Copper prices coming down?

[bfr57]

I'm designing my shop airlines using some ideas here. I went to HD to price out piping and figured the galvanized or black pipe would be much more cost effective over copper. For kicks, I priced out the copper. To my surprise, the Type M 3/4" 10" sticks were the same (within pennys) of the galvanized pipe. I was anticipating a huge spread. I'm now reconsidering copper!

 

[KRB52]

Like any of the metal prices, it will fluctuate with the market. Right now, it seems to be going down. Be patient, it will go back up.

 

[oldgoaly]

figures I was thinking of sending my pile of copper to the recyclers.....

 

[Junkman]

M is very light duty tubing. You want L if you are going to use it inthe shop. I have only seen M used in low end homes, and it usually doesn't last long. K is what they used for underground before the era of plastic pipe. Compare the length of a length of L compared to M

http://www.petersenproducts.com/Specifications/Pipe_Copper.aspx

 

[big.jim]

copper coming down? ive heard of scrap going up and down (usually when i want to sell) but new product never goes down by anything significant

 

[bfr57]

M is very light duty tubing. You want L if you are going to use it inthe shop. I have only seen M used in low end homes, and it usually doesn't last long. K is what they used for underground before the era of plastic pipe. Compare the length of a length of L compared to M

http://www.petersenproducts.com/Specifications/Pipe_Copper.aspx

The research I did on M-rated here; http://www.elkhartproducts.com/downloads/Rated-Internal-Working-Pressures-Copper-Tube.pdf says annealed 3/4" is rated for 346 psi. If I'm keeping the lines out of harm's way, why would it be a problem? It won't corrode or deteroriate.......

 

[touchton]

The reason copper is coming down in price is I just finished piping my garage with copper. By the end of the week I suspect Lowe's will be giving compressors away......

 

[TK LP]

M is very light duty tubing. You want L if you are going to use it inthe shop. I have only seen M used in low end homes, and it usually doesn't last long. K is what they used for underground before the era of plastic pipe. Compare the length of a length of L compared to M

http://www.petersenproducts.com/Specifications/Pipe_Copper.aspx

The research I did on M-rated here; http://www.elkhartproducts.com/downloads/Rated-Internal-Working-Pressures-Copper-Tube.pdf says annealed 3/4" is rated for 346 psi. If I'm keeping the lines out of harm's way, why would it be a problem? It won't corrode or deteroriate.......

Copper type M piping will be fine, annealed (soft), or hard (drawn). The working pressure rating for type M easily exceeds the working pressure rating of typical shop compressor tanks. If you solder your joints, that will be your weak link. Stay away from 50/50 solders, or braze.


http://www.copper.org/applications/plumbing/cth/select-tube/cth_2select_recom.html

http://www.copper.org/applications/plumbing/cth/technical-data/tables/cth_table3c.html

http://www.copper.org/applications/plumbing/cth/technical-data/tables/cth_table4.html.pdf

 

[big.jim]

The reason copper is coming down in price is I just finished piping my garage with copper. By the end of the week I suspect Lowe's will be giving compressors away......

ah i see like the snow tyres i bought ready for the snow that hasnt come

 

[Norcal]

China is having a slowdown, so less demand.

 

[BJ42LX]

There's been a dip in the price of copper recently, but only in the past two weeks or so. I think it's unlikely HD/Lowes pricing responds that quickly.

 

[shooting4life]

When my brother and I did my garage air line last fall I compared the price of copper and BIP and went with copper because it was actually cheaper, which surprised me. On top of that I find it easier to work with and easier to modify than BIP so it was win/win for me.

 

[Falcon67]

> I think it's unlikely HD/Lowes pricing responds that quickly.

Locally, they do on OSB. Other things, not so much I think.

 

[efncrx]

I wouldn't hold my breathe, buy it as cheap as you can.

 

[big.jim]

keeping my eye out im ready for some more copper for stock , so hoping for buying cheap

 

[66HertzClone]

If you were to use PVC this wouldn't be any concern. Just kidding of course.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Link

Copper is back in the news this week but not for good reasons. Copper has fallen to 44-month lows and in New York, prices have breached the key $3.00 per pound level. Yesterday, copper for the May contract closed at $2.95. Today, it traded as low as $2.91 before bouncing back to around the $2.95 level.
Copper has fallen over 14% this year and about 9% in just the last week. 12-Mar-2014)