a plastic pipe butt fusion machine has a base , a clamp on the base for securing a first length of plastic pipe , a second clamp mounted on the base for securing a second length of plastic pipe to be fusion welded to the first in axial end - to - end alignment , the second clamp being moveable relative to the base , a spring positioned between the second clamp and the base so that when the spring is tension loaded the second clamp is urged in the direction toward the first clamp to thereby resiliently urge the plastic pipes held by the first and second clamps into axial abutted relationship during fusion .