Where and how to source copper pipe or used sanitary fittings in Canada?

[tiramisu]

Paying retail or worse paying retail plus shipping on some of the heavier piece parts would be fun if I had enough funds to just make a big order and wait for it to arrive but like most people, I am chronically tight for cash.

Where have you been able to find good prices on used pipe and fittings?

I'm in Winnipeg and my local Kijiji appears to be pretty useless.
Haven't found a canadian reseller for used sanitary fittings
and it seems like ebay sellers these days are more expensive rather than less expensive than retail.
The chinese prices are great till you factor in the shipping.

Any thoughts appreciated..

Thanks,
T.

[zed255]

If you can locate a dairy operation being upgraded you might score stainless fittings and pipe, plumbers might have copper removed from renovations.

[ideasinbeer]

Winnipeg you say? Interesting.

Not sure exactly what pieces you are looking for but there here are a couple thoughts.

https://www.metalsupermarkets.com/store-finder/
they can likely make the bigger stuff, no shipping as there is a Winnipeg location.

https://www.graintoglass.ca/
They will have some off the shelf pieces and are a couple of pretty great guys (the owners, Paul and Brad)

[tiramisu]

@ideasinbeer Thanks... (after about 15 versions in planning I think I'm fairly close to my bill of materials) I'm looking for a bunch of off cuts of 3" copper to start with and not to excited about being told I have to either buy a 12' length or pay 1.5x the retail plus a hefty shipping charge. I suspect 6' is about right. 1 - 36" (or 2 -18") 1 - 10" and whatever is left for to make a shotgun condensor with. I have a friend who may play along in which case buying 12' may work out. That gives me a 3" CVVM with a good height for clear spirits and the ability to use as a pot still.

It looks like the metals supermarket sells tube not pipe.
3″ OD x 0.625″ WALL x 1.75″ C101 Copper Tube3

While 3" Type L Pipe is 3.125". If I make my own flange I suspect the tri clover clamps should work.


Open questions:

- I am more likely to use 2 - 2200 elements.
- I am undecided whether to flip upside down for the drain convenience (height may become an issue).
- Cutting 4 or 6" hole in the top and using a reducer rather than cutting 2 holes is one possibility but being able to access the pot when assembled seems like it could be easier to clean. (I suppose it depends whether I will break it down after each run or not).

I'm either going to have to sell some junk on fleabay or wait till november to buy my next bits and pieces.

image.png (56.24 KiB) Viewed 2627 times

[ideasinbeer]

For some reason I can't zoom in on the pic. My issue I'm sure.

Let's keep in touch. If I bring stuff in we can likely work together. Might look at glacier tanks etc.

Tri Clamps are great and you can never have too many.

I haven't done the math on the elements, but I'm guessing bigger ones are likely similar in price with higher output which is better for stripping, especially if you can control output.

Have you considered Stainless pipe/tubing with copper packing of some sort? I'm guessing its cheaper?

[tiramisu]

Stainless Steel is cheaper than copper but the shipping prices are the same as the price of the sanitary spool itself.

There is probably a company that moves used sanitary spool and triclover fittings somewhere but I'm not finding it.
Similarly if I can find me a recycler with 2 foot lengths of salvage copper pipe it would be a lot better than buying
new/retail/and shipping thousands of miles.

[dukethebeagle120]

Scrap yards.
The copper bins are full

[Sharks_n_danger]

Equinox store out of Quebec deals in sanitary fittings and stainless steel spool. Highly recommended.

[ideasinbeer]

https://www.equinoxstore.ca/en

https://www.glaciertanks.com/tri-clamp- ... ols-2.html

[tiramisu]

thks... asked for a quote from metalsupermarket should here next week.
Have left messages a couple of scrap yards but I suspect I would have to go out and dig through scrap copper to find what I need.

[dukethebeagle120]

thks... asked for a quote from metalsupermarket should here next week.
Have left messages a couple of scrap yards but I suspect I would have to go out and dig through scrap copper to find what I need.

+1
You gotta dig in the bins yourself

[tiramisu]

Around here finding 2" and 3" copper in the bins would be a minor miracle. Most of it is old plumbing copper copper from home reno jobs.
We only have a couple petrochemical and paint shops in town. If I had been a thinking man I would have gone looking after the local race fuel extractor had a serious incident and came close to blowing up a large percentage of the town but that was 10 years ago.

I've been looking at soxhlet extractors and rotary evaporators this weekend while I wait for my quote from metals supermarket.
You can get pretty creative with your gin if you have the desire. So many interesting ways of seperating solutes from solvents.

[ideasinbeer]

oh I recall that fire. pretty close to home.

Curious to see what you come up with Tiramisu.

[Windswept]

I just had really good success ordering from here:

https://www.gormansmith.com/

Prices were good, they're canadian and the shipping was very fast (well under a week). I'll be ordering from them again

[fzbwfk9r]

I feel your pain

in Sk, it is almost impossible to buy from a metal recycler.... they simply don't want to deal with the "Little" guy.

I'm lucky we have a Co that deals in all things plumbing, but retail.

i'm always on the lookout for lead/copper/ss.