Rofrost Turbo or Freezemaster 420D?

[cr0ft]

Yes, I'm going to be calling Rothenberger customer services on Monday about it. Freezes all the other pipe sizes fine but doesn't seem up to the job on 22mm. I waited around like a lemon for half an hour on 2 occasions before giving up on it. I did notice that only one of the freezing heads appeared to be working though so I think I've got a dodgy unit.

 

[Guest123]

My Rofrost using a carbon dioxide cylinder is NOT the same as the freezing can kits you can get. It comes with freezer heads up to 60mm and I have ABSOLUTE confidence in it. I've frozen 22mm high pressure mains in about 5 minutes and it has stayed frozen all through the work on it. The freezer head has a handle with a nozzle that allows you to adjust the gas flow in fine increments.

This is how I use mine:
Clean the pipe first, remove any paint or dirt.
Fit the appropriate freezing head over the pipe.
Turn the valve about half way and when the frost forms on the pipe, the gas will start to escape so turn the valve down until this gas escape stops but keep the gas flowing on the pipe all through the freezing process until you're finished.
After about 3-5 minutes on a 15 - 22mm pipe it will be frozen. Crack open a tap or valve to make sure or slightly slacken of the nut on a compression fitting.
Keep the gas flowing through the freezer head with the nozzle at minimum setting.
After work has been completed, switch off gas, remove freezer head and I lightly run a cloth over the frost on the pipe once. After about 5 minutes the pipe will thaw naturally.
Never try to freeze moving water as it won't work. Keep taps and valves fully closed when you freeze.
Always wear protective gloves and use CO2 in a well ventilated room.
Insurance companies must be notified if you're carrying compressed gas in your vehicle.

My worry over the ELECTRIC kits is that they may fail without warning as there is no way to tell how much refrigerant is left. I don't like the DIY freezer cans either as one failed on me.

 

[Chris Kafetzis]

I've just bought the rothenberger Eco freeze machine. Paid £500. Got it home and set up a piece of 15mm copper pipe to my bib tap. I've filled the pipe with water, purged all the air out etc....

ive then waited 30 minutes with the machine running, pulled off the jg cap and unfortunately it wasn't frozen. Thinking maybe I'd done something wrong ive started again, using conductivity paste and this time putting both freeze heads right next to each other. After leaving the machine running for a whole hour all I got was a light frosting on the copper pipe. But no I've cap and when pulled the cap off a full flow of water. Doesn't give me much confidence that this is gonna work in someone's house!

After speaking to rothenberger apparently you have to put water in the unit somewhere, meeting the rep on Monday to see about this. Overall tho disappointed to spend £500 on a machine that simply doesn't work, and considering the instructions for the unit say that there are no serviceable parts inside is very annoying that now they say you have to put water in it! Will check back on Monday when I've tested the thing again...

 

[SimonJohns]

They were poop when freezemaster made them too

The only electric one to have are the ones that rely on refrigerant not Pelletier effect

 

[Howsie]

And you could of had one of my rofrosts for £400.

 

[Barry98]

It's under where the display is little glad had screw , undo fill with water sorted

 

[Chris Kafetzis]

Well if the thing still doesn't work very well then I will be getting a refund, as I can't believe rothenberger would produce a piece of kit worth that kinda money that is such a piece of junk!

If you let me know condition etc i might be interested anyway...

 

[Ermintrude]

Well if the thing still doesn't work very well then I will be getting a refund, as I can't believe rothenberger would produce a piece of kit worth that kinda money that is such a piece of junk!

If you let me know condition etc i might be interested anyway...

The only decent tool rothenburger ever produced was the sure fire 2. Their grips, pipe slices, screwdrivers are horrific! The rebranded led lensor torches are good.

Always found get best results using freezer behind bends so the plug don't move.

 

[woodytheplumber]

i quite like rothen grips! have a pair from 15 years ago that i got off my grandad (like 80%) of my tool kit ha ha) and a pair fron 2 year ago the olderones are better but still great at the moment i am using the polar freezing kit its expensive to run but takes up no room in the van and works a treat

 

[northcarr]

I have a freeze master 420d well worth the cash.I have had it for 5rys or so now and has only failed to work once and i think i did't get all the paint removed.I have used it on 35mm copper no problem.