Chrome pipe bending and filing

[jaydebruyne]

whats the best and quickest method of filing off the chrome plating on chrome 15mm copper? And is chrome pipe bendable? Any method I need to adopt to bend it?

Doing a job next week fitting 10 new rads and the woman wants all rads to have chrome pipework coming up from floor.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Just a normal file will be ok

And yes any good quality chrome copper will be fine just take it slowly and do a test bend first

 

[jaydebruyne]

Just a normal file will be ok

And yes any good quality chrome copper will be fine just take it slowly and do a test bend first

You reckon a dremel will be ok to use? Need it to be quicker than a file

 

[ShaunCorbs]

You reckon a dremel will be ok to use? Need it to be quicker than a file

Normally file it off in less than 30 seconds

You can use a grinder with a sanding disc if you want it sharpish

 

[tolly]

use a rasp, bahco do a handy one, fine file on one side and a coarse rasp on the reverse.

 

[jaydebruyne]

use a rasp, bahco do a handy one, fine file on one side and a coarse rasp on the reverse.

I'll see if I can grab one and have a bash at the weekend.. cheers Tolly

 

[Best]

Some brands of chromed copper pipe are easier to file the chrome off than others. Use a new flat file, keeping it totally flat against the pipe.
Maybe best where possible to just use straight piece of chromed pipe and a soldered elbow, to save you having to do machine bends
If you do have to bend chromed pipe, - use some oil on the bender and pipe. Note that the manufacturer will not guarantee the pipe if you bend it.

 

[gas tec]

Same as above, I use an older type Bahco rasp. Gets it off quicker than a normal file. Smooth it off with a file.

 

[Chalked]

I use a grinder with a metal blade. But tbh, as long as your back to bright copper, your sorted

 

[jaydebruyne]

I know what il be doing this weekend then lol

 

[Best]

Or tell the woman to buy some chrome pipe snap covers!
They look as good as real chrome if fitted well and you can replace them to have it looking good as new in the future. At least, that's the spin I use to save me filing bloody chrome off pipes!

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Or tell the woman to buy some chrome pipe snap covers!
They look as good as real chrome if fitted well and you can replace them to have it looking good as new in the future. At least, that's the spin I use to save me filing bloody chrome off pipes!

They don't do offset ones tho best

 

[jaydebruyne]

They don't do offset ones tho best

Maybe I'll invent pliable chrome covers !!! One day Rodney!

 

[Best]

They don't do offset ones tho best

True! I didn't know by his wording he meant bending pipes that will be on show above the floor.

 

[Best]

Maybe I'll invent pliable chrome covers !!! One day Rodney!

Spray chrome paint!!! Solved!
Rodney, some day we are going to be millionaires!

 

[jaydebruyne]

Just been looking at a 5 piece bahco file set, never knew so many bastards in one set lol

 

[Harvest Fields]

Definitely a file. I use one I got of me good Dad. It's about 30 years old. Problem is, I only have one on the van and when I want it I can never find it

 

[jaydebruyne]

Definitely a file. I use one I got of me good Dad. It's about 30 years old. Problem is, I only have one on the van and when I want it I can never find it

I used to be like that, now I'm anal about keeping my van tidy. After every job I put things back where they need to be, even if I'm in a rush. Cos I know the moment I just chuck it in the back I'm spending half hour looking for it next time lol

 

[Best]

Definitely a file. I use one I got of me good Dad. It's about 30 years old. Problem is, I only have one on the van and when I want it I can never find it

It is a problem with files, unless you have a handle on them - and a brightly coloured one, or they will blend in with other tools or lie on their edge.
I have loads of times searched my tool box I thought thoroughly and decided I had lost my file, only to find it in the same tool box later.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

It is a problem with files, unless you have a handle on them - and a brightly coloured one, or they will blend in with other tools or lie on their edge.
I have loads of times searched my tool box I thought thoroughly and decided I had lost my file, only to find it in the same tool box later.

Normally after you bought a new one

 

[jaydebruyne]

Thing that annoys me is putting tools down in a job, you go to get it and it ain't there.. you search for 10 mins every where and it's in the same damn spot you first looked at.. does my head in lol

 

[Best]

Normally after you bought a new one

Done that before a few times! That why I keep 2 of most tools, - if I can't find one spanner, I will probably find the second one and then stumble upon the first in a few days.

 

[Chriswareham]

save time yous compression

 

[ShaunCorbs]

save time yous compression

Looks wrong and ugly and same amount of time as bending a set

 

[Harvest Fields]

save time yous compression

Bending looks a lot better and shows the customer that you take pride in your work.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Bending looks a lot better and shows the customer that you take pride in your work.

Also shows your a plumber not a handy man

 

[jaydebruyne]

The work of a handyman and compressions.. lol I lowered it yesterday and changed the valves to straights and put a couple of offset bends

 

[Best]

The work of a handyman and compressions.. lol I lowered it yesterday and changed the valves to straights and put a couple of offset bends

And I think I see cheap isolating valves on the pipes as they come out of floor? Absolutely hate them and definitely not for heating pipes

 

[Last Plumber]

And I think I see cheap isolating valves on the pipes as they come out of floor? Absolutely hate them and definitely not for heating pipes

I agree with that Sir. Horrible things and more often than not useless and leak !
I never use them on heating systems.
They seem to be on everything at the moment.

 

[Best]

I agree with that Sir. Horrible things and more often than not useless and leak !
I never use them on heating systems.
They seem to be on everything at the moment.

I totally stopped using them even on cold supplies to toilets etc. I only use the good quality full flow valves on hot & cold supplies and I never use valves on heating pipes unless lever or gate valves that are there for good reason.
Too many DIY or " I am a plumber" type people doing plumbing who have no idea really. The isolating valves just makes their job easy to stop water flowing

 

[Last Plumber]

Same here. I can't see the point in fitting restrictive leaky valves everywhere.
In my opinion, if you're a decent Plumber, you don't need them anyway. More often than not you can manage to shut off or drain something whilst you fix can't you?

It drives me insane, going to repair something only to find you have to replace the leaky isolation valve as well LOL.
Same with those quarter turn pump valves and drain taps at the bottom of the heating system that fill with gunk and the washer rots onto the seating.

Rant over !

 

[jaydebruyne]

Same here. I can't see the point in fitting restrictive leaky valves everywhere.
In my opinion, if you're a decent Plumber, you don't need them anyway. More often than not you can manage to shut off or drain something whilst you fix can't you?

It drives me insane, going to repair something only to find you have to replace the leaky isolation valve as well LOL.
Same with those quarter turn pump valves and drain taps at the bottom of the heating system that fill with gunk and the washer rots onto the seating.

Rant over !

Cannot stand quarter turn pump valves, if I need to change a pump and I see those my heart sinks.. I know the minute I turn it, if it turns at all, it will leak and won't stop. So always just replace them with gate pump valves

 

[Chriswareham]

Looks wrong and ugly and same amount of time as bending a set

i ment coming out from the wall in to the valve the elbow would be in the wall to the heated towle rail