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Wintertime Thawing Your Pipes - Basic Plumbing Tools

By Terry S Vostor

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Published: 22Feb2010
Word count: 414
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If you plan to do a fair amount of plumbing repair, installation and repairs in you home yourself, and then your tools become very important indeed. Many plumbing tools can be used for other do it yourself tasks around the house , but no matter how much you plan to use a particular tool , it should be the best of the type that you can possibly afford.

Although the tools that you decide to purchase depend on how deeply you are involved in home repairs in general and in plumbing projects in particular , there are certain basic tools that any self respecting do it yourself plumber should have.

Copper pipe and copper tubing require some special tools. Since you should avoid using the infamous hacksaw on copper pipe, be sure to have a tubing cutter in your toolbox. A small size cutter moreover makes it so much easier to work in close quarters, and you will be amazed at how many plumbing chores are performed in cramped surroundings. You will also need a propane torch for sweat soldering and a flaring tool for making flare connections at pipe joints.

Just like copper pipes, galvanized steel pipes also require some special tools. When cutting such a pipe you should have a combination vise one that has a section with pipe jaws or a yoke and chain vise, both are which are made especially for pipe work. A pipe cutter tool is easier to use than a hacksaw, but be sure that the cutter is designed for galvanized steel pipes.

Although you can generally purchase the galvanized steel pipe that you need already threaded, it may be wise to do your own threading. If so, you will need special dies that come in sizes for threading all standard pipe diameters.

Very few tools none of them special are needed for working with plastic pipe. Rigid plastic pipe can be cut with a fine-toothed hacksaw (or if you prefer a plastic tubing cutter); flexible types can be but simply with a sharp knife. On most common types of plastic pipe and pipes fittings are joined with solvent cement. On other types, usually compression or threaded fittings are used; they are simply tightened with an adjustable open end wrench.

Lastly for sealing large cast iron drainpipes against leaks, you will need a caulking tool for packing the oakum into the joint, a melting pot for heating the lead. And a ladle for pouring the molten lead over the oakum.

Terry S. Vostor 1 Hour Furnasman CBC 1 Hour Furnasman CBC Winnipeg

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