How To Solder Copper Pipes

bjbatlanta

Sorry KC, I see that now. As usual, I was going for the "visuals" more than the "script". (Simple things for simple minds.) And hopefully we'll hear positive updates from "jpelzer". (Hope he's got the # for 911 "memorized" though....)

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jpelzer

I have a direct line. They're talking about fitting me with a GPS bracelet that sends my whereabouts whenever it detects that I'm on fire. That should speed things up. Not sure how to test that though.

allencd@cox.net

WATCH OUT, most of the newer ball valves are plastic/nylon etc., it can't take any torch heat whatsoever.

pop the bonnet off and keep the ball and stem safe. Put a bit of lube on the ball when you reassemble the valve, as a smaller valve may lose shape if heated to long. With MAPP gas, the fixture heats up much quicker, which is better. so don't keep the flame on it longer than needed. when the joint is full, you will know as the solder will just drip off. If the solder beads up outside the joint, you've burnt of all the flux. sweating pipes is actually very easy. just need to keep a couple things in mind, and remember to wipe the joint well afterwards. do NOT try and cool it too quickly.

Ron6519

Lead solder hasn't been sold in stores in many years. About the only place you'd pick it up is at garage sales and at your Dad's house.
The solder paste sold today is also lead free.
The ,"vaseline" reference will be confusing to the newbies. You don't use that in soldering.
Ron

Wildie

Thanks for the reply Ron!
The reason for my question was that I have a few containers of this 'flux' laying around and was thinking that I may as well toss 'em out! I have no lead solder to use it with!
I've never heard of someone referring to paste flux as 'vaselene' until I read it here in this thread!
Not only will it confuse the newbies, it confused me, as well!

Joe F

Great thread. Application and theory in one easy lesson!!!

I can do OK soldering 1/2, 3/4 and even 1", does anyone have any tips for success on the bigger stuff 1 1/4 and up?

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skymaster

a minimum #5 tip and acetylene :}:} works well

Scuba_Dave

Sure, now ya tell me

47_47

Well Dave, you never asked. Let me tell you there is another item you must wipe after you're done.

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What we've got here is... failure to communicate. Some men you just can't reach. So you get what we had here last week, which is the way he wants it... well, he gets it.

Knucklez

this is how i unwind the solder.. notice how the end has been circled? this helps me reach around the pipe when it is hot enough.

i hold onto the spool while soldering

Knucklez

a question.. but first a story, so sit down and listen to

one time.. i realized my solder join sucked and i needed to touch it up cause it was leaking. so i opened a sink valve downstream used my air mattress pump to blow out the water. then i hit the pipe with some heat and tried to add more solder. unfortunately this did not work to stop the leak..

so i decided to remove the old 90 elbow and start over, maybe with a pre-soldered copper fitting (i like these!).

so i heat up the elbow and start hitting it lightly with a pair of plyers until the elbow pops off.. but it came of with a SPLASH OF HOT SOLDER that hit me in my eye.

and this is why i tell people i will never get contact lenses, my glasses have saved my eye sight more than once!

this leads me to my question..what are your safety tips with respect to soldering?

Knucklez

Knucklez

how to solder against gravity..

ok, i'm not a pro, so this is how i did it. but it is reliable, easy, and has never leaked (knocks on wood).

1) buy copper fitting that is "PRE-SOLDERED". it costs 50% more, so that 66cent copper elbow is 99cent. they sell at HD and no doubt everywhere else.

2) you still want to add flux because of the benefits. apply heat until you see the solder melt and it flows to the edge where you can see it.

3) wipe joint off when it cools down.

4) done

Knucklez

J187

Not sure if it's been mentioned, but a good trick to knowing when you've heated enough for the solder is that the flame will start to give off a green hue...

handyman78

One item I always try to remember and tell friends when working on home projects- especially plumbing- Don't work late night or Sunday eves- By experience only work on plumbing when the supply stores are open! I have had my occasions where I had to keep the water off until the store opened the next morning for replacement parts.

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47_47

Best advice so far.

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What we've got here is... failure to communicate. Some men you just can't reach. So you get what we had here last week, which is the way he wants it... well, he gets it.