1/2 inch vs 15mm endfeeds

[jj70]

Hello folks
Can you get a tight fit(without soldering) using 15mm copper with 1/2 inch endfeed or vice versa?. Basically want a tight fit when I connect the copper pipe to the elbow. I do not want to solder the joints as I want to be able take apart for cleaning. I am an avid homebrewer and when making beer we use a coolbox with a copper manifold linked to a tap. Copper manifold has slits which hold back the malted barley so the wort (beer eventually ) can be strained out. At the moment I have to put a nick on endfeeds so the copper pipe stays tight. But would rather a tight fit like professionals version you can buy. Photo below of inside of my mash-tun.

Cheers guys
http://i527.photobucket.com/albums/cc352/kitoog/DSC00223.jpg

 

[justlead1]

Hi. I am assuming that copper is specified for this application? If that is the case. Will the use of plastic "O" ring push fit elbows etc be an option? In percentage terms, plastic would be a small part of the overall.

 

[jj70]

Ye copper is used for this. I am not using solder ring endfeeds as in the pic but plain endfeeds. I do not really want to use plastic push fits as they are not really recommended. There is one commercial version you can buy and the pipe fits into the endfeed very tightly, maybe they got oversized pipe for a tight fit? Generally which has smaller I.D. between 1/2 inch and 15mm endfeed?

 

[WHPES]

Try opening out the ends slightly with a drift to make a tighter fit.

Alternatively if you can get hold of some old 1/2 inch pipe it will fit tightly into a modern 15mm end feed fitting.

 

[Garryaca@yahoo.]

How about copper pushfit?

 

[emerald]

if you want to go to extremes, use crimped copper fittings, maybe you can hire the tool from somewhere, but you couldnt take them apart .. sry

 

[Dannypipe]

Copper pushfits, and the demounting tool.

Or

Compression joints -these would be brass, but I can't see that it would matter.

 

[Alanka]

If you can borrow a pipe expander, you can very slightly expand the diameter of the copper pipe to make it a snug pushfit in the socket - as tight or as loose as you like without any soldering needed.

I'm sure you could also hire one.