Copper & Plastic plumbing - freely mixing and matching?

[Andy Hall]

From the John Guest Website:

"NOTE: Do NOT use a hacksaw"

From Hepworth:

"Figure No. 1 Do not use a hacksaw to cut Hep2O pipe. "

From Marley Equator

"Cut the PE-X pipe to length using the Marley pipe cutter or similar plastic pipe cutter. Slight pressure as if to twist the cutter around the pipe will aid cutting."

No mention of using anything other than a plastic pipe cutter.

From Polyplumb:

"Always use one of the approved pipe cutters (Code PB777 or PB778) Never use a Hacksaw "

From OsmaGold

"1. After measuring, cut the pipe at one of the marks using a plastic pipe cutter DO NOT cut OsmaGold pipe with a hacksaw, wheeled tube cutter or Stanley knife. "

[IMM]

< snip drivel >

Here is what Hepworth tech dept said on this very ng, that is uk.d-i-y.

"The inventive can find many ways of achieving a perfectly acceptable clean, square cut using a variety of tools. The Hepworth Plumbing Products Team"

Now chant that back to yourself for a few days.

[Andy Hall]

The inventive, perhaps, but not the incompetent.

If this were a general recommendation it would be in the leaflet and web site.

What do you imagine they would say to you if you wrote to them saying that you wanted to claim under their guarantee, having hacked the pipe around with a hacksaw and getting a leak?

I expect they would ask you whether you enjoy sex and travel.

[Bob Mannix]

What they actually said (on this n-g etc) was:

"...It is for this reason a hacksaw should not be used.

The inventive can find many ways of achieving a perfectly acceptable clean, square cut using a variety of tools. The Hepworth Plumbing Products Team"

I feel a reasonable reader might conclude that the "variety of tools" did not include a hacksaw!

[IMM]

Exactly! Professionals usually are inventive. Unknowledgeable amateurs are not.

< snip drivel >

[Christian McArdle]

Game, set and match!

I can't believe he misquoted from a post that specifically excluded hacksaws as a suitable tool, as "proof" that Hepworth recommends them. That is tantamount to libel.

on IMM, surely you didn't expect to get away with that? It's like quoting someone whilst cutting out the "not"!

Christian.

(Full text follows)

We do recommend the use of a Hep2O pipe cutter, however any pipe cutter designed to cut plastics pipes should be suitable. One of the major advantages of a purpose designed cutter is speed, however the requirements for the cutter are that it should cut the tube square without scoring or scratching the pipe or leaving burrs or swarf which could get under the 'O' ring. It is for this reason that hacksaws should not be used.

The inventive can find many ways of achieving a perfectly acceptable clean, square cut using a variety of tools.

The Hepworth Plumbing Products Team

[Christian McArdle]

I like that idea. I am prone to that personality defect known as being a "checker". I'm always returning to the toilet to make sure I flushed it!

Christian.

[Andy Hall]

I think he learns from his hero, jag+=2;

Just wait. He'll be telling us that people in the north east want a regional assembly. Nanny knows best.

[Andy Hall]

I bet you go back into the house after you shut the front door behind you to check that you locked the windows and turned off the kettle :-)

It's OK. So do I sometimes ;-)

[IMM]

They need one so as the southerners are not telling them what to do.

[IMM]

Exactly. An pro can do that with a number of tools.

[IMM]

A hacksaw can score the external surface of a pipe? How? A good one make a nice straight clean cut, and then finish off with fine files knives etc.

[IMM]

They are certainly not saying only specialist cutters can be used, that is clear.

[Andy Hall]

See what I mean....

[Andy Hall]

Have you ever worked for Morton Thiokol at all?

[Andrew Gabriel]

Why not? He does that here all the time.

[Andy Hall]

So I need to buy a hacksaw and set of files and a knife at considerably more than £5 for the proper tool and take about five times longer to do the job?

Brilliant idea. Do you have any others?

[Dave Plowman (News)]

The laugh is that probably anyone with a modicum of skill and sense could make a satisfactory cut without the special tool in an emergency.

IMM failed.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

Strange, given just how much you invent, that you failed.

[dmc]

I don't do that but I am forever going back out to the car to check I locked the doors...

In fact, I'm begining to wonder now

Darren - off to find his car keys