My brother in law called asking for help replacing a couple of leaking water valves in his basement supplying his kitchen sink.
I loaded my plumbing buckets into the truck then went out to the pipe rack in the barn to cut a few feet of 1/2" copper tube. Beneath the rack was about a 3' length of fairly shiny 1/2" that I didn't recall cutting off, but since it was already there and cut, I grabbed it and went off to tackle the half hour job, which for once, actually took only a half hour.
The following day, my BIL called me reporting when he ran hot water in the kitchen sink, it smelled like oil or gas. Huh? He repeated his statement. The only items changed were the 2 stops which he provided, 2 short lengths of pipe, and 2 connectors which I provided.
I went out to recover the foot or so of pipe that was left over from the job laying in the back of the truck, looked at the inside and sure enough, it appeared to be darker than normal.
A sniff test indeed indicated a petroleum smell. A pencil and paper towel swab deposited a black oily looking substance on the towel. I called my BIL back advising him not to drink the water.
That evening with another length of pipe off the rack, this one examined and determined to be suitable for use with potable water, off I went to re-do the job. Upon completion of what I had done the previous day, the end result after thoroughly flushing the flux out, was no evident smell or taste of contamination.
The next day with the whole family at the house, I began interviewing suspects and it wasn't long before I found the culprit.
My youngest son and his buddies from down the road were messing with a quad deciding a need to improve upon the quality of the factory exhaust and its sound. They attempted to utilize the copper pipe they boosted from the rack and when unsatisfied with its performance, cut off the end they had screwed up returning the leave over to the rack, which later fell to the ground I imagine.
After explaining my ordeal, my son first apologized then questioned why I didn't look at it or smell it before I used it... I didn't think I needed to taste test brand new pipe I had purchased in the past, warehousing for later use on a rainy day.
Had the basement not been dingy and dim, I may have noticed the discoloration inside while fitting the outside, but smelling it before use? Out of the question.
So it seems the lesson learned is if you allow others access to your stock, perhaps it is a good idea to exercise a little extra caution before using materials others have had their fingers on.
Plumbing with "Used" Copper.
Anything that might not belong on the other message boards!
Moderator: Team Cub
1 post
• Page 1 of 1
-
- 5+ Years
- Posts: 438
- Joined: Tue Aug 07, 2012 1:37 am
- Zip Code: 44134
- Tractors Owned: 1949 & 1951 Farmall Cubs
Several Snapper Garden Tractors - Circle of Safety: Y
- Location: Southern Suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio
Plumbing with "Used" Copper.
Postby lazyuniondriver » Thu Nov 08, 2012 2:38 pm
"HAVE ALL YOUR DELIVERIES MADE BY UNION DRIVERS"

1 post
• Page 1 of 1
Jump to
- FarmallCub Site Information
- Forum Rules, Suggestions, Feedback & Information
- Member Spotlight
- Links Directory
- Sponsor Links
- TM Tractor Parts
- JP Tractor Salvage
- HamiltonBobsCubs
- Tractor Parts & Manuals
- PDF Manuals
- Best of H.L. Chauvin
- Binder Books
- Farmall Cub Forever
- Farmall Tractor Parts
- Rudi's Farmall Cub Manual Server
- FarmallCub (dot) info
- Case IH
- Tractor Parts
- Burch Store Tractors
- Retro Row Crop
- Rebuilding & Restoration
- A&T Rebuilders
- Collector / Fan Sites
- Bigdog's Buckeye Cub Tug
- ATIS Cub FAQ #1
- ATIS Cub FAQ #2
- CubFest Photo Host
- ATIS
- Fastrac
- Tractorfan IH Showcase
- Randell's Ranch Museum
- Only Cub Cadets
- Farmall Tractors in New Zealand
- Farmall H
- N Tractor Club
- National Agricultural Center and Hall of Fame
- Antique Powerland
- Tractor Data
- IH Cub Cadet Registry
- Wisconsin Historical Society
- Farm Supplies
- Best Farm Buys
- Buchheit
- Orscheln
- Tractor Publications
- Red Power
- Farm Show
- High Plains
- Auctions
- Webstore
- Auction Zip
- Friends of FarmallCub.Com
- Tractor Pride
- FarmallCub.Com Kiva Page
- Farm Tractor Enthusiasts Kiva Group
- The Wilderness Library
- Buford's Barn Cars
- SpinStream
- IH Collectors
- National IH Collectors Club
- #1 Missouri
- #3 Kansas
- #4 Wisconsin
- #5 Iowa
- #6 Ohio
- #7 Indiana
- #8 Southeastern Pennsylvania
- #9 Tennessee
- #11 Michigan
- #14 California
- #15 Minnesota
- #16 Western Pennsylvania
- #17 Central Pennsylvania
- #18 New England
- #20 Ontario Canada
- #21 South Dakota
- #22 Sweden
- #23 Alabama
- #24 Kentucky
- #25 Texas
- #27 Florida
- #29 Georgia
- #30 Northwest (WA/ID/OR)
- #31 Louisiana
- #32 Southern Illinois
- #33 Northern Indiana
- #34 Western Pennsylvania
- #35 New York
- #37 Eastern North Carolina
- #38 Western Canada
- #39 Maryland
- #41 Virginia
- Tractors
- Farmall Cub
- Cub Cadet
- Lo-Boy Series - 154, 184, 185
- Farmall A, Super A, AV, 100, 130 & 140
- Farmall C, Super C, 200 & 230
- Farmall H, HV, Super H, 300 & 350
- Farmall, IH, Case, Tractors - B's, F's, M's, Regulars, etc.
- Farmall B & BN
- Farmall F-xx Series
- Farmall M, Super M, 400, 450, & 560
- Farmall Regular
- Farmall / IH / CASE
- Other Tractors and Machinery
- CubFest and Tractor Show Announcements & Discussions
- Tractor Pride Photo Forum
- Farmall Cubs Photos
- Lo-Boys Photos
- Cadets Photos
- Tractors (non-Cub/Lo-Boy/Cadet) Photos
- CubFest Photos
- Cubarama Photos
- Proud of my other toys/tools Photos
- Tractor Show Photos
- Introduce Yourself
- The VINE Classifieds
- TM Tractor Parts
- JP Tractor Salvage
- HamiltonBobsCubs
- The VINE
- Rural and City Life
- How To Forum
- Cub Book of Knowledge
- Video How To's
- Cooling
- Fuel
- Ignition/Electrical
- Engine, Clutch, Transmission and Hydraulics
- Differential, Final Drive, PTO and Brakes
- Steering, Tires/Wheels and Weights
- Specialty tools
- Frame/Sheet Metal
- Implements
- Shop Tips
- Miscellaneous Ideas
- Using The Forum
- Projects Forum
- Sharing with Friends and Family
- Member & Spouse Pictures
- Family & Friends Memorial Forum
- Pet Memorial Forum
- Farm Life and Better Half Forum
- Safety Forum
- Manuals
- Cub Stories
- Collector's Show & Tell
- Other Stuff
- Off Topic
- Cubber's say the funniest things
- Wazzits?
- Tool Talk and Reviews
- Message Board & Computer Questions
- Testing Forum (sandbox)
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 1 guest
- Board index
- All times are UTC-05:00
- Forum Icon Legend
- Site Policy & Privacy
- About
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Limited