear loose clothing or
jewelry. Contain long hair. Keep your hair, clothing, and gloves away from moving parts. Loose
clothes, jewelry, or long hair can be caught in moving
parts.
• Do not over-reach. Keep proper footing and bal-
ance at all times. Proper footing and balance enables
better control of the tool in unexpected situations.
• Use safety equipment. Always wear eye protection.
Dust mask, non-skid safety shoes, hard hat, or hearing
protection must be used for appropriate conditions.
Tool Use and Care
• Do not force tool. Use the correct tool for your application. The correct tool will do the job better and
safer at the rate for which it is designed.
• Store idle tools out of the reach of children and
other untrained persons. Tools are dangerous in
the hands of untrained users.
• Maintain tools with care. Keep cutting tools sharp
and clean. Properly maintained tools with sharp cutting
edges are less likely to bind and are easier to control.
• Check for misalignment or binding of moving
parts, breakage of parts, and any other condition
that may affect the tools operation. If damaged,
have the tool serviced before using. Many acci-
dents are caused by poorly maintained tools.
• Use only accessories that are recommended by
the manufacturer for your model. Accessories that
may be suitable for one tool may become hazardous
when used on another tool.
• Keep handles dry and clean; free from oil and
grease. Allows for better control of the tool.
Service
• Tool service must be performed by qualified repair
personnel. Service or maintenance performed by
unqualified repair personnel could result in injury.
• When servicing a tool, use only identical replace-
ment parts. Follow instructions in the Maintenance
Section of this manual. Use of unauthorized parts or
failure to follow maintenance instructions may create
a risk of injury.
Specific Safety Information
WARNING
Read and follow safety labels on the tool! Know
the function of all parts before using this tapping
tool.
Operator Training
WARNING
Cutting into pipe containing liquids or gases under
pressure is potentially hazardous. Correct procedures must be followed in the use of this
equipment to maintain a safe working environment and prevent serious personal injury.
No person should use this tool who is not fully
trained in the proper operating procedure and
who is not fully aware of the potential hazards
connected with work on pipe containing liquids or
gases under pressure.
The purchaser of this equipment is responsible for
how this equipment is used and the training and
competence of the operators.
Should any difficulty arise at any time in the use of
this equipment, please contact Ridge Tool immediately!
WARNING
• Read operators manual. Operator must be properly trained before using tool.
• Wear eye protection.
• Do not exceed pressure and temperature ratings of
the tool and any attachment, valve or fitting. Only
tap into lines that contain specified media.
Model RT 3422 Tapping Tool
Water: 500 psig @ 100°F (40°C)
Air, Steam, Natural Gas: 150 psig @ 370° F (172°C)
Tapping Tool Safety
1. Only trained personnel should use this tapping
tool. Incorrect use of this tool can result in serious
personal injury, environmental damage, and/or property damage.
2. Always wear eye protection. Cutters and drills are
hard and can shatter.
3. Do not exceed recommended pressure ratings.
Attempting to tap into main with pressures beyond the
maximum limits of this tool or a fitting may result in
their failure.
4. Only tap into pressurized mains that carry water,
air, steam or natural gas. Other media may attack
the seals of this tool.
5. When using power tools to drive this tapping
tool, understand and follow all the safety instructions associated with that power tool. Air
power ratchets are generally a safer choice due to
the inherent explosion and shock hazards associated with electrical tools.
• Electrical tools should not be used for natural
gas taps. Only use air or manual ratchets.
Electrical tools cause sparks which may ignite the
gas.
• Grounded electrical tools should be plugged
into a properly grounded outlet. If tool should
electrically malfunction or breakdown, grounding
provides a low resistance path to send electricity
away from the user.
• Electrical tools should be plugged into an outlet
protected with a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter
(GFCI). Reduces risk of electrical shock.
6. Use only right angle electrical drills or air ratchets
to rotate the cutter. Tool must be fed at a controlled rate. Failure to use a right angle drive or to
carefully control the tool feed rate may result in the
cutter suddenly stopping which will cause the power
tool driver to suddenly twist.
7. Main being tapped must be securely mounted to
prevent any movement. Movement could cause
tool breakage during the tapping operation.
8. Follow all applicable regulations and safety pre-
cautions regarding the work area.
• When working below grade, have an adequate es-
cape route before starting the tap. Such pre-
cautions reduce the risk of injury.
• When working on a scaffold or lift, the operator,
tool, and drive assembly should all be properly
secured. Will prevent injury in the event of a fall or
dropping a tool.
9. Vent pressure bleed valve away from work area
and personnel. When working over equipment
or personnel, use a hose attachment on the
bleeder valve to control fluid discharge. Discharge
directed at personnel could result in serious injury.
10. Do not use this tool to support the operator.
Could result in tool breakage or malfunction.
11. Tool is made to tap into pressurized lines. Follow
instructions in operator’s manual on tool uses.
Other uses may increase the risk of injury
NOTE! Keep this manual in the pocket provided in the
toolbox.
Description, Specifications,
and Equipment
Description
The Model RT3422 Tapping Tool is designed to perform
pressurized taps using a saddle-mounted valve or
welded nipple on steel, plastic, ductile iron and cast
iron pipe. It is capable of tapping water lines under
pressure up to 500 psi and steam, air, and natural gas
mains up to 150 psi. Weighing only 18 lbs, the Model
RT3422 can produce 3/4″ – 2″ taps fast and easy. The
cutter is rotated by an 11/16″ hand ratchet or can be operated by an air ratchet or right angle drill if desired. A
self cleaning acme threaded barrel permits easy feeding
of the cutter into the pipe and resists the force of the
pressurized pipe when the cut is made.
Ridge Tool Company 3
RT3422 Tapping Tool
Specifications
Tapping Capacity ..........3/4 – 2″
Mounting........................Saddle mount, welded nipple,
Weld-O-Let™, Thread-O-Let™
Cutter Travel..................14″ max.
Actuation .......................Hand ratchet, air ratchet, or
right angle drill
Type of Pipe..................Steel, plastic, ductile iron,
cast iron
Cutter Feed ...................Rotation of sleeve around
threaded acme barrel
Pressures......................Water: 500 psig @ 100 F
Steam, air, natural gas: 150
psi @ 370° F
Weight...........................17 lbs. for tool and ratchet
only
Standard Equipment
RT3422 Machine only ...Tool body with bleed valve
RT3422 3/4″ – 1″ Set ...Tool body with bleed valve
Tool box
Ratchet wrench
Small shaft extension
Small hole saw arbor
3/4″ and 1″ valve adapters
2 spud wrenches
RT3422 3/4″ – 2″ Set ...Tool body with bleed valve
Tool box
Ratchet wrench
Small shaft extension
Large shaft extension
Small hole saw arbor
Large hole saw arbor
3/4″, 1″, 11/4″, 11/2″, 2″ valve
adapters
2 spud wrenches
Operating Instructions
1. Determine exactly which pipe needs to be tapped into.
Follow the pipe as far as possible to ensure that it is
indeed the pipe that requires tapping and record the
media (what is in the pipe) and the pressure on a
copy of the worksheet at the back of this manual.
2. Determine exactly where the pipe needs to be tapped.
Consider not only the best route for the new line but
also the effect that any chips from the tapping operation could have on downstream equipment. Consider
the orientation of the tap, tapping the top of the pipe
may drop chips into the tapped pipe whereas tapping
the bottom of the pipe will tend to drop the chips
back into the tool. Use of the “Bleed Valve Assembly”
will tend to wash away most of the chips if open
during the entire drilling operation.
3. Determine whether a service saddle or a weld-inplace Thread-O-Let™ or Weld-O-Let™will be used to
mount the valve to the main. Consider the advantages and disadvantages of each type. Record this
connection data on the worksheet at the back of
this manual.
The Thread-O-Let™ or Weld-O-Let™ can only be
welded to a compatible metal pipe and may have a
maximum pressure rating, however the weld integrity
to the pipe is virtually impossible to certify without xrays. The media in the pipe may adversely affect
weld penetration due to chilling or worse, the weld
may penetrate far enough into the pipe to allow the
pressure in the pipe to blow through the hot, molten
weld puddle. A service saddle can be used on any
type of pipe that has a compatible outside diameter.
Service saddles have a known pressure rating, however if for some reason the integrity of the strap
hardware should fail this type of joint can fail as well.
4. Select which “corporation stop” or valve is to be
used. (A corporation stop is a valve with a square lug
for a wrench instead of a hand wheel to open and
close the valve. This is to ensure that the valve is not
operated inadvertently or by unauthorized personnel.)
Just about any valve that has an adequate pressure rating, made of a material compatible with the
media, is short enough and opens in a manner that
will allow the cutter to completely pass through it
unhindered may be used. Only a full port ball, plug
or gate valve will work. Check to be sure the cutter will pass through the valve before mounting
the valve and tool. If it does not fit another brand or
type of valve may be required.
5. Assemble the tool for use and determine the feasibility
of the tapping operation. This is to confirm whether
the planned configuration will allow enough stroke to
complete the tap or if the configuration could allow the
over-penetration of the far side of the pipe. Select the
correct valve adapter, pilot drill, extension, and saw
adapter from the following Valve Adapter Selection
chart. The Flow Chart will assist the operator in determining the required equipment to perform the tap.
RT3422 Tapping Tool
Ridge Tool Company4
RT3422 Tapping Tool
Ridge Tool Company 5
Valve Adapter Selection
Valve Bore CTS NPT NPT BSPT BSPT Pilot Saw Remarks
Size Size Adapter Female Male Female Male Size Extension Adapter
Adapter Adapter Adapter Adapter
3/4″ 0.625 76057 76087 76132 76177 76222 0.250 76047 76037
Preferred Configuration
0.688
1″ 0.750 76067 76092 76137 76182 76227 0.250 76047 76037
0.813
0.875 Preferred Configuration
0.938
1-1/4″ 1.000 76072 76097 76142 76187 76232 0.250 76047 76037
1.063
1.125 Preferred Configuration
1.188
1-1/2″ 1.250 76077 76102 76147 76192 76237 0.375 76052 — Special Saw Adapter
1.313 Special Saw Adapter
1.375 76042 Preferred Configuration
1.438
2″ 1.500 76082 76107 76152 76197 76242 0.375 76052 76042
1.563
1.625
1.688
1.750 Preferred Configuration
1.813
1.875
RT3422
MACHINE
PROPER SIZED COMMERCIAL
VALVE ADAPTER SMALL
NPT OR CTS FLARED HOLE SAWS
76047 76027 76037 SMALL
SMALL SMALL SMALL HOLE STEEL SHELL
3/4″ – 1″ TAPS EXTENSION PILOT DRILL SAW ADAPTER CUTTERS
76302
1-1/8″ CI/DI
CUTTER
SMALL
CI//DI
DRILLS
SMALL PVC
CUTTERS
76052 76032 76042 COMMERCIAL
LARGE LARGE LARGE HOLE LARGE
1-1/4″ – 2″ TAPS EXTENSION PILOT DRILL SAW ADAPTER HOLE SAWS
LARGE
STEEL SHELL
CUTTERS
LARGE CI/DI
CUTTERS
LARGE PVC
CUTTERS
Tapping Tool Assembly Flow Chart
Loading...