When plumbers refer to iron...

[WaterTight]

Do they really mean galvanised steel?

 

[leelister6]

No. Probably. When I was pipefitting, we worked with steel pipe (mild steel) which was refered to as W.I. (wrought iron I think) so a copper to iron is just copper to steel

 

[WaterTight]

Ok. But what I mean is there aren't two separate materials of plumbing pipe, one called Steel, one called Iron, are there? There's just one: Steel. Which can be referred to as iron. For reasons I don't understand. Unless I've misunderstood.

 

[REDSAW]

its referance is to the way it is produced.
ie, mild steel is rolled to flat sheet,
steel barrel is drawn to seamles pipe.
it also changes the molecular structure of the 'steel' just like when its forged. or low carbon steel.
back to my young engineering days and proberbly wrong.lol.

 

[quality]

Cold rolled , hard drawn , hot pressed , bright drawn , steam tube its all steel but its the grade which its produced to which determines what its used for , and it normally depends how old you are and who taught you which determines what you call it

 

[stevetheplumber]

to me its all iron black iron or galvinised steel is what they use to hold walls up

 

[WaterTight]

Ok.

But do you basically treat it the same? So whatever it is, you thread it using same machines, it comes in the same set of sizes and is joined using same jointing methods? As in - there's not one set of sizes of fittings for iron and one for steel....? I will understand this or die trying.

 

[justlead1]

These terms vary up and down the country. Black iron in the home counties/London is a term used to describe screwed steel pipe. But in Berwick St W1 shouting out iron would have an entirely different meaning.

 

[Gray0689]

These terms vary up and down the country. Black iron in the home counties/London is a term used to describe screwed steel pipe. But in Berwick St W1 shouting out iron would have an entirely different meaning.

Black iron here too mate

 

[SimonJohns]

Iron is steel

Galv is galv

 

[WHPES]

Iron is not the same as steel. Iron is the metal element in its pure form. There are many different types of steel, which conists of Iron and Carbon plus other chemicals in varying proportions. The amount of carbon and other substances, and the phases (crystalline structure) can alter the characteristics massively, from very hard, brittle cast iron with lots of carbon present, to low carbon steel which is malleable, to high speed tool steel which is very hard and strong, yet can fracture if exposed to impacts. Other additives are for example Chromium and Vanadium are added to give strength, nitrides are added to give hardness.

The crystalline structure of the mixtures and the resulting material characteristics can vary dramatically at different temperatures. Material structures at higher temperatures can be retained by rapid cooling (quenching)

"black iron" is an old term from blacksmithing days meaning wrought iron, but in todays terminology it's "low carbon steel" which is tought yet malleable. It has also been confused with ductile iron which is something else altogether.

You will also come across cookware such as frying pans described as "black iron".

 

[gaspastemania]

Not sure how its forged ( never been interested ),
But as said galvanised is galv which i cut through with slice and irron is iron which you get some muppett to cut and thread !!

 

[WaterTight]

...what is this?

 

[leelister6]

Looks like galvanised steel pipe (1/2" if I'm not mistaken). Steel, W.I.,galvanised steel, stainless steel are all treated the same when being joined by screwed fittings. When being welded, steel and W.I. can be welded with standard rods, Galvanised should have the zinc ground off and then treated as steel. Stainless steel should be welded with specialist rods, mig wire or TIG welded.

 

[WaterTight]

Steel, W.I.,galvanised steel, stainless steel are all treated the same when being joined by screwed fittings.

That's kind of what I was after finding out, thanks. I just wanted to know - since I'm not experienced enough to tell them apart - whether everything I find sticking out of the kitchen floor (that's not copper or lead, which i do recognise) joined to an ancient stopcock or something is going to accept the same screwed fittings. So if it's steel or iron - any of the varieties - a half inch (or whatever size it happens to be) screwed fitting will work? Excellent.

Is it best to buy hemp and paste - or can ptfe do?

(photographed pipe is 21mm diameter by the way, so i guess closer to 3/4"?)

 

[PlumbBobBob]

hemp and paste usually for these type of fittings

 

[quality]

Loctite 577 every time