K Type Copper?

[Neil9834]

Started a job today in a very old house and have come across what looks to be K type copper. The inner wall of the copper is extremely thick and nothing will take to it other than a transitional coupling which I cant use because it is on the hot and it cannot be guaranteed that it would hold. I have attached a few photos of what i have along with what looks to be adapters that have been used in the past to take it to 22mm. I'm wondering if you can get adapters for it or if i need to start grinding and filing the copper down to try and get a yorky on it. As per there is hardly any space to get the grinder in and dont feel comfortable doing it given the age of the building as there is a lot of old insulation etc that could easily catch fire from sparks. Any help on this matter would be much appreciated, thanks in advance

 

[kidgreen61]

I would have thought it will be imperial pipe 3/4".

Just solder a transition coupling on, or use an imperial olive in a 22mm comp fitting.

The thickness of the copper is irrelvant.

 

[Neil9834]

Hi, i appreciate your reply but the thickness of the pipe is very much relevant. The fact that it is about 3mm thick means that I cant get any fitting over it, a standard 22mm olive is the exact same diameter and an imperial olive is far too small to get over it. What do you mean by solder a transitional coupling on? If there is a particular fitting you have in mind then I would like to know more as a standard 22mm yorky will not fit over the pipe either, cheers

 

[ianmcd]

Had similar many years ago and we removed a leg of the old pipe and took it to a local engineering shop with a piece of 22mm copper for them to measure off and they put the old pipe in a laithe and turned it to the new size, only took about 30 seconds and they never charged us

 

[polesapart]

Imperial 1/2 , 3/4 inch ?

Can you measure the OD with vernier gauge?

 

[Neil9834]

Its ¾ upwards, dont have a vernier guage though so cant get the exact measurement. Going to take a piece away with me to see if we can get something to fit it

 

[terryplumb]

What exactly is the outside diameter ? If its close to the internal diameter of a 22mm olive ,then swage the end of a 22mm copper pipe ( to form a female socket ) and solder one pipe to the other.

 

[Nige F]

22.225 mm o.d . I remember where I saw those strange fittings - in an underground Gents urinal to the North of Waterloo - they were all polished up and the place was Victorian tiles everywhere.

 

[Lower]

Its ¾ upwards, dont have a vernier guage though so cant get the exact measurement. Going to take a piece away with me to see if we can get something to fit it

wrap your tape around the pipe to measure it's circumference. You can calculate the diameter from that. If you don't know how, post the measurement on here and i'll calculate it for you.

 

[fixitflav]

Hi, i appreciate your reply but the thickness of the pipe is very much relevant. The fact that it is about 3mm thick means that I cant get any fitting over it, a standard 22mm olive is the exact same diameter and an imperial olive is far too small to get over it. What do you mean by solder a transitional coupling on? If there is a particular fitting you have in mind then I would like to know more as a standard 22mm yorky will not fit over the pipe either, cheers

Perhaps I'm missing something, but I don't see what the problem is. If a standard 22mm olive is the exact same diameter, can't you use a 22mm fitting, either compression or solder?

 

[ianmcd]

it is not imperial or metric it is much bigger and you wont get a fitting to fit it, as already said its a full re-pipe or if you want to connect onto it , you will have to do as I already said, remove the short section

Perhaps I'm missing something, but I don't see what the problem is. If a standard 22mm olive is the exact same diameter, can't you use a 22mm fitting, either compression or solder?

no because the pipe is too big,only way is as I already advised, it is victorian copper and barsteward size, that is an official description but not barsteward obviously

 

[fixitflav]

it is not imperial or metric it is much bigger and you wont get a fitting to fit it, as already said its a full re-pipe or if you want to connect onto it , you will have to do as I already said, remove the short section

no because the pipe is too big,only way is as I already advised, it is victorian copper and barsteward size, that is an official description but not barsteward obviously

OK by "exact same diameter" I assumed he meant the 22mm olive would go on. I agree, if the 2 are exactly the same diameter it won't, but it only needs a minute amount taking off the pipe for it to go on. Don't you think going at it with abrasive paper would do the trick? Provided he can get good enough access.

 

[Razor900]

This is where a plumber with a pipe expander is worth their weight in gold............

Personally I think you should recommend a repipe and weigh the old stuff in

 

[ianmcd]

This is where a plumber with a pipe expander is worth their weight in gold............

Personally I think you should recommend a repipe and weigh the old stuff in

its not an expander Razor the pipe is too big not too small, have only come across it once years ago its Victorian pipe, really thick walled

 

[denso13]

its Victorian pipe

Not quite as old as that but I've come across heavy gauge copper a few times. There was a drifted (mechanical) coupling available but haven't looked for a long time.