Freeze machine

[Dannypipe]

Hi chaps, I've been after a freeze machine for a while. I did have a rothenburg machine that would do 15/22mm but needed something that would do bigger pipe. Plus the rothenburg machine was a bit unreliable.

Anyway, I've bought this:

ARTIC ELECTRIC COMMERCIAL PIPE FREEZER 110v on eBay (end time 19-Dec-10 21:13:59 GMT)


Anyone used one? Are they any good? It's cost me £330.

 

[quality]

A friend of mine has the same machine and apart from it being quite heavy he his happy with it

 

[obseen16]

we had the rothenburg sales rep in our local merchants showing us all how amazing their new pipe freezer was, has it out and was using a u piece of 15 mm with water in it to show how it worked, he said " itll freeze any pipe in no time". "whats the risk of splitting the pipe when freezing it"? i said, he said "As long as theres an open end or no pressure in the pipe it will be ok, if theres pressure in the pipe it would probably split it".

"SO freezing a main to replace the stop tap as a last resort is out of the question then?"

he nodded his head. now that was one hell of a sales man, truely honest lol. turned me right off it.

 

[Dannypipe]

Yeah he was too honest, plus the rothy machine takes ages to freeze. I had mine on hire, and I was glad to give it back. Hope this thing which weighs a ton is a bit more heavy duty.

 

[ecowarm]

thats a bargain dan its about 900 squid machine

 

[quality]

My mate said for best results with his machine he uses a couple of layers of wet paper towel between the freeze heads and the pipe

 

[BLOD]

The box, cable & heads look exactly the same as the freezemaster one that I've got - it's an excellent tool !

 

[Dannypipe]

Cheers for the advice Quality.

I went for this model as it looks identical to the Freezemaster 350D. Which I hear is a great bit of kit.

I need to get round to trialing it, but the guy I bought from has 100% good feedback, so I know it'll be all good.

Its going to be a lifesaver when I do next have to use it. Freezing with bottles is fine, but this is the way to do it properly!

 

[erin]

Cheers for the advice Quality.

I went for this model as it looks identical to the Freezemaster 350D. Which I hear is a great bit of kit.

I need to get round to trialing it, but the guy I bought from has 100% good feedback, so I know it'll be all good.

Its going to be a lifesaver when I do next have to use it. Freezing with bottles is fine, but this is the way to do it properly!

Are these freeze machines reliable enough on open vented 28mm pipe? this place has got about 25rads and I don't fancy draining down for a 2 port valve, beside its probably tar in the pipes at this stage.

 

[Dannypipe]

Yeah they will do 28mm easy. Since this thread started we have bought another freeze machine. Brand new this time. Don't use it often but they are double handy. With your 28mm just ensure you have room each side for the heads (about 100mm with some room to play)

 

[newcastle phill]

Run it once a month to keep the seals lubricated.
If not you may find the refrigerant may leak out over time due tobthe seals drying out

 

[tomplumb83]

Ive got a freeze master for sale if anyones after one.
Its a 240 as well which is rare going by ebay

I think its only for upto 22mm

 

[newcastle phill]

How old and does it freeze immediatelypm me price
Cheers me deers

 

[Clint 1979]

Ive got a freeze master for sale if anyones after one.
Its a 240 as well which is rare going by ebay

I think its only for upto 22mm

How much Tom? PM some details

 

[tomplumb83]

No Phil it definitely doesn't freeze immediately!
I've been meaning to put it on ebay the last few weeks.
I bought it a year ago and have never needed used it other than turning it on every couple of weeks it doesn't get used. It was regassed when I bought it.
It does start freezing immediately but It takes 15-20minutes before the heads looks well and truly snowed under

 

[Dannypipe]

The difference between my brand new machine and the old one is stark. The new one gets cold within minutes and within 5/10 minutes it is covered in frost. I wanted to get the old one regassed but the gasses are banned on the old one so I would need to get it done by a dodgy AC guy. Not worth it. Even the old one does still freeze eventually. Takes around 3 times as long and doesn't get to -40 like the new one. I bought 240 as I don't like carrying the tranny around!

 

[newcastle phill]

You will be able to get a drop in.
Something like r134a.

Probably r12 if its an old old device.
Youll probably find it will work for a few weeks, perhaps a month but will stop as the seals are aged

 

[erin]

These gadgets really sound the business for this one particular job but i kind of suspect its gonna spend quite a bit of time in storage like the £1000 powerflush machine! Lets say you gotta freeze in order to take out a 2 port valve, if the heads are within 200mm of the compression nuts, is there not a risk of splitting the pipe as you crack open the comp fitting? I 'd be fuming if i paid £700 for that late night scenario and 25 radiators boxed in behind seating etc needing to be drained down!!
I m guessing, so long as I fit the new valve back within a few minutes, then only a short plug of ice has built up, just a bit weary thats all

 

[Dannypipe]

It won't split the pipe. I've left freezes on all day and all that happens in the plug gets longer.

 

[erin]

Thanks turkeys christmas is out of the way...... Anyway fair point, having used the machine, pipe splitting sounds about as likely as the the pope standing by his kids... anyway what I would say to anyone thinking these save time and money: definitely not always and can cause havoc. I was over 1 meter from a circulator and the seals on it went, possibly rubber in stop cocks etc are effected also. So would I run out and hire one again? only if it was the only solution or was a no brainer in saving me time... time time time spent at the hire shop, in traffic .....

 

[northcarr]

I've had a freezmaster for yrs it's been well worth the money yes it does spend time in storage but when I get a pain in the rear end job it saves a lot of time. I have a 350d it will freez up to 42mm it takes around 15 to 20 mins to freez 22mm. The only drawback is it's a heavy piece of kit.

 

[Ermintrude]

Who needs a pipe freezing machine it's minus 200

 

[wetdrip]

Simples, just borrow my Freeze Mrs.
One look from her and oil freezes.

 

[Dotty]

Simples, just borrow my Freeze Mrs.
One look from her and oil freezes.

I only hope that she never sees this.