Step #7 Remove the flame. Keep adding solder until the entire joint is covered 8. With the aid of the propane torch, heat the ends of the copper pipe so that the old solder will melt and can be removed. The cost varies, but expect to spend about $50. How do you braze copper pipe? - TreeHozz.com Using a dry rag, wipe away any solder that is left. * End feed joint. Use paste flux on the pipe end - don't need gobs, insert fitting, evenly heat the FITTING with torch, touch the solder to the pipe just ahead of the joint but on the flux until the solder melts then move to the joint. apply heat until you see the solder melt and it flows to the edge where you can see it. Pipe Cleaner (1/2″ and 3/4″ Combo) Plumber's Flux and Brush. The cheap kind is a MAPP gas or propane torch that uses a one-time-use 14-ounce tank you can buy at any hardware store, and is also referred to as a turbo torch. * Wire wool or emery cloth - used to remove . It's easier to overheat a joint with MAPP gas. Can you solder with propane? | Homebrew Talk - Beer, Wine ... That's right, do copper joints just like you do ABS joints! Use a flame protector Avoid fires Learn the Difference Between Soldering Copper and Brass Pipes Five to 10 seconds of heating with a MAPP gas torch is all that's required before you can feed solder into most 1/2- to 3/4-in. Soldering copper pipe requires a relatively large amount of high intensity heat, which is why a propane torch is typically used to heat the joint. soldering - butane or propane | DIYnot Forums The cost varies, but expect to spend about $50. By using a torch, heat the fitting or joint for a few seconds up to a minute. How to Solder Copper Pipe as Strong as Welding - Makers Legacy Propane works fine, it just takes longer—which may work to your advantage if you are new to soldering copper and are working on 3/4-inch or 1/2-inch pipe. Step 4. Copper Tube Handbook: VII. Soldered Joints - Applying Solder You will need a propane torch with a long hose, such as one that you might find in a hardware store for plumbing. Step #6 Touch the solder wire to the pipe. When sweating or soldering copper pipe, we've been asked about using either propane or MAP gas. Five to 10 seconds of heating with a MAPP gas torch is all that's required before you can feed solder into most 1/2- to 3/4-in. Place a piece of fire-resistant backer board or sheet metal behind the soldered connection to protect the wall or any nearby surfaces from the flame. Another thing that will impede the heating of the copper pipe is any kind of moisture in the pipe. Answer (1 of 2): I just had to do this. A 1/2-inch pipe needs about 1/2 inch of solder. For safety and convenience, attach the MAPP cylinder to a high-quality, self-igniting torch such as this Sure Fire T655. Silver Plumbing Solder. I used a SharkBite cap: In fact, a proper solder joint is less likely to leak than the rest of the copper pipe, which can develop pinhole leaks do to chemical erosion. Un-roll about 5-8cm of solder from the roll. Soldering copper pipes demands relatively large amounts of high-intensity heat, usually 400-500 degrees Fahrenheit. Clear the area around the pipe and faucet. … Propane works fine, it just takes longer—which may work to your advantage if you are new to soldering copper and are working on 3/4-inch or 1/2-inch pipe. . How to Sweat (Solder) Copper Water Pipes for a Watertight Seal Step 2. Five to 10 seconds of heating with a MAPP gas torch is all that's required before you can feed solder into most 1/2- to 3/4-in. You may move the torch around the joint so as to distribute the heat evenly. Remove the flame from the fitting before you apply the solder (it's the heat of the fitting that . Adjust the gas valve so the flame is relatively short (just an inch or so long). MAPP gas comes in a yellow tank and propane comes in a blue tank. Bend the amount of solder you want to use to a 90-degree angle. 2. try fluxing just the pipe and applying the heat to the fitting only. Notice I said gun, not iron. Apply a small amount of flux to the pipe 4. Wait for about 30 to 45 seconds to put pressure on the joint. . When you use a propane torch, you must give the heat a chance to soak into the copper pipe connection, which can take anywhere from 30 to 60 seconds. Once the joint is soldered, use a wet cloth to clean up the area. Applying Solder. Push the plug into the pipe with the applicator tube provided. If the flux turns black and the solder won't flow into the fitting, the joint is overheated. Gently begin to heat the joint with a propane torch; you are aiming to heat the joint evenly and soften the solder without overheating the copper pipe. Soldering a joint in pipes that contain even tiny amounts of water is nearly impossible. In terms of torches, there are two main types: the cheap kind and the more expensive kind. Most 1/2- to 3/4-in. As for sweating the brass valve on the copper pipe, remember that you will need to apply heat longer. Wear protective goggles and shield to prevent splattering. To solder copper pipe you must heat the copper pipe and the fitting to be soldered to a sufficient temperature. While the copper pipe is hot, apply a bit of solder to the exposed joints, and with the help of the damp rag, wipe away any left-behind flux. For small pipe -- 1/2 or 3/4 inch -- a handheld propane torch will do, but for anything larger, you're going to want a plumber's . If you look at the flame of a propane torch you will notice there is a lighter blue, well-defined flame in the middle of a darker blue flame. This video explains the flame of a propane torch and what part of that flame tends to be to hottest. I've soldered large wire using a propane torch because the largest soldering gun was not big enough. A propane torch can get hot enough to melt metal, so make sure to purchase a heat shield or flame-proof barrier as well. Have the fire extinguisher ready beside you. Carefully wipe away any solder with your dry rag. If done correctly, the solder will be drawn into the joint. A 1-inch pipe needs about one inch of solder, and so forth. Is this normal reaction from heat? The solder, on the other hand should be on the coolest point, the opposite of the flame because it easily melts. Soldering vertical copper pipe shouldn't be too different from working horizontally. After removing the old solder, go back in and begin heating it again. If the fitting goes black you have a dirty flame or it's too hot. Heat the pipe using a torch until the flux sweats or bubbles 6. A soldered copper joint is called a 'capillary' or 'lap' joint ( see more here ), because the fitting overlaps the tube end, leaving a capillary space between the two pieces. The amount of heat needing to be applied will vary, but we'll deal with that in the next step. For joints in the horizontal position, start applying the solder metal slightly off-center at the bottom of the joint ( Figure 7.18, position a, and Figure 7.16 ). It's easier to overheat a joint with MAPP gas. For about $50 each, a handheld propane torch and an oxygen-fuel combo if you do a lot of fence or pipe repair should give you the heat you need in a manageable package. This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shares tips on soldering pipe. Types of Torches Oxygen-fuel torch (MAPP or propane) When soldering copper pipe, first touch the solder wire to the tube. 5. 6 Heat the Fitting to Sweat the Copper Pipe It is the pipe used most commonly in domestic plumbing and so it, and the related fittings are the most competitively priced.. A propane torch fitted with the correct size tip comes in handy. Prepare 6-8 inches of solder 5. Hold the lead-free solder opposite to the rosebud flame at a 90-degree angle to the joint seam. 9 in. Anyone with a little experience with a propane torch can tell you that soldering is never a one-size-fits-all operation, with different jobs requiring different techniques. Apply heat to the pipe and fitting along the line that the flux it steaming out of. Fire up your torch and adjust the flame so the blue cone in the center is about 1-1/4 in. MAPP gas comes in a yellow tank and propane comes in a blue tank. If it melts on contact, you can be sure it's sufficiently hot. 6. I used Propane to do my 2" column, becuase it is copper it conducts heat away very well! )SUBSCRIBE to This. MAPP gas torches burn hotter than propane, making them a better choice for modern solder. The torch needed for soldering copper can be propane or MAPP gas (methylacetylene-propadiene propane). pipes, and it's widely available in disposable cylinders like those used for propane. Can be used while soldering near studs, joists or walls. Propane works fine, it just takes longer—which may work to your advantage if you are new to soldering copper and are working on 3/4-inch or 1/2-inch pipe. Then concentrate the heat in the middle of the fitting . It's all going to get HOT. Weller 40 w. When you hear the flux sizzling, touch the end of the solder to the join between the brass and the copper. pipes and fittings. L. The flux will turn to liquid and the pipe will change color slightly. Prepare the solder Prepare the solder by unraveling about 8 inches from the spool. Alternatives to soldering copper. If you're soldering drainage pipe you can use 50/50 solder, but if it's used for drinking water you need the 95/5 type. #14. Here are different heat sources, each one larger than the prior. Wipe away the excess solder using a rag. Made with flame-retardant Zoltek Pyron fibers. cloth. Play the flame along the fittings and the pipe to bring them up to soldering heat. If it melts, the brass is hot enough. A propane torch is an ideal tool for sweating copper pipe. Insert ½- to ¾-in. Another great tool to consider using for soldering copper pipe is a propane torch. long. A propane torch can get hot enough to melt metal, so make sure to purchase a heat shield or flame-proof barrier as well. Larger wire needs larger heating sources. If the joint starts to discolor stop applying heat and wait until it cools before continuing heating. Dip the end of the solder in the flux and keep dabbing the joint, when it's hot enough to melt the jobs a good en. Discoloration is yellowish sheen. Soldering 6", 8" or any large size copper pipe it does not matter if you want to use oxygene/acetylene or propane as long as you are using a large enough tip and watch your heat. Soldering is a handy tool when it comes to bathroom plumbing repair. You can't use a soldering iron here. Be sure to apply heat uniformly around the fitting for 8-10 seconds. To test whether the required temperature has been reached, place the solder wire on top of the pipe. The 50/50 contains lead and other things that can leach into the water, but the other doesn't. Here's one from Home Depot. How to Fix a Leaking Copper Pipe How to Stop Water Pipes From Hammering Bend the solder downward approximately 2 inches in from the end of the solder wire. A bit how long to heat copper pipe for solder propane expensive, gets much hotter than propane, making them a better for. 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