Jointing copper to gas pipe??

[tamz]

Some 25 years ago, i used to have in my toolbag, a useful clamp which was metal and adjustable and was used to firmly hold two bits together so that you could do your lead joint without it falling to bits as you worked on it and spattering you with molten solder and pipe!

Needless to say,said clamp has long gone awol.

I guess you cant get them any more? Maybe I'll have to make something?

Posh plumber you were. We had to use some split sticks :lol:

We just called them pipe clamps. I think there may be a set in my ma's garage. I think they would need steeped in an oil bath to get them open tho.

 

[kirkgas]

you dont need pipe clamps anymore, the water Byelaws state you cannot solder lead to copper anymore, you need to use a fitting to connect copper to lead now, the skill has all gone, i remember the pipe clamps they joined in the middle like a compass then a leg clamping each pipe together to hold them steady, but once the bolts went AWOL you were back to hammering 2 screwdrivers into the wall and tying the pipes them with string

 

[GQuigley67]

i have only really done lead flashing at college and i didnt really like it, how can plumbers of today call themselves plumbers ?? I have also been told that they are removing lead from the college based work in the NVQs

 

[GasmanxxxR1]

Getting back to the original post.....

Where i live, it is quite common to find lead pipe on the gas. However it is always the first foot or so connecting the meter to threaded steel pipe, the joints on it are all threaded joints with a rubber washer

Our firm always replace this bit, just in case it is damaged in the future and causes a restriction in the gas supply

 

[stevetheplumber]

you dont need pipe clamps anymore, the water Byelaws state you cannot solder lead to copper anymore, you need to use a fitting to connect copper to lead now, the skill has all gone, i remember the pipe clamps they joined in the middle like a compass then a leg clamping each pipe together to hold them steady, but once the bolts went AWOL you were back to hammering 2 screwdrivers into the wall and tying the pipes them with string

not strictly true kirk that only applies to potable water i recently wiped a bit of waste pipe
lead basin waste coming in to flat on fourth floor to short to get it into a trap and not enough room for a multi fit all a bit hit and miss as i only had rolls of solder and a rag wrapped rounds some cardboard for a wiping cloth i wouldnt say it was the pretties wipe ive ever done but it held water
ive still got my pipe clamps but they live in the garage these days more often used for welding or glueing stuff i know what you mean about the two screw drivers and some string trouble is nowadays every where is walllpapered dont think customers would be to keen on a couple of holes in the laura ashley
its a different world
prized thing to aquire as an apprentice was a cloth money bag from a bank to keep your wiping kit in and a tobacco tin for your cloths the whole thing wound up black and slippery from the tallow

 

[Pssst]

Did you know that lead gas service pipes used to be commonplace and that it is still possible to find live lead incoming services?

The servicelayers of yesteryear used to wipe the brass onto the incoming lead whilst it was live. None of yer 'elf and safety malarky in those days.

 

[kirkgas]

lead jointing is acceptable but you should ideally rip it out,as tamz says its not easy to do a lead to copper weld you will need a shave hook,tallow and lead stick heat the copper and know how /when to apply the lead

Tam says its all in the wrist action:bucktooth:

 

[kirkgas]

not strictly true kirk that only applies to potable water i recently wiped a bit of waste pipe
lead basin waste coming in to flat on fourth floor to short to get it into a trap and not enough room for a multi fit all a bit hit and miss as i only had rolls of solder and a rag wrapped rounds some cardboard for a wiping cloth i wouldnt say it was the pretties wipe ive ever done but it held water
ive still got my pipe clamps but they live in the garage these days more often used for welding or glueing stuff i know what you mean about the two screw drivers and some string trouble is nowadays every where is walllpapered dont think customers would be to keen on a couple of holes in the laura ashley
its a different world
prized thing to aquire as an apprentice was a cloth money bag from a bank to keep your wiping kit in and a tobacco tin for your cloths the whole thing wound up black and slippery from the tallow

fair point, but i was meaning water pipes as opposed to wastes, i used to get the job of soldering the brass tail into the lead for wastes and cylinder boiler couplings oh the joys

 

[stevetheplumber]

fair point, but i was meaning water pipes as opposed to wastes, i used to get the job of soldering the brass tail into the lead for wastes and cylinder boiler couplings oh the joys

i had just got my first job as a plumber after my apprentiship and had to roll two cap and linings onto lead shorts for water main connections as i had several to do i laid a board across two new sink unit bases as a bench with blocks to roll on ,did the job , no problem took the board of and found the heat from where id been hanging the gun had melted the plastic drawers in the units below oooooops