Domestic plumbing - does anyone still make a good copper pipe ?

[Sideways]

Late 1970's house. Gas fired CH and HW, originally copper and I do all my own plumbing maintenance (except the boiler).

Over the years I'm sure I've noticed a drop in the quality of copper pipe. I know it's made to British Standards but like for like, when I've weighed lengths of pipe I've taken out of the system vs new stuff, the new is 10 to 15% lighter. I've also learnt to carefully inspect any lengths I buy carefully before leaving the merchants as so much pipe is bent, ovalled, damaged ends, excessively deep stamping aand worst, longitudinal scratches which are a pain when you are jointing copper to plastic relying on push fits with O rings.

On a retrofit as opposed to new build, changing from copper to plastic has several disadvantages so I need to keep a lot of the system in copper.

Is there any source of "good" 22mm copper pipe folk can recommend ? Better than the standard Wednesbury, etc stuff from SF and TS which suffers all the problems I've listed above.

Thanks

 

[Amplidyne]

All the pipe I've seen from various sources has been basically the same. From the cheap pipe from the local cheap hardware place, to plumber's merchants.
There may be better stuff, but I haven't seen it. I suspect that it's all made in some huge factory in China, and brand engineered.
I've noticed the difference as well incidentally.

 

[Spectric]

I never buy copper pipe from places like Screwfix because they seem to just throw it around so always go to a place like PTS, now City Plumbing or some other trade merchant. I also only use yorkshire endex endfeed fittings and don't like the solder ring fittings as they are lead free which you don't need on non potable pipework. I agree that copper pipe has got lighter, so have the fittings but I still use it over plastic as a solder joint has to be better long term than a rubber O ring. The good thing about SF & TS is that it has given the trades more work as the weekend warriors buy cheap and mess things up for a qualified guy to come and sort things out.

 

[Pedronicus]

I don't know why Screwfix still mention copper tube to Table X in their blurb as this only applied to BS 2871 which has been superseded by EN 1057 which does not use the Table classification.

 

[Lorenzl]

I also brought some copper tube from Screwfix and as mentioned it was stamped with the makers name and not quite round. I then brough some from a local plumbers merchant and it was round but still stamped with the makers name. I had to check the name was not where the fitting was going.

Years ago I had a pin hole leak in the header tank to the hot water tank tube - about 2 years ago. The pipe cutter wouldn't cut it properly and it was so thin I could distort it by hand.

 

[Duncan A]

Refrigeration copper tubing is far better quality but will cost a lot more than standard copper.
It is usually supplied in coils but can be purchased in straight lengths.
It is mostly available in imperial sizes which could be a problem for you
Duncan

 

[Sideways]

Refrigeration copper tubing is far better quality but will cost a lot more than standard copper.
It is usually supplied in coils but can be purchased in straight lengths.
It is mostly available in imperial sizes which could be a problem for you
Duncan

Good info thank you !
Unfortunately I do need 22mm and straight.