Source for 15mm Solid plastic pipe?

Try ARCO Waverley Street, Hull. They do "all-sorts" of pipe

Most B+Q superstores do a selection, with all the ropes and chains

Would 22mm do? This will work with pushfit fine.

Go : and search for 408-4024

Our local B&Q has it. Possibly other sheds too.

Thanks for all the replies.

I haven't had the chance to visit any DIY sheds for this yet, but I couldn't see it on the B&Q web site. They obviously don't list all their products on there!

Cheers, Mark

I'm not sure what the B&Q posts refer to - the only clear tubing B&Q stock is flexible; PVC.

You're going to struggle here. The vast majority of rigid clear tubing is acrylic (like the RS product). This starts to soften at about 90C. If you need to run at 85C continuous, I think your only option is going to be pyrex. You won't be able to use this with pushfit.

How much do you need?

I need about 600mm, that's all.

Push fit doesn't matter too much, as long as I can connect it to a copper connecter somehow.

Do you know where I can get pyrex tubing from?

Cheers, Mark

I don't know any sources for small quantities. Do you have a university near you? All unis have glass working workshops, and a couple of foot of pyrex tubing is of very little value. If you find a friendly workshop, I'm sure they'd let you have the piece you need.

What is it for exactly? Why does it need to be transparent?

No universities near me unfortunately. I live in the middle of the sticks, and so I tend to rely on mail order/internet.

It's for a level indicator for a hot water vessel.

I'll drill a hole in the vessel top and bottom, which line up in the same plane, with fixings to elbows from each hole. In between each elbow will go the transparent tube. The water level should show up inside the tube. Which I intend to calibate with permanent pen marks.

I've seen a picture of this on the web somewhere before. Seemed like a good idea.

Cheers, Mark

In which case there's no reason not to use flexible tubing, clipped into place, however PVC isn't suitable for this because of the temperature.

How is the flexible pipe 'clipped' in to say copper elbows?

Any suggested pipe to use for this?

Cheers, Mark

If you can push it over a copper pipe, you can just hose clip it in place.

I've been thinking about this. You really only have 2 options at that temperature: ptfe and silicone. I can't think of anywhere that'll sell you a small piece. You can get large quantities from:

or other sites you'd find by googling "gauge glass" or "sight glass".

It's also worth having an isolating c*ck - otherwise there's a risk of a vessel-full of very hot liquid making a dash for freedom.

Is that 1 piece 600mm long or will you be cutting it up?

We might have some 15mm OD scrap lying around which I can get for you.

Does the ID matter?

Anth

MarkMc wrote:

Don't they have something like this on steam locos?

If silicone is OK, then one of the better model shops will probably be able to help out. One like Prestwich Models do silicone and PTFE pipe in large diameters for tuned pipe couplings...

It's one piece about 600mm (perhaps it's 500mm, but that ball park) AFAIK, the ID doesn't matter. I intend to push it in to a bog standard copper push-fit elbow.

If you have some kicking around, that would be great.

You can email me direct on mark dot mcgee at csfb dot com

Cheers, Mark

Thanks for the link, I'll check it out.

Yes, I'd already seen the danger, and I will fit a valve/c*ck. thanks for the suggestion anyway.

Cheers, Mark

I'll have a look and see what we've got and let you know tomorrow.

Anth