plastic pipe on compression joint

[Tom]

Hi All,

I need to use plastic pipe (I have some hep2O left over from a few years back) into a brass 15mm shower wall plate. The other end of the pipe will connect to 15mm copper.

But the pipe needs to bend away from the compression fitting in the smallest of distances so I can limit how much of the ply "wall" is cut away to allow this.

Will the curve on the pipe cause problems? I assume the plastic to the brass compression fitting will require a metal insert into the plastic pipe.

Am I right that the other end of the plastic (straight plastic fitting to copper) will not need a metal insert?

Should I buy new plastic pipe? Would this have better flexibility?

Regs., Tom

[dennis]

On the plastic stuff I have used you need an insert on all fittings.

I think you should avoid the bend, any joint that is forced out of line will be less reliable. IMO a solder on fitting can withstand more of a bend but it distorts the pipe.

What's wrong with an elbow end feed into the wall plate?

[dom]

Might be better to use a short bit of copper tube to do the funny bendy bit - then change to plastic pipe if you prefer.

Copper pipe into plastic fitting - no insert required - but no hacksawing the pipe! Use a pipe slice.

[Tom]

Yes, I've now done the awkward bit in copper - so far so good - and got the plastic 15mm parts to join it to the other copper pipes.

But I don't have a plastic pipe cutter - can I use my copper pipe cutter or a hacksaw? The pucker plastic pipe cutters cost the earth and I'll only use it really occasionally.

Regs, Tom

[PeterC]

Don't know if this is a good way to do it, but I used a copper pipe cutter to put a groove all the way round the plastic then a sharp knife to finish off. Don't go too hard at it with the pipe cutter as it'll deform the plastic a bit and then the insert will be difficult to get in.

[fred]

In article , Tom writes

A tenner?

needs to be cut cleanly and squarely, definitely not a hacksaw.

Although this doesn't specifically mention PEX pipe, I'd expect it to be ok:

£5.90

You can get plastic formers to hold plastic pipe in a tighter bend that they normally want to sit in (say 10cm radius) but they're not that readily available, any reason you didn't use an elbow in the corner?

[<me9]

Cost the earth??? Mines like this (not sure it's the exact one, might have got it from Screwfix) and doesn't break the bank. Cuts the pipe cleanly in a couple of seconds.