Water pipe - why is copper cheaper than iron?

[Ric2013]

Copper tube (Wickes retail) 3m 15mm for £7.74, so £6.45 excl.

Local plumbers' merchant:

3m 1/2" Black iron pipe £16 excl.
3m 1/2" Galv iron pipe £20 excl.

I thought copper was supposed to be expensive? I know there's trade and retail cost, but these are both retail prices so...

Is this normal, or is this over the odds for the iron pipe?

Just wondering, if anyone has a spare moment...

 

[Jackrae]

Have you compared the weight of 3m of copper pipe against 3 metres of iron pipe. There's about a 20:1 difference in equivalent weight.

 

[kbdiy]

Supply and demand perhaps? Copper easier to work with than iron so demand is higher.

 

[gas112]

iron is cheaper than copper as bore gets larger

 

[Ric2013]

Have you compared the weight of 3m of copper pipe against 3 metres of iron pipe. There's about a 20:1 difference in equivalent weight.

I wondered if that was the reason, given how thick iron pipe tends to be.

So this sort of price comparison seems normal then?

 

[Jackrae]

Either way you wouldn't want to be running potable water in steel piping given the choice - well I wouldn't !

I believe copper has a natural anti-bacterial action, whilst steel offers the opposite.

 

[Ric2013]

Who said I was using it for a plumbing-related purpose?

 

[Charnwood]

Who said I was using it for a plumbing-related purpose?

Natural assumption to make as this is the Plumbing and Central Heating forum and you'd given no hint otherwise.

The base price for copper and steel pipe is based on weight.

 

[Ric2013]

Good point!

 

[JBPHS]

Who said I was using it for a plumbing-related purpose?

Natural assumption to make as this is the Plumbing and Central Heating forum and you'd given no hint otherwise.

The base price for copper and steel pipe is based on weight.

I'm sure iron pipe can be used for Central Heating pipework, so can be discussed in the Plumbing and Central Heating forum.



James.