Assembly and method for preparing a pipe elbow for welding

An assembly for preparing a pipe elbow for welding, the assembly comprising:

• a cone clamping sleeve assembly adapted to be inserted into an end of the pipe elbow, said cone clamping sleeve assembly having a face at one end thereof, the face having at least one locating hole and at least one screw hole thereon;
• and
• a faceplate assembly removably affixed to said cone clamping sleeve assembly, said faceplate assembly having at least one locating pin receivable by at least one locating hole of said cone clamping sleeve assembly, said faceplate assembly having a captive screw threadedly receivable by the at least one screw hole of said cone clamping sleeve assembly, said faceplate assembly having at least a pair of centering pins positioned on diametrically opposed locations on a faceplate of said faceplate assembly, the at least two centering pins being radially adjustable and adapted to bear against an inner diameter of the end of the pipe elbow.