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glenno1
Can relate to last post many times ive took a plastic joint apart and found no insert so im wary when i use it and have on occasions stripped a joint down to make sure ive put an insert in place
Discuss does anyone still use copper in a 1st fix downstairs gorund floor in the Plumbing Jobs | The Job-board area at PlumbersForums.net
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Bernie2
Plastic eek! Copper great. Have even helped with full lead pipe out's as apprentice and done many repairs myself with it. Those where the days!!! I'd sooner forget all that hard work. The shave hook felt like part of your hand.
It was a lot slower pace then and the boss would say "Don't care how long you take make a good job" The modern saying is "When will you be finished" sometimes even before you had started.
It was a lot slower pace then and the boss would say "Don't care how long you take make a good job" The modern saying is "When will you be finished" sometimes even before you had started.
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Guest123
Contrary to popular opinion, I'm NOT against plastic! I like to complete an installation knowing that what I have fitted will last for many years and I just can't endorse that with a push fit fitting compared to a soldered or compression fitting. I would never even consider using plastic and push fit in an area that is enclosed like under a floor or in a cavity, but would readily use copper and soldered fittings instead.
Plastic does have it's uses and it is improving all the time. I still remember installing the original Acorn fittings and push fit systems have come a long way since those times. My biggest bug bear with push fit systems is incompatability between different brands and I'd like a standard to be introduced between manufacturers that allows say Speedfit pipe and Hep20 fittings to be used together and most importantly be guaranteed to be suitable with no void of warranty for doing so.
I rarely use plastic on bathrooms unless I have little choice. My preference is for JG Speedfit as mounting and demounting is childs play, but the plastic coils can be difficult to work with so I tend to use straight lengths. I use it during the Summer months for many of the outside tap installations that I do, but my preference for the forseeable future will always be copper.
The biggest problem with push fit installations is incorrect fitting. Too many use it without understanding what is required for a correct and trouble free installation. Used properly with the correct clip spacings, proper inserts and full slip, it is a good system but it also has its limitations. A change of direction usually requires a fitting and these are both ugly and expensive, while copper can be bent on a machine for a nice neat finish. I hope that the next generation of PEX pipe from JG allows for more flexibility and more importantly can be bent on a standard bending machine and retain its shape without having to use those ugly formers.
Plastic does have it's uses and it is improving all the time. I still remember installing the original Acorn fittings and push fit systems have come a long way since those times. My biggest bug bear with push fit systems is incompatability between different brands and I'd like a standard to be introduced between manufacturers that allows say Speedfit pipe and Hep20 fittings to be used together and most importantly be guaranteed to be suitable with no void of warranty for doing so.
I rarely use plastic on bathrooms unless I have little choice. My preference is for JG Speedfit as mounting and demounting is childs play, but the plastic coils can be difficult to work with so I tend to use straight lengths. I use it during the Summer months for many of the outside tap installations that I do, but my preference for the forseeable future will always be copper.
The biggest problem with push fit installations is incorrect fitting. Too many use it without understanding what is required for a correct and trouble free installation. Used properly with the correct clip spacings, proper inserts and full slip, it is a good system but it also has its limitations. A change of direction usually requires a fitting and these are both ugly and expensive, while copper can be bent on a machine for a nice neat finish. I hope that the next generation of PEX pipe from JG allows for more flexibility and more importantly can be bent on a standard bending machine and retain its shape without having to use those ugly formers.
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So how come, as referred to in the original post, other trades are amazed at seeing copper being used and yet nearly everyone so far in this thread uses copper. Is this forum just an unrepresentative sample of the trade?
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Guest123
Don't think it is mate as most other trades I work with only get to see second fix which in my case is copper. All the diy shows on TV such as diy SOS etc all use copper and there are plenty of other trades there to see it.
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tamz
This is probably an unrepresentative sample because most people on this forum actually have a bit pride in their work. Most don't!
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Maybe it was just a regional thing then. My only personal experience is working on installs for a year with a guy who always did first fix in plastic. But that's a not very informative sample size of 1.
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Yeah I thought about that too. By definition the average plumber won't come on this forum. There wouldn't be enough room! So you get a mix of learners and those who live and breathe it. Those who occupy the vast middle ground of just doing it for a job without caring much about the rights and wrongs probably wouldn't dream of spending their evenings talking about work online.
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tamz
That is true
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Guest123
Plumbing is mainly a solitary occupation and it's good to come on here and share experiences with others.
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Do you not have a love slave? As I believe the PC term has it.
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tamz
If you worked on installs with me for a year you wouldn't see more than 20 ft of plastic. I do my job to the best of my ability and want the minimum of comebacks. Comebacks cost ME money so i don't use plastics as plastics DO fail. They cannot be trusted 100% unlike a soldered fitting on copper.
The cost of plastic pipe and fittings is expensive (they cost pennies to make) because the manu's allow for the probably well in the millions ££ they have to allow for damage claims every year. Anyone who has done site work will know the routine. Your ordinary Joe plumber is not the ones making the claims against the manu.
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Guest123
Sacked for being an ignorant little ersehole. I'm a bloody nightmare to work for anyway as I have to always have things done my way. Wife learned that the hard way.
SimonJohns
Gas Engineer
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System3, she doesn't like flexi's either. Only rigid?
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Reply to does anyone still use copper in a 1st fix downstairs gorund floor in the Plumbing Jobs | The Job-board area at PlumbersForums.net