Canadian Chat → Metric to imperial plumbing adapters

Does anyone know of a place in the GTA where I can get some 10mm to 3/8" compression fitting adapters? I've tried places like Hudson Plumbing and Taps and so far I haven't been able to find anything useful.

You can give these guys a call. They're on Dixon between Martin Grove Rd. and Regional Rd.

»www.cranesupply.com/

If Crane's not nearby or open then try Home Depot. While I don't know if they have exactly what you want, they do have a tremendous selection of plumbing fittings and adapters.

That said, are you sure you need an adapter? 3/8" [3/8 inch x 25.4 mm/inch] is 9.53mm which may be close enough (depending on whether you're trying to fit 10mm tubing into a 9.5mm compression fitting or vice versa.)

Thanks for the suggestions. I checked Crane out and they don't do metric fittings. Home Depot and Rona also only carries the standard North American imperial fittings.

As for the difference metric to imperial sizes, if it were the other way around (imperial to metric) then it may work, but since the metric sizes are slightly larger than their imperial counterpart they're too large to fit into the compressions fitting (none of the compression ring, nut, socket fits).

How many adapters do you need? If it's a small number then you may be able to drill the 3/8" openings with a 10mm drill bit. The adapters are brass which is a much easier metal to work with than steel (or stainless steel.)

What is it exactly your trying to go "from/to" decx? Some universal couplers might have enough clearance to fit, but I suppose you've already checked them out.

Yeah I thought about that, drilling the valve and the nut is theoretically possible, but it can't be done with the compression right. Currently thinning the pipe is a "last resort" solution.

Sorry Crane was a dud. The only others I know about are in Montreal and I don't know how fast you need the fitting... Cole Parmer Compression Fittings page

I'm not sure I like the idea of thinning the tube if there's any kind of pressure involved. The tube walls are already pretty thin and you could be asking for a rupture.

Good luck.

Duct tape, a hammer, and some vice grips.

Solves just about any problem.

Try Swagelocks »www.swagelok.com/search/ ··· SET=TRUE

Some possibles. . . .

Plumbing Mart.
True Value Hardware.
Canadian Tire.
Home Depot
Rona.
Kotyck Bros (Mississauga)

I would suspect that something like that will need to be special order though.

Thanks for the suggestions guys. So far no luck finding something though. Seems that no one (including plumbing supply wholesalers) have anything in metric sizes or anything to adapt metric pipes to imperial. The only thing I've found on the net are adapters for threaded connections, but thing for non-threaded connections.

What are you trying to do? Is this for household plumbing or for lower pressure stuff like water-cooling CPUs? There a number of 3/8"/10mm compression fittings available for water-cooling uses, e.g. Google for Koolance. Or you may have to order from overseas, e.g. »www.screwfix.com/app/sfd ··· id=35490

It's for household plumbing, specifically I need them to install a bunch of high end European faucets.

Have you called the customer service folks at the faucet manufacturer's Canadian warehouse or distributor to ask what they recommend and where to buy it? I'd imagine they run into this issue regularly. You might even luck out and they'll offer to send you some adapters for free.

The problem with these faucets is because they're not available here. The brand's North American distributor has a very limited (but customized to North American pipes) product line.

Then I'd look for a plumber who specializes in high-end, imported fixtures, preferably someone with a thick European accent that suggests they're a relatively recent immigrant

They might know what your options are, e.g. where to get the adapters you need or, if such fittings don't exist, if there are any other workarounds. Worst case, you might have to hire the guy to do one faucet and then watch carefully as he does it.

Call Mike Holmes

Does this help...

»www.bes.ltd.uk/nav_graf/ ··· /140.asp

That's interesting, as it does adapt from metric to imperial. However the catch is that the threaded imperial side uses the British BSP threads which isn't compatible with the threads (often NPT) found on valves on this side of the pond. However if I get thread adapters with it, it may work.

As for plumbers, I'm not planning on this myself. If it was a simple North American faucet with a screw type flex hose connection then it's simple, but this is something else . The problem is the plumbers I've contacted so far aren't much help.

The first ask to take along the imported exposed valves to see if he can grinding down or fiddle with it (not worth risking).

One asked us to figure it out first (LOL).

A staff at Irving Plumbing Supplies along with another plumber suggested using the metric European valve and attaching it to the 5/8" OD copper pipe by using a 5/8" OD solder to thread adapter. The only issue is that the threads aren't the same type (different taper), so they suggested sealing with orange T-tape.

Short of having the valves machined, or having custom adapters machined, the third seems most promising.

Maybe I need a higher end plumber

Just a thought, but would it be possible to solder a 1/2 copper sleeve over the end on the 10mm ends on the faucets. Then use imperial fittings from there on in.

Another thought, if soldering is not possible would be using a slighter larger fitting and use marine epoxy as a filler in the connection as it should provide for a pretty good seal once it has dried.

I don't think using a solder 1/2 inch copper sleeve would work as 10mm and 1/2 inch would leave a gap too big for solder to fill and still work well under pressure. As for the marine epoxy, it's a good idea, but like the solder I don't know how well it would work when it's being used as a filler.

Can you braze it on/together?
Does refrigeration tubing sizing help(OD)?

»www.cranecopper.com.au/s ··· b280.asp

I don't know if welding would work as the heat might damage the rubber seals in the valves.

As for the tubing sizes you linked to, they are the same size as imperial sized copper piping, they're slightly larger than the comparable metric size.

I think I'm going to give the solder-threaded adapter method I listed earlier a try. It seems the be the most promising method I've encountered so far.

How about getting high end metric water pipe to match your metric fixtures and install it throughout your house? You can buy them at any plumbing shop in Europe!

Seriously though, I Devanchya is on the right track with adapters, maybe something can be cobbled together...
»www.johnguest.co.uk/rang ··· =1&id=18

I spoke with someone whose has family with Hudsons Plumbing. Did you ask them if they had the parts in stock or whether they could get them. I was told that they should be able to order in what you need.

(ps. don't listen to the idiot who said to try marine epoxy. It won't work well with copper )

I asked them about the entire situation. They said they don't have any parts that deals with metric or converting anything in metric to imperial. They're the ones who directed me to Taps.