Is any old copper pipe the ‘same’.

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Is any old copper pipe the ‘same’.

Home Forums The Tea Room Is any old copper pipe the ‘same’.

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  • #378587
    Paul McGee 1
    Participant
      @paulmcgee1

      I fear in sourcing some copper 1/4" pipe / tube locally I have possibly been supplied that which refrigeration engineers use. Is this likely to be a problem for my 71/4" model steam loco "plumbing".

      I have also heard people refer to hard / cold extrusion copper tube what is this ?

      Paul McGee

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      #35308
      Paul McGee 1
      Participant
        @paulmcgee1
        #378591
        not done it yet
        Participant
          @notdoneityet

          Copper can be annealed to a softer form which which work hardens. Extruding copper will clearly work harden it. If it is a problem, anneal it.

          #378621
          SillyOldDuffer
          Moderator
            @sillyoldduffer

            Copper pipe for refrigerators is 99.9% pure with a dash of Phosphorous. By specification it is de-oxidised, Nitrogen free and fully degreased (provided it's still properly packaged). You could say it's posh copper!

            When supplied in a roll it's Soft, but straight pipe could be either Hard or Half-hard. The pipe is either work hardened or softened by heating to get the desired property. In use the soft form is easier to bend but weaker – about ⅓rd as strong as fully hard.

            One concern may be the thickness of the pipe wall – I believe refrigerator tube is only good for about half the pressure taken by brake pipe. But as brake pipe is rated about 3000psi, perhaps not a problem on a small engine. (Warning – I'm not a boiler expert!). Did the seller provide a specification?

            Dave

            #378629
            Neil Wyatt
            Moderator
              @neilwyatt

              As it is outside the boiler you should be fine.

              #378659
              Dave Halford
              Participant
                @davehalford22513

                Brake pipe is 10% Nickel

                #378664
                Ian P
                Participant
                  @ianp
                  Posted by Dave Halford on 01/11/2018 12:19:12:

                  Brake pipe is 10% Nickel

                  If you mean tubing for vehicle hydraulic brakes, some is 100% carbon steel (plus protective plated finish)

                  Ian P

                  #378670
                  Dave Halford
                  Participant
                    @davehalford22513

                    But the OP refers to copper wink

                    #378673
                    Neil Wyatt
                    Moderator
                      @neilwyatt

                      You can get three grades of brake pipe: cunifer, copper and steel. Halfords sell brake pipe to the 99.9% + phosphorous recipe in Dave's post.

                      Neil

                      #378674
                      Sue Hutchings
                      Participant
                        @suehutchings99787

                        q

                        #379565
                        Paul McGee 1
                        Participant
                          @paulmcgee1

                          Thanks all particularly info about working pressure limits. As pointed out i'm well within the capacity of its capability. I'm in Brisbane Qld and unlike the uk sourcing any specialist materials here is not as easy as in the UK where you have large demand for anything. We have two suppliers of nonferrous metals and they have limited ranges and want to sell commercial quantities. Then we have our model suppliers who have the range we want but are not always in stock. Trick is to have several jobs on the go whilst waiting but its frustrating at times.

                          #379584
                          I.M. OUTAHERE
                          Participant
                            @i-m-outahere

                            For really small tube i buy the little handy packs that some model shops stock . Have a look at emma’s spare room machine shop on youtube , if you send her a message maybe she can point you in the right direction as she makes her own boilers and is based in the Brisbane area . For larger stuff like what you want for a boiler sometimes making friends with a local plumber or gasfitter can be an advantage , they usually collect offcuts to send to the scrapyerd for some pocket money.

                            What M.E suppliers have you tried ?

                            #379596
                            Robert Atkinson 2
                            Participant
                              @robertatkinson2

                              Try a local Airconditioning / refridgeration company. The will probably give a couple of feet of off-cut if you ask nicely.

                              Getting imperial size may be an issue but you neve know.

                              Robert G8RPI.

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