Cleaning paint of copper pipe.

[df]

Have to do some pipework shortly, Whats the best way to clean up the old pipe which has paint on it, Prior to jointing.

Thanks

Darren

[Mertyl Kapertyl]

Just scrape the old paint off using a fairly blunt metallic object (reverse edge of old table knife or similar), scraping towards the free end of the pipe (it's easier that way). Then polish the partially prepared end with a wad of steel wool. If the pipe end is in the vertical plane with the pipe open end skywards try to avoid overhanging the open end with the wire wool, otherwise fragment of steel will drop into the pipe and cause corrosion problems.

As with all soldering cleanliness is the secret.

[Andy]

Burn it off and then take the charred remains off with wirewool.

Else put stripper on it.

Andy.

[F]

Scraping with the side of a wood chisel (or similar implement with a hard edge) along the length of the pipe in the manner of peeling potatoes works for me! Try not to get any of the peelings in the pipe though.

[The Natural Philosopher]

Blowtorch followed by wire wool and elbow grease. .

[EricP]

I have found this to be the best one. And inspect parts out of sight with a mirror to make sure all paint is removed.

[David Hansen]

On 7 Jan 2007 10:13:14 -0800 someone who may be "df" wrote this:-

Soldered joints, already been described.

An alternative is to use a compression fitting to join old and new pipework. These are more forgiving, though that doesn't mean they can just be slapped on without preparation.

[John Stumbles]

Depending on how accessible it is (usually not very :-() various combinations of getting off the worst of the paint (if it's thick) with the serrated jaws of a pair of water-pump pliers and/or combination pliers, scraping with a not-too-sharp knife or chisel (copper is soft!) and rubbing down with those sort of kitchen scourers that look like curled up fine steel ribbon get most of the paint off. Then a strip of sandpaper (you can get plumbers' rolls about an inch wide) wrapped around the pipe and pulled back and forth can get it quite clean.

[The Medway Handyman]

Spontex Tough Scourer

available in all supermarkets - you won't believe how good thaey are until you try one. Cleans up copper pipe like new - removes paint, verdigre, whatever.

[The Natural Philosopher]

anything hard metal like a chisel or wrench jaws will make a pipe that can't use a compression fitting and may have soldering issues as well

[John Stumbles]

I should have pointed out that it's me doing it, not a gorilla :-) Of course you have to go gently: the trick is to squeeze the tool hard enough for the jaws to crack and drag off the caked-on paint as you're turning but not to cut into the copper.