Rofrost Turbo or Freezemaster 420D?

[Guest123]

I'm looking to buy a pipe freezing kit but I'm not sure what one is the best, most reliable and works quickly. I've looked at a few and can't decide between the Rofrost Turbo 1 or Freezemaster 420D. The Rothenberger looks a more substantial piece of kit, but the Freezemaster has excellent build quality. I've also looked at the cheaper Rofrost kit that uses Co2 cylinders. Is this any good and how easy is it to get the Co2, is BOC or similar the place to go?
Anyone got any thoughts having used them and can offer a opinion that might help me to make my mind up?

 

[SimonJohns]

I use freeze master all the time. For the sake of £50. Rent one from hss and see what you think


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Guest123]

I use freeze master all the time. For the sake of £50. Rent one from hss and see what you think


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks, good idea, I'll rent each one for similar separate jobs and try them out.

 

[Guest123]

Decided on the Rofrost kit as I can keep tabs on the amount of CO2 left, which in use doesn't actually use very much gas at all. I was a bit concerned that the electric ones may give up without warning during a freeze as the refrigerant may run out? TheRofrost has been absolutely amazing and I prefer to freeze than turn off old creaky valves or empty systems with all the problems of refilling them. It freezes up to 60mm pipe too and it looks highly impressive to a customer on a job and I've had positive comments about this.
The only down side is that I had to open an account with BOC and rent the bottle from them which is a hidden charge not realised when I bought it. This small charge is tiny compared to the benefits this kit brings.
Very highly recommended.

 

[Phil]

So are they worth the money then? I've always seen them as a luxury tool, (the machines, not aerosols). So you use it on gate valves rather than bunging?

The more I think about it, the more jobs I've done in the past would have benefitted from using it.
I've never used a freezing machine, how long does it take, and does it thaw the pipe aswell?

 

[Guest123]

So are they worth the money then? I've always seen them as a luxury tool, (the machines, not aerosols). So you use it on gate valves rather than bunging?

The more I think about it, the more jobs I've done in the past would have benefitted from using it.
I've never used a freezing machine, how long does it take, and does it thaw the pipe aswell?

I've just completed a bathroom and plumbing maintenance work (ball cock changeover, stopcock change) in a Victorian house with 80 year old plumbing. No way I'd have been able to do either the new bathroom install or the other plumbing work without the Rofrost as every valve in the house had seized and the toby outside was under a parked car that stayed there all day. By the way the house was mains fed to the bathrooms.
I use it on cold mains not just gate valves. It takes about 3-5 minutes to freeze 15mm and 22mm copper mains pipe. Once the freezing head has been removed, the pipe thaws by itself in about 5-10 minutes.
Well worth the money and not a luxury and it easily pays for itself. No more draining down and filling up systems or messing about with ancient valves that leak from the packing gland when turned on and off for the first time in years!

 

[Phil]

mmm....I can see myself getting one of these, what are they a good £700?

 

[Guest123]

The electric ones are about £700. The Rofrost I bought doesn't require electricity and uses CO2 liquid gas available from BOC or any industrial gas supplier. The cylinder I have is about the size of a fire extinguisher. This Kit freezes up to 60mm pipe and I can vouch for it working on mains pressure. It only costs about £282 but you have to buy the gas and rent the cylinder which will add on another £100 for your first gas purchase. After that the refills cost about £20.
I got mine here: Rothenberger Tool hire & sale UK - Pipe Freezing Kit: Rofrost CO2 Pipe Freezing Kit

 

[cr0ft]

I've got the Rothenberger Eco Freeze electric pipe freezer. Tried using the gas canisters and they filled me with absolutely no confidence at all to be honest! The Eco Freeze comes with heads to freeze 8, 10, 15 and 22mm pipe. In practise, I've tried to use it to freeze 22mm pipe before and it's never been up to the job. Either that or it just takes ages and I give up and drain the system down instead. It is great for freezing the other pipe sizes though.

Invaluable tool for when the customer doesn't have a working stopcock or you want to change a valve on a low pressure system and are worried about airlocks when you fill back up.

Mine cost £450+VAT from my local merchant.

 

[Phil]

I've got the Rothenberger Eco Freeze electric pipe freezer. Tried using the gas canisters and they filled me with absolutely no confidence at all to be honest! The Eco Freeze comes with heads to freeze 8, 10, 15 and 22mm pipe. In practise, I've tried to use it to freeze 22mm pipe before and it's never been up to the job. Either that or it just takes ages and I give up and drain the system down instead. It is great for freezing the other pipe sizes though.

Invaluable tool for when the customer doesn't have a working stopcock or you want to change a valve on a low pressure system and are worried about airlocks when you fill back up.

Mine cost £450+VAT from my local merchant.

Thats quite worrying croft, inc VAT its £540 and may or maynot or is suspect at freezing 22mm?