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Found this, says it's explosive, but doesn't link it specifically to town gas. Copper(I) acetylide

If they didn't they must have patched it up! I had a scrounge round on the internet but only found the attachment. Probably no need for it as there’s no town gas these days. I’m speaking from memory about acetylene, but there’ll be some ammonia and H2S present in town gas. Similar situation...

Quite an experience! It would be interesting to know if the gas board admitted blame, and whether the pipe was replaced, and with what, if you remember. I still think copper wasn't allowed on town gas, but from your experience perhaps they were prepared to ignore the rules.

When was that? Town gas originally contained traces of acetylene which reacts with copper forming copper acetylide, a very temperamental explosive. I suppose it's possible that at some point the gas was treated to remove the acetylene, I wouldn't know. If anybody on here knows, perhaps they'll...

Thanks, that's what I thought

Maybe some regulation is needed. I've read that corn oil is added to manufactured food, as it reduces the "full" feeling, so the companies sell more food and add to the obesity crisis. At least until they sober up!

I would think he meant re-used. He said "The original pipes were generally used when town gas was converted to natural gas." The pipes wouldn't be original if they were installed at the time of conversion. Perhaps OB will confirm. Also after conversion for new runs it would be easier to use...

Quite. Are bakers to be held responsible because some people are overweight, or brewers because some become alcoholics?

I think you're misreading what OB was saying. Not that steel pipes weren't used before natural gas arrived (early 1970s), just that they weren't replaced at that point. Natural gas is less corrosive than town gas. Reminds me of a Frank Muir story about that time. There's a knock on his door and...

Is there any reason to think a replacement with similar output to the existing wouldn't be OK?

Apart from the current UK government which goes out of its way to appease them

I read somewhere that for stability the grid needs a certain percentage (50%?) of power input from rotating machines. Steam turbines or hydro, but not wind turbines IIRC, because of the way they work. Can anybody confirm?

It might be possible to drain the part down, clean the area till bright, flux it, warm it (carefully!) and apply solder. I did a rad with a very small leak that way about 50 years ago and it's still OK.

You beat me to that. It looks a treat IMO. Shame to just dump it.

Trump has had a grudge against Iran ever since the Tehran hostage crisis and other events which he considered a humiliation of USA.

I didn't mean to suggest your road shouldn't have a 20 limit. Clearly it should, and it should be enforced better.

Meaningless to somebody who can't (or won't) understand simple logic

I'm sure what you say is true, but if it were just a money earner, you'd expect they'd be out there booking drivers. IMO 20 mph zones are decided by people who can't drive and have a grudge against those who can.

Lower speed at impact causes less damage, obviously, but it doesn't follow from that that a given stretch of road will have a lower overall casualty rate with a lower limit. And the argument that lower speed is safer can be used all the way down to zero speed, but not many people suggest that.

As Deluks said, use them (without flexis) if at all possible. More trouble to fit, but unlike flexis will last indefinitely, and makes the taps more rigid, often useful with a stainless steel sink.