How To Reduce The Diameter Of A Copper Pipe

Copper pipes are made from a soft metallic that is hands cutting when making various parts, especially when cutting copper pipes with an bending grinder. If you lot are not careful, you can exit sharp edges or burrs on your copper pipe which will make information technology very difficult to push button through fittings and create leaks in your plumbing system.

The all-time fashion to avoid this problem is by deburring your copper pipe before you start assembling it with other pieces of pipage. We are going to evidence you our three all-time ways to deburr copper pipes.

What is Deburring?

Deburring is the process of removing sharp edges (Known as burrs) from the ends of copper pipe. Burrs occur when pipes are cut down which leaves jagged edges on the within and the outside of the pipage.

It's important to remove all burrs on both sides of the pipe because they will affect how the pipe attaches to fittings and crusade leaks in your plumbing system.

Issues from Non Deburring Your Pipes

In that location are three main problems that tin can happen when you don't deburr your pipes before associates.

1 – Leaks

You will all the same have leaking in your plumbing system because the precipitous edges of the pipe could puncture or disrupt the seal for fittings causing leaks in your plumbing.

2 – Turbulence

If you are assembling copper pipes for your water organisation and do not remove the burrs, it could create turbulence within the pipework which leads to corrosion on the metal pipes and fittings that would lead to more problems down the line if non fixed.

3 – Ill-fitting joints

Your pipe may non come cleanly through the fitting which means you will be unable to tighten it securely onto the fitting if information technology is too big or loose-plumbing fixtures.

How to Deburr Copper Pipe

Equally you can encounter, deburring your pipes is an important stride that must not be missed and you can do this in various ways: a file, a deburring tool, or sandpaper. Select the method that best suits your needs.

How to Deburr Copper Pipes with a File

The all-time type of file to utilise to deburr your copper pipes is 1 that is flat on 1 side and half rounded on the other.

You lot tin can deburr your copper pipes with a file past taking out the inside burrs with the rounded edge and the burrs on the outside with the flat border.

Hold the pipe at 45 degrees and apply the file to remove all sharp edges and burrs – filing can be a time-consuming task and is non really the almost efficient.

How to Deburr Copper Pipes with Sandpaper

Virtually DIY plumbers are probable to utilize sandpaper to deburr their copper pipes as they are probable to already have some in the shed or garage.

Have a piece of sandpaper, hold it firmly or wrap information technology around something that you can agree with good purchase and apply information technology to sand downwardly all the abrupt edges and burrs.

Using sandpaper can also exist time-consuming due to having to sand down each side of the piping individually. We recommend this cheap and simple device known as a deburring tool.

How to Deburr Copper Pipes with a Deburring Tool

There are a couple of unlike tools available, the commencement being the pen reamer. The pen reamer has a small-scale bent blade that is used to scrape away the burrs from the inside edge of the pipage.

This is fine if you lot are soldering your pipework, but the pen reamer is not much use at removing the burrs on the outside of a piping. If you are completing any kind of push-fit plumbing, the burrs on the outside of the pipe must be removed as the sharp edges could impairment the seal and forestall the articulation from beingness watertight.

We prefer the multipurpose inside and exterior deburring cycle (Amazon link – opens in a new tab). This is a small and inexpensive tool that tin can be used speedily and efficiently to remove the burrs on the within and the exterior of a piping.

Just insert the pipe and requite the wheel a few turns and that really is information technology.

Conclusion

The deburring process is important to ensure that pipes are watertight and properly sealed. It'southward a simple footstep, but information technology tin can save you from leaks or other problems in the future if not completed earlier assembly.

We recommend getting the inside/ outside deburring tool, which is extremely proficient and cheap as well, but if y'all don't want to buy this small tool, y'all tin utilize sandpaper or a file although this volition make the process take a lot longer.

Plumbing Wizard Tips

"The best sandpaper for deburring copper pipe is 220 grit!"

"The easiest and virtually efficient style to deburr copper pipe is with a deburring tool!"

"If you're deburring a copper pipe with a file – employ one with a flat side and a half-circular side to remove the burrs on the within and the outside effectively!"

"If you're using sandpaper, make sure to hold it firmly or wrap it effectually something solid considering if y'all hold it also loosely, it tin can be dangerous!"

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I demand to deburr copper piping?

Deburring your copper pipes is essential for various reasons. Firstly, the sharp edges tin can harm seals or prevent joints from beingness watertight and secondly, the edges can create turbulence in the water piping which leads to corrosion.

Can you deburr copper pipe without a tool?

It is possible to deburr copper pipe without tools equally you can use sandpaper if you want, however information technology will be very time-consuming and non equally efficient as using a specifically designed deburring tool.

What does it mean to deburr a pipage?

Deburring a pipe is the process of removing the sharpened edges from the mouth of a tube afterward information technology has been cut.

Tin can you cut copper pipage with an bending grinder?

Yes, angle grinders volition make quick piece of work of copper piping and information technology volition cut through with ease. Using an angle grinder volition undoubtedly go out sharp edges and so you will demand to deburr the pipes before you install them.

Almost Me

I'm Lee the Plumbing Wizard. I've been a plumber for over 40 years and take seen information technology all. People used to call me a sorcerer because I could prepare things so easily – hence the proper noun Plumbing Wizard.
I'm always happy to help out a beau tradesman or woman, so if you need whatsoever advice or just someone to talk plumbing with, don't hesitate to go far affect!

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