[RE-wrenches] CSST source

[Bill Loesch]

Kurt,

One of the several CSST manufacturers is Omegaflex who currently sells the
TrackPipe product. Following a brief conversation with one of their people
Friday, I learned the gas pipe is made from 304 stainless while the "solar"
pipe is 316 material. These folks plan to offer it as "bare" or with a _Non
Halogenated_ elastomeric (i.e.. NH Armaflex) insulation. If you buy the bare
pipe, be aware that insulation containing halogen compounds will adversely
effect the life of the pipe.  Other than the cutter (previously discussed),
I am not aware of any specialized tools for the CSST. Properly tightening
the two hex shaped pieces of the fitting form the flare. The fittings for
the solar pipe will not be materially different from the gas fittings. If
the plumbing supply houses don't pick up on this, certainly the solar
thermal panel/system manufacturers/supply houses will distribute the
product. Katz and other "reformed" pv supply houses probably already have a
line on this.

Bill Loesch
Solar 1 - Saint Louis Solar


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kurt Albershardt" <info at es-ee.com>
To: "RE-wrenches" <re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org>
Sent: Thursday, February 26, 2009 2:16 PM
Subject: Re: [RE-wrenches] CSST source


> Can someone point me at a supplier for CSST, tools, and fittings?  I've
> Googled my way into oblivion searching for these and can only find
> references to gas tubing.
>
> One of my vendors who uses it guards their sources far too compulsively.
>
>
> thanks...
>
>
>
>
> On 2/26/09 2:19 AM, Bill Loesch wrote:
> > David, Mike, Carl, et al,
> >
> > Just a heads up regarding the Corrugated Stainless Steel Tubing (CSST)
> > cutting technique. If you opt not to get the dedicated tubing cutter;
not my
> > recommendation but an option, at
> > least get the profile rollers and use a sharp (new) dedicated wheel in
your
> > own tubing
> > cutter to cut the very thin CSST. What ever amount of feed you give the
> > cutter with copper it's way too much for CSST. The profile rollers will
keep
> > the very sharp cutter in the same track and make a clean break if you
feed
> > slowly. If you don't, you will collapse the tube or get a non clean
break
> > with a burr and get to start all over
> > again. If you start over enough times the new cuts will make the length
a
> > bit
> > too short to do the job.
> >
> > Remember to bond the CSST as per manu. instructions. If this CSST
behaves
> > anything light the gas CSST, without bonding, it may develop a pinhole
leak
> > when subjected to nearby
> > lightning and arcing occurs between the CSST and another ready ground.
At
> > least some manufacturers address the arcing issue with a better jacket.
> >
> > There are benefits and disadvantages to almost everything.
> >
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