Page 97 - The City and Guilds Textbook: Plumbing Book 1 for the Level 3 Apprenticeship (9189), Level 2 Technical Certificate (8202) and Level 2 Diploma (6035)

Chapter 2 Common processes and techniques

KEY TERMS
INDUSTRY TIP
Rippling: an unwanted, wavy
When using threading tools, plenty of oil should be applied as this helps to lubricate and pattern made on the inside
cool the cutting heads. Threading tools have a reversible action. This allows the cutting face of a machine bend
head to be removed from the pipe and also cleans the newly cut threads of all cut steel and when the bending arm roller
is not tight enough.
excess oil (known as ‘swarf’). Throating: a slight
British Standard Pipe (BSP) and British Standard Pipe Threads (BSPT) relate to the type of indentation that the bending
thread used on screwed low carbon steel pipes and fittings. Although the pipe is measured machine makes when the
in mm, it is universally referred to in imperial measurements, e.g. ‘x-inch BSPT’ (meaning bend is formed.
x-inch British Standard Pipe Thread). See the following BSPT page for further information: Annealing: a process that
www.bspt.co.uk involves heating the copper
to a cherry-red colour and
then quenching it in water.
Other hand tools This softens the copper
tube so that the copper
As well as the tools we have already looked at, there are others a plumber may can be worked without
need. These are general tools that are useful additions to the toolkit and include fracturing, rippling or
those listed in Table 2.10. deforming.
 Table 2.10 Other hand tools used for plumbing BSP: British Standard Pipe.
BSPT: British Standard Pipe
Files and rasps Thread; the type of thread
Essential for filing the ends of tubes to used on screwed low carbon
remove internal and external burrs. steel pipes and fittings.
Three types should be included in the toolkit:
1 flat files
2 half-round files
3 rat-tail files.

Allen keys
These small hexagonal keys are used mainly
in maintenance tasks, e.g. for repairing and
servicing shower valves.

Tap reseating tool
A widely used plumber’s tool for repairing
the seats of taps by grinding the seat to a
smooth surface.
This ensures that the tap washer sits
properly on the tap seat, preventing taps
from dripping.

Radiator spanner
A specialised spanner for inserting radiator
valve tails into radiators and convectors.

Hand tool safety and maintenance

A large number of accidents occur every year in the construction industry
because of the unsafe use of manual and power hand tools, such as using a
screwdriver as a chisel or a lever.
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