Bending and joing chrome plated copper tubes...

[r1bena]

Hi everyone,

I am about to connect a chrome plated towel rail in my bathroom to my CH, and I've got a couple of 300mm lengths of 15mm chrome plated copper tubes to run from the towel rail through the floorboards. I'm not too sure about a couple of things though:

1. Can I use my usual pre-soldered fittings to join the chrome plated tubes to the standard CH copper tubes?

2. And can I bend the chrome plated copper tubes (slightly - I only need a small bend)? I've heard the chrome plating might crack, but does this cause any problems other than looking a bit of a mess (I can bend them under the floorboards, so the mess should be out of sight and mind)

Thanks for any help you can give - especially if it saves me getting grumpy at the weekend and having to make an extra trip to B&Q

Cheers,
R1

 

[doitall]

Chrome tube can be bent, how far depends on the quality but 90% is within it's range for better stuff.

Connections should be with compression fittings

 

[r1bena]

Thanks doitall - that's a big help.

Another quick question... is it ok to use a pipe cutter on the chrome plated copper pipes, or will that crack the plating and stuff up the compression joint?

Cheers again,
R1

 

[Bahco]

Pipe cutter is fine but will wear out the wheel quicker.

 

[doitall]

not if it's of good quality it won't. I always use pipe cutters and bend with the Hilmor hand bender with no problems.

 

[Bahco]

I bought a Blackspur pipe cutter yrs ago when I first tried to do plumbing.
It broke on the third cut .

I learned my lesson with cheap tools

 

[OvertonPlumber]

You can solder chrome pipe if you dechrome it first with a file and wire wool. although this does take time and only recommended when a compresion fitting is not practical. say 15mm chrome pipe onto 10mm microbore buried in the wall.