steel pipe to copper advice needed

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hi

i'm fitting a new toilet for my mum and currently the cold water feed is galvanised steel pipe that's half in the wall and half out. i'm going to tile the walls too so this needs to go. i've found a screw connector where 2 bits of the pipe screw together and this is where i would like to join.

my questions are:

do these steel pipes screw apart easy enough with say a pair of mole grips or does it need some heat?

i assume i use a 1/2"bsp to 15mm copper connector, does this need some ptfe and is so would the blow torch heat burn it away if i use a solder type connector?

i've read something about corrosion and using a special type of connector between copper and steel pipes, is this correct and if so does anyone know what they're called and where i can get one?

any advice apprecicated, thanks in advance
 
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Post a picture - but judging from the way you have worded your post, you are in for a world of pain.... call a professional would be my advise.
 
hi

thanks for the responses. here's a photo of the pipe that i want to shorten and jopin to copper.

pipe.jpg


so ideally i want to connect to the lower join with a copper pipe. i would like to have a go myself i'm fairly competent, i've just fitted a new bathroom at my own place, so should be ok with a bit of guidance.
 
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You'll need to cute the pipe between the two sockets... maybe twice to give yourself a bit of room.

Then put the appropriate sized female iron on the remaining threads and then a bit of copper.


If there is no movement on the steel then you'll need a slip coupling.

But working on old steel is a barsteward - especially if it has had mains water running through for 100 years and therefore rusted to nothing from the inside out.

Be prepared to continue removing and replacing bits of pipe if it is disturbed further down/rotted through.
 
thanks dan, funny you should say that but yes unfortunately the house is just over 100 years old and yes it has had mains pressure :cry:

but i'll give it a go and hope for the best and call a pro if i struggle lol

thanks again :)
 
You'll need to cute the pipe between the two sockets... maybe twice to give yourself a bit of room.

Then put the appropriate sized female iron on the remaining threads and then a bit of copper.


If there is no movement on the steel then you'll need a slip coupling.

But working on old steel is a barsteward - especially if it has had mains water running through for 100 years and therefore rusted to nothing from the inside out.

Be prepared to continue removing and replacing bits of pipe if it is disturbed further down/rotted through.

when you say if there is no movement use a slip coupling, what do you mean? i know what a slip coupling for copper is, but how would a slip coupling connect if you haven't got any thread to connect to just a bit of sawn steel pipe?
 
If you follow my instructions you will have either 2 male threads, two female threads, or one of each.

The slip coupling is for the copper you are going to insert into the fittings that you screw on the threads.
 
I doubt if you`ll unscrew that with molegrips :cry: it`s about the only time a plumber uses stillsons - also if the house is old and it`s electrics are old I would seriously consider getting a sparky to check that pipe is not used as an earth - people have been killed removing sections of " earthed" water pipe - in fact you can buy an expensive wire and clips to bypass the section you`re removing - or a cheap set of jump leads ;) . If you get stuck I`ll lend you my stocks+dies and you can cut + thread in some new galv. pipe
 
Thanks guys. I understand what you mean about the slip coupling now, I won't need that as this just goes to an old mid level cistern currently and I'm just shortening it and putting a bend on for a new close coupled WC, not connecting between the 2 steel pipes.

As far as the earth bonding goes yes I know all about that and I'll reattach that but thanks for pointing it out.
 

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