LArge OD Pipes

[Stewie007]

Where can I get my hands on some? I need 4 inchers. :)

[wdrzal]

4 inch what? smoking pipes :D

[n00b 0f l337]

Bong?

Whats it for. Say or the brocolli gets it!

[ellsworth]

4 inch copper is going to be tough to find

[harleybro]

I am sure a local plumbing supply house can order it. :)
Here's (http://www.onlinemetals.com/) a cool site I came across but no 4"

[wdrzal]

If you guys seen how much of that stuff I took too a scrap yard ,you woud die. I dismantled a wash house for a coal mine 5 years ago that had 200 shower heads.it had 4 giant water heaters, the storage tanks were 1000 gals each, the main connecting tube was 4 inch. it was in great shape too, I got scrap price for copper,it was $1.50 per pound , I piled it up at the shop and after 3 years and not needing any I got tired looking at it . I don't use stuff that big normally and if I did I wouldn't use used pipe. so I scraped it ,DARN,

[Stewie007]

I found a place to get it and all a while ago.... but it seems a bit pricy, even for large tubes. Was wondering if anyone knew a better place.

Online metals only has 4 inch in Steel, looked there. I may possibly use Stainless Steel since it isn't quite as expensive. So I might end up getting it from there.

[wdrzal]

what are you looking for stewie? what about just welding one up to your specs. pick the material and the shape and make it.that's what I would do.

[ellsworth]

if you just want 4" pipe, pvc is the shiz

[i_like_penguins]

i think this is for a oil sep or hx right? steel would work. just take your design to a welding shop and they will come up with something. should not be to pricy to have them make it.

[Stewie007]

if you just want 4" pipe, pvc is the shiz

Been there, scrapped that.

I'm not looking for ideas, just a place to buy materials that I may not be aware of.

I already know what I'm going to do.

I'm going to take 2, 4" tubes of around 16" in length and put my coils in. Then the Caps (with proper holes drilled into them) will be brazed on either end to create a closed capsule. I'll naturally braze on the unions for my water lines. I don't need a weld shop, I've got all the skills I need. :) But it seems that there aren't many places that'll sell large OD pipes to just anyone. So I'll do what most people suggest and check out the Plumbing Supply stores. Most of the places I've called though require I buy 20 foot pipes...

These two tubes will be my cooler and condenser shells. The Evaporator will be inside one, and the condenser inside the other. Water flows through them. :) Not making an oil separator, I don't need one.

[i_like_penguins]

water hx. gotcha. another place you could get some large od pipes would be a chainlink fencing company. worked at one for years. if you ask nice you might be able to get some scrap pipe for free. we use up to 6" for gate posts and almost always had a foot or so long chunk floating around. going to be schedule 40 or so galvanized steel.

[Stewie007]

I don't like the galvanized variety. Have to grind it first of all. And there will be some overlap and that's rust potential. I'd rather go with stainless with brass caps. Braze it with 40T and some black flux.

[pythagoras]

Whats black flux Stewie? I have some 55% silver rods and the flux powder for those is white.

Regards

John.

[Stewie007]

Black Flux is just a type of high temp flux. The kind we use is StaySilv. It works much better than powder flux. JW Harris Co makes it.

It works up to 1800F, and is generally used with steel or brass to copper connections.

On another note.

I located a place to buy some copper caps. The one place I found had them for 48 bucks, but this place is selling them for 26 each, half of the typical price. So I got 4 caps for 107.

The tubing I purchased from a difference place, Plumbingsupply.com. Couldn't find anyone that had large OD pipes on hand scrap wise or at an acceptable length or cheaper near by. It cost me 72 plus shipping for the piping, and 112 plus shipping for the caps.

Total = 181, much better than the 256 it would have cost me by ordering all from p-s.com.

[wdrzal]

thought you worked at a carrier plant, won't they give you or even sell you their scrap?

[Stewie007]

We don't use Copper pipes that large. Plus, all of our copper comes into the plant as it shall be used, we don't cut to fit.

The only pipes we use that are that large are made out of steel, and not something that would be scrapped, nor that I could braze a cap onto. They are also, not straight pipes.

[stealth17]

try http://mcmaster.com

[Stewie007]

Too late, me already purchased.. Besides they don't have what I want.

[Russell_hq]

Stewie, why mess around with caps? just get some flat copper bar and braze it to the ends of the pipe. Its not like you need a strong a joint that a cap would give you. Your only running water/coolant through it so pressure would be quite low.

[Stewie007]

A Flat copper bar? I'm not sure I follow.

I know I wouldn't need as strong of a joint. That's not what I want. Its a measure of pride. Half assing it wouldn't do. Brazing a flat piece onto the end of a tube? That would be pretty ugly, and not something I'd be proud to put my name on. Besides, it wouldn't be any cheaper.

[Russell_hq]

Something like a piece of 1/4"x5"x5" bar and braze the 4" tube onto that

[Stewie007]

That would likely be more expensive than a cap.

[Russell_hq]

If its copper caps and tube then u may consider soft soldering the caps on with lead-free solder. That way you wont discolour the metal that much and it will look good. Just an idea :D

[Stewie007]

Eh, I'm not worried about that. All that it is, is oxidation, it can be claned with any number of grinders. I use a floppy grinder with a 60 grit sanding grinder, or a good wire brush. Besides, you can also paint it.

Use a good industrial primer, and a decent acrylic paint. It'll do the job. :)

Edit: Besides, in my opinion, Brazing them looks alot more schnazzy. :)

[Stewie007]

Well my 4 incher arrived today ^_^. As soon as the caps get here, its off to the plant to braze it up.