This might be a stupid question but how are you supposed to get these straight when you install them?

I bought a pair of Jones weld-on tips (for 2 1/4" pipe). I figured they'd have a small flange or lip or something on the inside to help stabilize them on the pipe. Not only do they not have that, they fit very loosely over 2 1/4" pipe. Seems to me like even if you had somebody hold them while you at least got them tacked it would be very hard to put them on straight.

How do the muffler shops do it, because I see trucks with weld-on tips all over the place here and they all look nice.

It's more of a curiosity thing for me at this point, as I already took a couple id/od adapters, chopped them down and tacked them onto the tips to make them easier to install and line up.

 

Bought my son a pair of these: Strong Hand 11 in. Pipe Pliers with V-Pads - For Life Out Here Holds the joint straight till you can tack it good.

 

Well see, that's great for butt welding the same diameter, but tips are generally larger in diameter than the pipe before them....no good way to clamp there unless you built some kinda jig.