Hi All,
I live in Northern Nevada.
Had to take a trip under the house. I noticed that all my fresh water copper pipes are covered, elbows and all, with some very dark blue compound, as if they were painted. A bit of sandpaper reveals copper.
Any one have any idea what this dark blue stuff is and what it is used for?
Many thanks,
-T
Todd wrote in news:jr8id0$tvm$ snipped-for-privacy@dont-email.me:
Copper oxide. Or rust.
Copper oxide is light blue (cyan) and is cakey. Not iron pipes, so no rust. It has definitely been painted on -- have stroke marks.
Of interest, the plumber that went down to repair the leak in the pipe comes from three generations of plumbers and they could not figure it out either.
-T
Sjouke Burry wrote in news:XnsA071FE8DBEA2sjoukeburrysoesterbe@213.75.12.10:
blue on copper could be copper sulfate. copper oxide is dark brown/black.
Oxides, sulfide, carbonate, sulfate - all colored.
The plumber did say it smelled slightly of sulfur under the house
This is just a wild guess: Is it possible that it may have been applied by an exterminator. Many bugs drink the condensation that forms on pipes.
From my chemistry days, copper sulphate is intensely blue. Can't remember about sulphide.
Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus
The plumber did say it smelled slightly of sulfur under the house
intensely blue to the point of being black
Ah ha! I bet you are right! The plumber comes back tomorrow. I will mention it to him.
Thank you!
-T
Might be sulphide.
Sulphate has a middle blue color. Very intense, and I rather like the copper sulphate color.
Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus
intensely blue to the point of being black
Perhaps it was painted in an attempt to prevent the greenish colored oxidation that copper is wont to produce.
But who sees it in the crawl space?
...to prevent, not necessarily to hide.
Preemptive painting?
BTW, not many people can use "wont" in a sentence, and do so correctly. Well done! I wont to see that more often, and I wont bore you with examples of using it wong.
Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus
Perhaps it was painted in an attempt to prevent the greenish colored oxidation that copper is wont to produce.
People with OCD, of course!
Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus
But who sees it in the crawl space?
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