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Author:
sum (FL)
I have an outdoor hosebib connected to a 3/4" copper pipe. The copper pipe is buried below grade and rises up to about 18" above ground before connecting to the hosebib. The vertical riser is secured to a piece of 4X4 lumber with copper straps.
I noticed now a year later, that the 3/4" copper pipe is still nice and shiny.
But the copper strap seems to be badly corroded.
Copper is copper right? Why would the strap corroded so badly, when the copper pipe is contacting water inside AND outside but stays shiny with no sign of corrosion?
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Author:
srloren (CA)
My guess is that the thickness of the strap is thinner and also both sides of the strap are exposed to the weather. Oxygen is always corroding. Spray clear lacquer on it to keep it shiny longer.
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Author:
steve (CA)
Are the straps solid copper or copper plated?
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Author:
Paul48 (CT)
sum.....try cleaning that, just for grin and giggles. Not that it's the case, but I could see a Chinese factory making a lot of money by selling copper plated strapping as copper strapping.
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Author:
Paul48 (CT)
You beat me to it steve.
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Author:
sharp1 (IL)
If the 4 x 4 riser is treated lumber, the salts in the wood will rust and corrode copper and steel.
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Author:
sum (FL)
PAUL48 and steve, unfortunately I threw the piece away after taking the picture, so I no longer have it to clean it up and examine. But I have a feeling I have the whole reel of this somewhere at the rental storage, and next time I go there I will sand it down to see if it's 100% copper.
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Author:
sum (FL)
sharp1, it is pressure treated lumber. However, the copper pipe the copper strap is attached to, is also in contact with the lumber. The copper pipe has no sign of any corrosion, when the attached strap is. Hence my original question.
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Author:
hj (AZ)
If you have a "reel" of it, then it IS probably coated steel.
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Author:
packy (MA)
just look at the end of the strap after it has been cut.
if it is shiny, it is steel..
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Author:
sum (FL)
OH MY OH MY, I learned something new every day!
I sanded down the reel of copper straps I have, and it's not copper all the way!
I have always assumed this is ALL COPPER! until now...
I then used a magnetic tray and tested that on my other copper straps and retainers. Everything on the counter is copper and everything stuck on the bottom of that tray is NOT copper!!!
Even the two hole straps, some are copper and some are not even though they look copper. See the two below, the top one is NOT copper.
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