Can't get 'obtuse elbow' join to fit 22mm pipe!

miljee · 25 May 2011

I have a straight 22mm copper downpipe on the outside of the 2 storey house (an overflow). It comes out of the eaves and stops 6" short of the paving.

To fit a lean-to greenhouse, I have to divert the pipe via 2 'end feed obtuse elbow' joins, so the pipe will head down, be diverted at 45 degrees to the right, then head down again.

I duly, as asked by the person who will do the job, bought the 2 elbow joins, but they won't fit over the end of the sawn pipe - are they supposed to?? . They will precisely abut it. Will he cleverly join the pieces together using a collar of some sort? Or do I need a bigger elbow diameter?

Note I haven't actually sawn it yet, but obviously the bottom of the pipe near the ground is the same diameter as further up where I NEED to cut, so I tested the 'fit' there!

Do I need to say I am a plumbing numpty?

45yearsagasman · 25 May 2011

Quote:- Do I need to say I am a plumbing numpty?
I won't go there. If your pipe is 22mm and the fittings are 22mm then once the pipe is cut and de-burred then there is no reason for it not to fit unless it is distorted.
Why didn't your so called plumber not supply the parts?

StephenW · 25 May 2011

Could you have been sold 3/4" fittings? These will be smaller (3/4" is just over 19mm) and so might cause the symtoms you describe?

miljee · 25 May 2011

Well, at the plumbing suppliers, the elbows came out of the box marked '22mm'! I saw the box the bloke took them out of myself. They have '22' stamped on them.

http://www.gwsupplies.co.uk/p/5409/endfeed+obtuse+elbow+22mm+copper+fitting.htm

If you look at this picture, or any of the product, the thing is there is a wide part, a narrower part at the actual bend, then a wider part again. To me it would stand to reason that the wider ends would fit over the existing pipe, ie their internal diameter would be greater than the 22mm pipe they fit over. I'd've thought the narrow bit where the bend is would be 22mm. That way, once fitted, the internal diameter would be the same throughout, apart from the small steps where the pipe is pushed into the ends of the elbow.

Bloke who is doing the job just asked me to get the parts but I'm very keen for him not to turn up and for me to not have the right bits!

Gas2Air · 25 May 2011

"The bloke doing it" must surely carry these elbows. Also it sounds like you are messing with the unvented discharge pipework.

Charnwood · 25 May 2011

Being as we went metric in 1972/3 I doubt that anyone has fittings for 3/4" copper on the shelf. Adaptors, yes. Elbows??

Is there anything stamped on the elbows?

If the OD of the fittings is 22mm then he probably could join them to the pipe with a couple, but he shouldn't have to if you have 22mm elbows and pipe. With it being overflow with no pressure correct sizing is not critical.

carlsquires · 25 May 2011

As mentioned before the pipe where your trying to test the fit must be distorted slightly or machine cut. Once the pipe is cut with a pipe slice the fitting should slip straight on. I tend to cut the ends of new pipe off with a pipe slice as it can be difficult sometimes to get a fitting on.

Nige F · 25 May 2011

StephenW said:
Could you have been sold 3/4" fittings? These will be smaller (3/4" is just over 19mm) and so might cause the symtoms you describe?

If it was 1971 not 2011 you could be right

3 day week people outa work country in a state - Life on Mars

Now`t changes

Biggles.. · 25 May 2011

Gas2Air said:
"The bloke doing it" must surely carry these elbows. Also it sounds like you are messing with the unvented discharge pipework.

Why would you carry 45's when you have a pipe bender.G

ChrisR · 25 May 2011

The normal 45 degree elbows are female to female.
But you can also get male to female, usually called "street elbows" for anachronistic reasons.
Sound like that's what you may have. They're very useful, cos they go into each other.

Fromt he same supplier :
http://www.gwsupplies.co.uk/p/5415/endfeed+obtuse+street+elbow+22mm+copper+fitting.htm

rojaca · 25 May 2011

Ha ha plumbing numpty or not chris i would have thought he might notice they've got a 'big end' and a 'little end'.

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Can't get 'obtuse elbow' join to fit 22mm pipe!

carlsquires

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