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copper diameter question

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jermanimal

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I just ordered up a bunch of 3/8 soft copper online...for obvious reasons.

Question what is the 3/8 referring to the OD or ID?

(Was going to head to hardware store over lunch and get some tubing and fittings.)
 
The convention is:

Soft copper = tubing which is specified per OD Usually this applies to all sorts of flexible tubing including the vinyl and pvc stuff home brewers often use.

Pipe is rigid (or mostly so) and specified per nominal ID
 
Right, so keep in mind that if you're going to get fittings that will sweat on, like elbows and such, you'll need to get 1/4" fittings because they are actually 3/8" ID meant for 1/4" rigid copper. No, this is not a typo.

3/8" OD soft copper tubing slides perfectly into 1/4" rigid copper sweat fittings.
 
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