Plumbing Basics: Cutting, Joining, and Forming Pipe

1. Introduction

Your instructor, Mary-Anne Bowcott, shares her story of rising through the ranks in construction and plumbing, and overcoming gender discrimination and adversity to open Westcom Plumbing and Gas Ltd.

2. Common Terminology

Learn the terminology commonly used in plumbing, from the most used systems in plumbing applications to the specialized fittings that connect one pipe to the next.

3. Copper Tubing

Mary-Anne reviews the five types of copper and what they’re each used for in plumbing. Then, she walks you through several different tools and methods for cutting, preparing and joining copper pipe and fittings.

4. Soldering

Soldering is a method of joining pipes together with a fitting, then melting a filler, known as the solder, with a torch. Mary-Anne takes you through prepping the pipe, fitting it, and using a specific tip on the torch to melt the solder.

5. Brazing

Brazing is similar to soldering, only it occurs at a higher temperature and the process takes longer. Mary-Anne shows you how to clean your copper pipes, fit them together, and use a torch and brazing rod to join the pipes.

6. Pressed Gas

Pressed gas systems eliminate the need to solder, don’t require heat, and take far less time to join fittings and pipes together. Learn how to create a permanent fitting using a pressed gas fitting and a press tool.

7. Copper Bending and Compression

Mary-Anne demonstrates how to bend a piece of copper tubing to ninety degrees using a tubing bender. Also, learn how to fit a compression nut, coupling, and ferrule onto a fitting and use wrenches to compress the ferrule to the copper pipe.

8. ABS, PVC, and CPVC

Mary-Anne reviews three common types of pipe — ABS, PVC and CPVC — and explains their typical uses and the various fittings they’re compatible with. Then, she walks through a basic installation with PVC and fittings using a pipe reamer, primer, and glue.

9. Gas Venting

There are many different gas venting styles, applications and brands. Mary-Anne demonstrates how to work with some common gas venting types for residential and commercial use, including C-vent, B-vent, Dura vent, and System 636.

10. Pex Pipe

Learn about various kinds of pex pipe, like Uponor and blue, red, and white pex piping. Then, Mary-Anne walks you through two basic pex pipe installations: one with blue pex piping and another with Uponor.

11. SharkBite

SharkBite fittings have push-type connections. Learn how to install a SharkBite fitting onto copper tubing, and how to take it apart in two different ways: with a disconnecting clip and with a crescent wrench.

12. Gastite

To work with Gastite and install their products, you need to be a certified Gastite installer, trained and certified by Gastite. Mary-Anne shares tips for working with this stainless steel tubing, the differences between overground and underground Gastite, and how to cut and install a fitting onto both.

13. Braided Supplies

Braided supplies are made of braided stainless steel with plastic tubing inside. Learn how to connect two different types of braided supplies — an extension and a lav supply— when using a compression fitting.

14. Hangers

There are hundreds of hangers to choose from. In this lesson, Mary-Anne reviews some of the more commonly used hangers: strappings, unistrut, springs, rings, and also demonstrates the various clamps and fasteners that fit with each of them.

15. Piping Tests

There are several different ways to test piping, depending on what kind of system you’re testing. Mary-Anne demonstrates how to use a Hydrostatic pump to test water, how to use various test balls to test drainage, and how to use a leak detect solution on pipes to test gas.

16. Steel Piping and Cast Iron Assembly

Mary-Anne walks you through various assemblies of steel piping and cast iron with different types of fittings, like zip couplings, MJ clamps, and Cremco fittings. Then, she demonstrates proper wrench use and gives wrench tips and tricks for working with steel piping.

17. Snap Cutters

Manual snap cutters come in two forms: ratcheting and scissor snaps. In this lesson, Mary-Anne demonstrates how to safely cut a piece of cast iron pipe using scissor snaps.

18. Threading Pipe

Mary-Anne explains the various parts of a threader, including the tubing cutter, dies and reamer, and how they work together to thread pipe. Then, she walks you though how to cut and thread a pipe using a pipe wrench, Teflon, pipe joint compound, and the threader.

19. Jackhammer

When you need to repair a pipe, automatic tools can help you quickly access piping systems, especially when they’re under concrete or behind wood. Learn how to load a jackhammer, as well as Mary-Anne’s techniques for getting into tricky places, like drilling horizontally.

20. Hammer Drill

Hammer drills are mainly used for putting fasteners into concrete, but can also be used for chipping tile or and masonry drilling. Learn how to operate the hammer drill and how to use a lead smackey drill bit.

21. Super Hawg

Hawg drills are used for drilling holes in wood construction. Mary-Anne reviews various parts and drill bits used with a super hawg, including the chuck key, pilot bit, hole saw, and Milkwaukee bits, and then shows how to use the Super Hawg on a piece of wood.

22. Impact Driver

The impact driver is a handy cordless tool used to drive in fasteners, screws, and bolts. Learn how to change the torque setting on an impact driver, how to attach an extension, and how to screw in a number of different screw sizes.

23. Cordless Drill

The cordless drill doesn’t have as much torque as an impact driver, but is compatible with all of the same drill bits if you need to interchange the two. Learn how to attach drill bits to a cordless drill, and how to operate the drill safely.

24. Band Saw

Mary-Anne shows you how to use one of her favorite tools: a portable band saw, which can cut plastic pipe, metal pipe, ready rod, and cast iron. Learn how to load the saw with a blade and operate the safety, then use the band saw on a piece of three-quarter steel.

25. One-Handed Reciprocating Saw

A Hackzall is a one-handed reciprocating saw; it operates the same way as a Sawzall, a reciprocating saw that requires two hands. Mary-Anne shows you different blades to use to cut various materials, and demonstrates how to use a Hackzall without bending your blade, a common mistake people make.

26. Circular Saw

Learn how to operate a cordless circular saw, how to change the cutting depth, and how to prevent kickbacks and ensure proper safety protocol while cutting wood.

27. Grinder

Learn how to use a grinder: a wheeled saw that can cut and bevel pipe, among many things. In this lesson, Mary-Anne teaches you how to attach a zip disk to the grinder to cut metal, and also how to bevel a piece of PVC—two basic skills for plumbing work you’ll use again and again.