Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
|
Home Repair (alt.home.repair) For all homeowners and DIYers with many experienced tradesmen. Solve your toughest home fix-it problems. |
Reply |
|
LinkBack | Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Cleaning Exterior Corrosion from Copper Pipes?
I have a copper pipe that has a good coating of green corrosion from a
slow water leak. Its about 5' so I would prefer to not struggle with emory cloth or steel wool to get it clean. Is there a magic solution of something that will remove it? Or do I just need to use some elbow grease or a drill/wire brush? --Jeff |
#2
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Cleaning Exterior Corrosion from Copper Pipes?
Steel wool is probably your best option. You'll probably be surprised that
it comes off pretty easy - not that much elbow grease involved! I wouldn't use a drill or any other power tool. One slip and you could rip a hole in the pipe and end you with a really nice shiny NEW one courtesy of a plumber! "JB" wrote in message oups.com... I have a copper pipe that has a good coating of green corrosion from a slow water leak. Its about 5' so I would prefer to not struggle with emory cloth or steel wool to get it clean. Is there a magic solution of something that will remove it? Or do I just need to use some elbow grease or a drill/wire brush? --Jeff |
#3
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Cleaning Exterior Corrosion from Copper Pipes?
On Jun 21, 10:35?pm, "Mark" wrote:
Steel wool is probably your best option. You'll probably be surprised that it comes off pretty easy - not that much elbow grease involved! I wouldn't use a drill or any other power tool. One slip and you could rip a hole in the pipe and end you with a really nice shiny NEW one courtesy of a plumber! "JB" wrote in message oups.com... I have a copper pipe that has a good coating of green corrosion from a slow water leak. Its about 5' so I would prefer to not struggle with emory cloth or steel wool to get it clean. Is there a magic solution of something that will remove it? Or do I just need to use some elbow grease or a drill/wire brush? --Jeff- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - replace that section of pipe. so where is it exposed and causing cosmetic troubles? |
#4
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Cleaning Exterior Corrosion from Copper Pipes?
On Jun 21, 10:35?pm, "Mark" wrote:
Steel wool is probably your best option. You'll probably be surprised that it comes off pretty easy - not that much elbow grease involved! I wouldn't use a drill or any other power tool. One slip and you could rip a hole in the pipe and end you with a really nice shiny NEW one courtesy of a plumber! "JB" wrote in message oups.com... I have a copper pipe that has a good coating of green corrosion from a slow water leak. Its about 5' so I would prefer to not struggle with emory cloth or steel wool to get it clean. Is there a magic solution of something that will remove it? Or do I just need to use some elbow grease or a drill/wire brush? --Jeff- Hide quoted text - - Show quoted text - paint stripping pads clean copper well, espically the rougher ones. no wires in foingers |
#5
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Cleaning Exterior Corrosion from Copper Pipes?
JB wrote:
I have a copper pipe that has a good coating of green corrosion from a slow water leak. Its about 5' so I would prefer to not struggle with emory cloth or steel wool to get it clean. Is there a magic solution of something that will remove it? Or do I just need to use some elbow grease or a drill/wire brush? Getting it clean won't solve the leak and if it has a leak removing the patina around the fitting will probably increase the rate of the leak. Fix the leak first, then worry about the otherwise immaterial corrosion. -- |
#6
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Cleaning Exterior Corrosion from Copper Pipes?
On Jun 22, 8:30 am, dpb wrote:
JB wrote: I have a copper pipe that has a good coating of green corrosion from a slow water leak. Its about 5' so I would prefer to not struggle with emory cloth or steel wool to get it clean. Is there a magic solution of something that will remove it? Or do I just need to use some elbow grease or a drill/wire brush? Getting it clean won't solve the leak and if it has a leak removing the patina around the fitting will probably increase the rate of the leak. Fix the leak first, then worry about the otherwise immaterial corrosion. -- The corrosion was due to a minor slow seepage from a 30 yr old soldered joint. The water ran the length of the pipe for quite some time. I finally fixed the leak by removing and resoldering. Unfortunately, it was the 1" main and even tho the leak was just above the main shut off, the corrosion ran down below the valve so I didn't replace the entire length of pipe. I'm not a "neatness nut" who just likes shiny copper! I'm getting ready to put the house on the market and would prefer no flags by an inspector due to obvious indications of a leak. A shiny pipe is easier to explain than a badly corroded one! |
#7
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Cleaning Exterior Corrosion from Copper Pipes?
JB wrote:
I have a copper pipe that has a good coating of green corrosion from a slow water leak. Its about 5' so I would prefer to not struggle with emory cloth or steel wool to get it clean. Is there a magic solution of something that will remove it? Or do I just need to use some elbow grease or a drill/wire brush? Try vinegar or (believe it or not) Coke. Same technique as corroded battery terminals. |
#8
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Cleaning Exterior Corrosion from Copper Pipes?
On Jun 22, 10:33 am, "HeyBub" wrote:
JB wrote: I have a copper pipe that has a good coating of green corrosion from a slow water leak. Its about 5' so I would prefer to not struggle with emory cloth or steel wool to get it clean. Is there a magic solution of something that will remove it? Or do I just need to use some elbow grease or a drill/wire brush? Try vinegar or (believe it or not) Coke. Same technique as corroded battery terminals. Interesting idea. I'll try it. Diet or regular? :-) |
#9
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Cleaning Exterior Corrosion from Copper Pipes?
JB wrote:
On Jun 22, 8:30 am, dpb wrote: JB wrote: I have a copper pipe that has a good coating of green corrosion from a slow water leak. Its about 5' so I would prefer to not struggle with emory cloth or steel wool to get it clean. Is there a magic solution of something that will remove it? Or do I just need to use some elbow grease or a drill/wire brush? Getting it clean won't solve the leak and if it has a leak removing the patina around the fitting will probably increase the rate of the leak. Fix the leak first, then worry about the otherwise immaterial corrosion. -- The corrosion was due to a minor slow seepage from a 30 yr old soldered joint. The water ran the length of the pipe for quite some time. I finally fixed the leak by removing and resoldering. Unfortunately, it was the 1" main and even tho the leak was just above the main shut off, the corrosion ran down below the valve so I didn't replace the entire length of pipe. I'm not a "neatness nut" who just likes shiny copper! I'm getting ready to put the house on the market and would prefer no flags by an inspector due to obvious indications of a leak. A shiny pipe is easier to explain than a badly corroded one! OK, one never knows on usenet the reason for a request so caution is often advised... I'd do a little maybe to knock any major stuff off then clean up the area around the joint so it's clear it's no longer leaking and call it good, myself, but if it makes you feel good, go for it! -- |
#10
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Cleaning Exterior Corrosion from Copper Pipes?
JB wrote:
On Jun 22, 10:33 am, "HeyBub" wrote: JB wrote: I have a copper pipe that has a good coating of green corrosion from a slow water leak. Its about 5' so I would prefer to not struggle with emory cloth or steel wool to get it clean. Is there a magic solution of something that will remove it? Or do I just need to use some elbow grease or a drill/wire brush? Try vinegar or (believe it or not) Coke. Same technique as corroded battery terminals. Interesting idea. I'll try it. Diet or regular? :-) In place more of a mess than worth it imo. Got to make sure to clean up every bit of the residue or the sugar/syrup will attract every ant in the county plus it's sticky goo...yech!! Can't be that hard to simply take some emery paper and go to it a little. Might even scrape some of the worst first. As noted above, if the point is to demonstrate the joint no longer leaks, the area at the joint itself is sufficient for that purpose. imo, ymmv, $0.02, etc., etc., ... -- |
#11
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Cleaning Exterior Corrosion from Copper Pipes?
On Jun 21, 8:47 pm, JB wrote:
I have a copper pipe that has a good coating of green corrosion from a slow water leak. Its about 5' so I would prefer to not struggle with emory cloth or steel wool to get it clean. Is there a magic solution of something that will remove it? Or do I just need to use some elbow grease or a drill/wire brush? --Jeff If you don't wan the little pieces of steel wool hanging around, use the synthetic stuff...works just as well...and not as messy. |
#12
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Cleaning Exterior Corrosion from Copper Pipes?
On Fri, 22 Jun 2007 07:40:04 -0700, JB wrote:
On Jun 22, 10:33 am, "HeyBub" wrote: JB wrote: I have a copper pipe that has a good coating of green corrosion from a slow water leak. Its about 5' so I would prefer to not struggle with emory cloth or steel wool to get it clean. Is there a magic solution of something that will remove it? Or do I just need to use some elbow grease or a drill/wire brush? Try vinegar or (believe it or not) Coke. Same technique as corroded battery terminals. Interesting idea. I'll try it. Diet or regular? :-) Diet. Otherwise you'll have sugar residue. Although I'm not capable of endorsing or opposing this idea. I used to know what oxalic acid was good for, but I"ve forgotten. |
#13
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Cleaning Exterior Corrosion from Copper Pipes?
mm wrote:
... ...I used to know what oxalic acid was good for, but I"ve forgotten. One of most common uses is as a wood bleach/cleaner. It's the "active ingredient" in many (most?) of the deck cleaners (other than those that are advertised as "green")... -- |
#14
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Cleaning Exterior Corrosion from Copper Pipes?
replying to Mark, Joe the Plumber wrote:
mws wrote: Steel wool is probably your best option. You'll probably be surprised that it comes off pretty easy - not that much elbow grease involved! I wouldn't use a drill or any other power tool. One slip and you could rip a hole in the pipe and end you with a really nice shiny NEW one courtesy of a plumber! "JB" wrote in message oups.com... If it is Leaking? You Better Disconnect the Join clean if with Eroy Paper and ReSolder it.. For it WILL Get Worse, not Better , just when you Don't want it too.. For ust Cleaning th eCopper Pipe? Same as your Car Battery Connectors Plain Old Baka Soda and Some Water.. Then Start with a ToothBrush , then Scrub brush then a Wire Brush If Needed.. If Going to Replace the Pipe? use the PVC..won't corroded anymore.. -- |
#15
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Cleaning Exterior Corrosion from Copper Pipes?
On 2/26/2014 7:44 PM, Joe the Plumber wrote:
replying to Mark, Joe the Plumber wrote: mws wrote: Steel wool is probably your best option. You'll probably be surprised that it comes off pretty easy - not that much elbow grease involved! I wouldn't use a drill or any other power tool. One slip and you could rip a hole in the pipe and end you with a really nice shiny NEW one courtesy of a plumber! "JB" wrote in message oups.com... If it is Leaking? You Better Disconnect the Join clean if with Eroy Paper and ReSolder it.. For it WILL Get Worse, not Better , just when you Don't want it too.. For ust Cleaning th eCopper Pipe? Same as your Car Battery Connectors Plain Old Baka Soda and Some Water.. Then Start with a ToothBrush , then Scrub brush then a Wire Brush If Needed.. If Going to Replace the Pipe? use the PVC..won't corroded anymore.. Because you did not respond in a timely manner to this 7 year old thread, 5 years ago the leak got worse and filled the basement. The OP did not notice, and when he went down to the basement he drowned. A timely reply would have saved a life. |
#16
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Cleaning Exterior Corrosion from Copper Pipes?
On 2/26/2014 10:51 PM, bud-- wrote:
On 2/26/2014 7:44 PM, Joe the Plumber wrote: replying to Mark, Joe the Plumber wrote: mws wrote: Steel wool is probably your best option. You'll probably be surprised that it comes off pretty easy - not that much elbow grease involved! I wouldn't use a drill or any other power tool. One slip and you could rip a hole in the pipe and end you with a really nice shiny NEW one courtesy of a plumber! "JB" wrote in message oups.com... If it is Leaking? You Better Disconnect the Join clean if with Eroy Paper and ReSolder it.. For it WILL Get Worse, not Better , just when you Don't want it too.. For ust Cleaning th eCopper Pipe? Same as your Car Battery Connectors Plain Old Baka Soda and Some Water.. Then Start with a ToothBrush , then Scrub brush then a Wire Brush If Needed.. If Going to Replace the Pipe? use the PVC..won't corroded anymore.. Because you did not respond in a timely manner to this 7 year old thread, 5 years ago the leak got worse and filled the basement. The OP did not notice, and when he went down to the basement he drowned. A timely reply would have saved a life. I heard he used PVC pipe, which wasn't rated for the pressure. Should have used Pex or CPVC. The white PVC pipe blew up, and drowned him. -- .. Christopher A. Young Learn about Jesus www.lds.org .. |
#17
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Cleaning Exterior Corrosion from Copper Pipes?
bud-- posted for all of us...
And I know how to SNIP On 2/26/2014 7:44 PM, Joe the Plumber wrote: replying to Mark, Joe the Plumber wrote: mws wrote: Steel wool is probably your best option. You'll probably be surprised that it comes off pretty easy - not that much elbow grease involved! I wouldn't use a drill or any other power tool. One slip and you could rip a hole in the pipe and end you with a really nice shiny NEW one courtesy of a plumber! "JB" wrote in message oups.com... If it is Leaking? You Better Disconnect the Join clean if with Eroy Paper and ReSolder it.. For it WILL Get Worse, not Better , just when you Don't want it too.. For ust Cleaning th eCopper Pipe? Same as your Car Battery Connectors Plain Old Baka Soda and Some Water.. Then Start with a ToothBrush , then Scrub brush then a Wire Brush If Needed.. If Going to Replace the Pipe? use the PVC..won't corroded anymore.. Because you did not respond in a timely manner to this 7 year old thread, 5 years ago the leak got worse and filled the basement. The OP did not notice, and when he went down to the basement he drowned. A timely reply would have saved a life. Ya know I am stupid. I never look at at a posting date. I don't think I even see old posts like this, maybe the newsreader makes it easy for me? I can only hope as I bumble my way through life. -- Tekkie |
#18
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Cleaning Exterior Corrosion from Copper Pipes?
replying to DAC, A Wong wrote:
darwincam wrote: If you don't wan the little pieces of steel wool hanging around, use the synthetic stuff...works just as well...and not as messy. Use water and then WD40 with old tooth brush , does the job -- |
#19
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Cleaning Exterior Corrosion from Copper Pipes?
replying to JB, peter wrote:
jbxnyr wrote: I have a copper pipe that has a good coating of green corrosion from a slow water leak. Its about 5' so I would prefer to not struggle with emory cloth or steel wool to get it clean. Is there a magic solution of something that will remove it? Or do I just need to use some elbow grease or a drill/wire brush? --Jeff Jeff ITS a piece of cake - cut a lemon in half, pour on the cut lemon common salt and rub it in so it dissolves. Rub it on pipe till it is entirely clean and shiny. THEN mix bicarbonate of soda (baking powder) and water and thoroughly rinse the area. The bi-carb neutralizes the corrosive properties of the vinegar/salt, if it is exposed to the air for any length of time, without neutralizing the acid first, it will quickly corrode again. Cheers! -- |
#20
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Cleaning Exterior Corrosion from Copper Pipes?
replying to bud--, CountryGal wrote:
LOL -- for full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/mainte...es-227572-.htm |
#21
Posted to alt.home.repair
|
|||
|
|||
Cleaning Exterior Corrosion from Copper Pipes?
replying to Joe the Plumber, Ed the plumber wrote:
way to spell, plumber Joe -- for full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/mainte...es-227572-.htm |
Reply |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
Gluing copper pipes | Home Repair | |||
corrosion of copper and/or aluminium with water softener and systemate2000 | UK diy | |||
Hydraulic Oil and Copper Corrosion (spindle oil) | Metalworking | |||
fix copper-galvanized corrosion? | Home Repair | |||
Plastic pipes v copper pipes! | UK diy |