Replies

1. 
   plumbbill | Feb 27, 2006 12:59am | #1

   Interesting

   I have never seen or heard of it before you posted it.

    

   http://www.justforcopper.com/History.htm 

   Looks like good stuff I'm not sure it would be cost effective in my area but for the HO or the repair guy it might be the ticket.

1. 
   Jemcon | Feb 27, 2006 02:55am | #2

   I thought the same thing about the stuff. The only time it might help is in a realy tight place that a torch would be extremely dangerous. But I haven't found one yet.

     

    

    

   Headstong, I'll take on anyone!

1. 
   Hoohuli | Feb 27, 2006 03:04am | #4

   I questioned if it would work or not also, but now I have found it to be so easy to use, I probably won't use my torch any more. The good thing is when doing repairs the pipe does not have to be completely free of water!!!!!
   I'm still wondering if anyone has had any negative results with this stuff?

1. 
   DanH | Feb 27, 2006 04:13am | #5

   How do you get a joint apart?

   If ignorance is bliss why aren't more people

   happy?

1. 
   plumbbill | Feb 27, 2006 04:22am | #7

   Yeah that's why I didn't think it would do much in my world.

   I wonder how much you would need to do a 6" joint

2. 
   Hoohuli | Feb 27, 2006 05:33am | #9

   Just a question, but where do you use 6" copper joints??

3. 
   plumbbill | Feb 27, 2006 08:14am | #11

   Just got done installing about 1500' of 6" copper in Lincon Square Bellevue Wa

   42 story hotel/condo

   Anything above 2" we usually vic it ---- victaulic is a grooved coupling

4. 
   user-86517 | Feb 27, 2006 08:54am | #12

   What is a vic coupling? How does it work? Does it work for stuff other than copper?--Andy

5. 
   plumbbill | Feb 27, 2006 09:28am | #13

   Pretty much any pipe except cast iron

   http://www.victaulic.com/

   Mainly two types of vic grooves--- roll groove & cut groove

   The web site should be able to answer any question you have on how it works.

2. 
   Hoohuli | Feb 27, 2006 02:58am | #3

   I found it at our local gas supply shop when they had the reps for all sorts of products here. There are two types, one the normal and the other with Pro added to the name. The only difference is that the Pro has a blue dye that shows after the joint is made. This is so the inspector will know the joint has been done, the reg. leaves a clean looking joint. I just did a copper exposed hose bib on a lanai, and the clean joints really look good.

2. 
   user-86517 | Feb 27, 2006 04:22am | #6

   I;ve only used it once, about 3 years ago. I used it in a situation where I didn't have enough room to get a torch in there without burning down the house. The stuff I used was a 2 part epoxy that you mix, smear over the pipe & fitting, then wait a while while it sets up. All I know is that I haven't been called back for that particular job, so it must've worked.

   That being said, I will probably never use it again unless the situation absilutely demands it. Why? Because there is a better product out there for this particular application.

   http://www.cashacme.com/sharkbiteflexfittings.html

   These push on fittings are great. They are a relatively new product. I've talked to several plumbers who have used them, and I've used them myself from time to time. They create a nice, solid, positive connection. They work for copper, pvc, and flex. They are very easy to use (just push them on). They don't require any set up time like solvent or solder. And one of the biggest advantages is that they are reusable. You can remove them if you need to.

   The big disagvantage: They are expensive. Usually $5.00 per fitting. But they are well worth the money for those special applications where a torch or excessive drywall patching or cabinet destroying is not possible.

   On a side note, I now always carry a few of the cap fittings in my plumbing kit. They are handy to have in case you accidently cut a live line or the water is turned on while you are working. Just jam a cap on the pipe, problem solved. In addition, I now love using these caps to preassure test a system prior to covering up the pipes and installing the trim. It is easier than creating a huge stub out, soldering on a cap, waiting, testing the system, fixing it, changins something else, soldering another cap on, etc. Just shove on a SharkBite and be done with it. Remove and repeat again..

   You can find these things at pretty much any plumbing wholesaler/retailer. It's just a matter of time before they hit Home Deopt or Lowes.

   --Andy

1. 
   Hoohuli | Feb 27, 2006 05:32am | #8

   I'll have to see if our local supply house has those shark fittings, they look great. The Copper Bond is not a two part epoxy, just a squeeze bottle, put a bead on the edge of each piece, press together, twist 90-180dg., wipe off the excess. After 10 min. good to 200 psi. permanant after several hours. I pressurized the shower valve after 20 min. I did one test on a piece and found that after 1 hour I could put a couple of pipe wrenches on and twist off the joint with a lot of effort.

1. 
   Piffin | Feb 28, 2006 06:16pm | #22

   This subject came up a couple months ago. Seaarch this forum for posts about the product. I thiknk the Mad scientist started the thread. I have considered trying it someday, when I see it in a local store. 

    

   Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

1. 
   madmadscientist | Mar 02, 2006 04:03am | #23

   This subject came up a couple months ago. Search this forum for posts about the product. I think the Mad scientist started the thread. I have considered trying it someday, when I see it in a local store.

   Yep that was me.  I used and liked it though I did have some issues.  I must not of read the instructions right because I thought that the glue set up much faster than it did.  I inadvertently twisted some fittings that I thought were glued tight and they leaked-no way to fix it that I could tell.  I glued up some fittings with actual water in the pipe and I think the running water washed the glue away and caused a leak.  It is a kind of a pain in the butt to glue up an assembly then have to wait like 5 min to use it, and then you really can't manhandle it for an hour.  It always seems that when I am doing retro-fit plumbing that I always have to manhandle a couple of the fittings-runs.

    

    Daniel Neuman

   Oakland CA

   Crazy Home Owner

2. 
   ponytl | Feb 27, 2006 07:01am | #10

   while waiting at the supply house i just saw those last week... I didn't check the price but they looked $$  but love your idea of keep'n em around for "water that should be off & isn't .... also where the water won't turn off 100% for whatever reason...

   next time i stop at the supply house i'll have a few

   thanks

   p

3. 
   DanT | Feb 27, 2006 01:21pm | #14

   I like those fittings too but they are pricey.  A straight coupler in our area is $9.  But in a situation like you described where you can't get a torch well worth the money.  So we carry one on each truck now so if you need it or get a situation where you can't get water flow to stop then you can couple a valve on and go from there.  We have had them on the trucks a year now and no one has had to use them but I still like the concept for and emergency deal.  DanT

4. 
   BigBill | Feb 27, 2006 05:24pm | #16

   http://www.cashacme.com/sharkbiteflexfittings.html

    

   These are in Menards now and I've used them on copper and pcvp.  They can really help when you are working a place where the water can't be off for the time it would take to drain and sweat on a valve.

5. 
   BobS | Feb 27, 2006 07:00pm | #17

   Isn't the o-ring inside these gonna wear out over time? Seems like something that shouldn't be sealed up in a wall.

1. 
   Hoohuli | Feb 27, 2006 08:19pm | #19

   good point!

2. 
   user-86517 | Feb 28, 2006 07:58am | #20

   Yeah, the o ring will fail at some point. Then again, soldered copper pipes also fail. The Sharkbite connections are approved for in wall use and direct burial. But then I would still only use them as necessary.--andy

3. 
   plumbbill | Feb 28, 2006 02:57pm | #21

   I'm not a big fan of sharkbite fittings.

   But on the rubber issue

   Victaulic which was invented by the Germans during WW2 ( tired of their welders getting sniped at night) has a rubber ring in it I haven't seen one fail yet because of age.

   If you're not familiar with the system look up in any warehouse store--- the black pipe with orange couplings for the fireprotection is victaulic.

3. 
   Hammered | Feb 27, 2006 05:12pm | #15

   Just replumbed my Dads house................and spotted the "Just for Copper" display at my local Ace Hardware. They had an assembly there they put together with a pressure gauge on one end that read 90 psi. So I bought a bottle for $19 and tried it. Didn't want to do the whole job in fear that if it didn't work I'd be up a creek. Did about 20 fittings and it worked fine................no leaks. The bottle says it will do 200 fittings which I seriously doubt...................so replumbing a house with the stuff would be pretty expensive. Like everyone else I'll keep a bottle in my kit for those hard to reach places.

1. 
   Hoohuli | Feb 27, 2006 08:19pm | #18

   The bottle I got over here was $29 and does about that many joints, so I just added $1 ####joint to the job, probably should do that for flux, solder, and gas. Good to hear someone else has used it, I'm happy with it for the tough jobs.