Thread: Any suggestions for pipe for clamps in brisbane (north)

52R1
Personally all my pipe clmps are galvanised. I prefer galv because you don't have to worry about the over spill of glue stating overnight rust and staining the timber. If you go to galv you may find it easier to find the thicker wall. I got some pipe threaded for a water hook up job I was doing and was charged $20 Per end so you may need to be careful who you get to do it. The mob I used was an irrigation supplier and they used a mechanical threader which took all of 3 minutes to cut the thread. Good work if you can get it
Some of my pipes were second hand/used as water carriers and they perform well. Do you know a plumber who could cut the threads or lend you the gear?

Thanks for the reply. All good points too. I think in the morning I might just hit some of the plumbing places around me. It's worked before for other stuff, just lobbing up to one off the street and seeing if they could help. Failing that, I have a mate of a mate plumber who might know or be able to advise.
cheers

I buy a length (6.5m) of gal with both ends threaded for $45, get it cut in half so it goes on the roof racks and you're away but wait there's more, buy a 3/4 die for pipe off ebay for $10 and $6 freight, I use my old stilsons to turn it with a touch of oil and you can make as many as you want. If you don't have stilsons you could cut yourself a hardwood handle without too much trouble. I have lengths from 3.5m down to 300mm, too easy. Phone your local plumbing supplies or industrial handrail or brackets suppliers in Newcastle its Nova Supplies.

Originally Posted by Claw Hama

I buy a length (6.5m) of gal with both ends threaded for $45, get it cut in half so it goes on the roof racks and you're away but wait there's more, buy a 3/4 die for pipe off ebay for $10 and $6 freight, I use my old stilsons to turn it with a touch of oil and you can make as many as you want.

Thanks! I'm halfway there, gal pipe ordered and they'll cut for free. I'm pretty sure I can pop over to mum's and rifle through my late old man's tools for a pipe wrench (why didn't I take more notice when he was at these things!?).

Is this all I need (as well as a pipe clamp and some cutting oil, I imagine)?

BSPT 3/4" PIPE THREAD DIE CUTTER (PT1) - eBay Other Plumbing, Plumbing, Building Materials, DIY, Home. (end time 09-Jun-10 21:12:30 AEST)

Or do I need this whole things as well?

BSPT 1/2"-2" RATCHET PIPE THREADER KIT (PT2) - eBay, Plumbing, Building Materials, Industrial. (end time 02-Jun-10 07:39:11 AEST)

I note that McJing's have a similar kit with the ratchet for only $55 + post and I noted from an archive search that other brisbane people went through this all in about 2005 and bought ratched pipe threaders too!

cheers

I just bought the die, the exact same one that you have the link for Ozstore or whatever. I didn't worry about the ratchet thing just hooked on to it with the stilson wrench, your old man may have them too. I just stuck the pipe in the vice. If you were making dozens then all the gear would be great but for a couple now and then I didn't worry.

Trefolex or a drop of engine oil will do as lubricant. Take a turn or so until it gets tight then back it off about half a turn, you will feel all the swaff come off, then do the same again.

I don't know how things are in OZ but here in the States I just go to the home center and buy the pipe off the rack. Galvanized works but the clamps are more apt to slip and the galvanize can shear off and give you a metal splinter. I much prefer the black pipe.I don't think you really need the heavy duty stuff onless you tend to clamp really tightly, all you really need is just enough pressure to close up the joint and press out the excess glue. I like the 5 foot lengths for convenience. I use 3/4" threaded conduit connectors (they are thinner and longer than plumbing fittings) for joining the pieces together to get longer lengths, thread protectors work as well. Plumbers should have the iron pipe too. It is typically used for natural gas.
Mike

Hi Mike, not much steel pipe used in plumbing in Oz anymore, the hardware etc here don't carry it much, you might find some 2ft pieces if you are lucky, even a lot of plumbers supplies don't carry it any more. Gas here is now in poly or copper as is water. Haven't had any trouble with the gal comming off, sounds like it wasn't acid etched enough before being galvaized.

I can vouch for this. Even the trade plumbing supplies I have had luck with in the past just buy in threaded pipe as needed from an external supplier. I have been quoted $7 per end for threading in fact and I got the quote mainly out of interest, so I have gone the Claw Hama route and the pipe threading die is on its way to me from Adelaide as we speak. I'll pilfer the pipe wrench from my mum's house when the die arrives! Thanks for all the tips and info from everyone. I may yet post a few pics of my progress when it arrives, lol, for other newbies.

Newbie or not I only went this way recently after the need for more and longer clamps came about. The long sash clamps are very expensive and I can think other things I can do with the money.

You could buy the record pipe clamps from carbatec that dont require threading.

Don't know those ones Mick, have you got a link? Or is that the Groz type that you can put on a piece of stick?

IRWIN Quick-Grip Quick-Grip Pipe Clamps

Here is the link. They dont appear to be on carbatecs website but they do sell them as i bought 2 the other day.

How much? they look good.

I definitely saw these at the carbatec stand at the Brisbane show last weekend and I saw the price but can;t remember it, sorry! They were certainly more than the screw in versions. I looked for them on the website but can't find them either. You might have to call carbatec to get a price.