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As a homeowner, it seems there's always a plumbing issue that can be tackled. Many of these issues would be a cinch if I knew how to solder 2 copper pipes together. Right now, whenever soldering is involved, I call a professional. I justify it because a plumbing problem due to a bad soldering is going to cost me way more than calling a professional. However, I'm sick of it. Additionally, I find myself doing jobs that could be done easier if I could just swap out a pipe rather than buy an adapter of whatever sort. So, how do I go about teaching myself how to solder and have it not cause my house to become flooded?
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| # ? Feb 17, 2013 05:58 |
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| # ? May 20, 2013 04:50 |
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I haven't soldered pipe myself, but there's TONS of how-to videos on youtube. Search "how to solder pipe"
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| # ? Feb 17, 2013 06:29 |
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The proper term is 'sweating pipe' if you're referring to domestic hot/cold water systems. Soldering is used in a different context as far as pipe goes. It is more applicable to copper pipe gas systems such as refrigeration or medical gasses. DO NOT LET HOT FLUX OR SOLDER DRIP ON YOU. THEY ARE CAUSTIC AND WILL LEAVE SEVERE BURNS (trust me I know). ALWAYS WEAR SAFETY GEAR INCLUDING GLOVES AND GLASSES. Sweating pipe:
As far as tools and consumables go, it's torch, solder, flux, sandcloth, brushes and pipe. Get these at any Lowes, Home Depot, hardware store or plumbing supply house. I also highly recommend MAPP gas over propane. I was taught from experience. I have been a commercial mechanical (plumbing, heating & air) contractor for over 15 years. meecrob fucked around with this message at Feb 17, 2013 around 14:31 |
| # ? Feb 17, 2013 14:28 |
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^^ great post. For me I just follow the rules: Dry fit sand flux heat Apply soder Also avoid the 20 dollar combo packs. They are a rip off as they give you very little solder and flux. And I have always found when replacing a valve, it is easier to cut it out and use a coupling rather than trying to pull connections apart. XmasGiftFromWife fucked around with this message at Feb 17, 2013 around 15:05 |
| # ? Feb 17, 2013 14:58 |
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Moved to appropriate forum.
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| # ? Feb 17, 2013 15:32 |
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Thanks for the responses. Also I had no idea this forum existed so thats cool to learn about. I should have realized there would be videos on YouTube. I guess now I go buy the supplies and do a little trial run on empty pipes.
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| # ? Feb 17, 2013 16:47 |
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johnny sack posted:I should have realized there would be videos on YouTube. You wouldn't believe the number of resources on Youtube for the fix-it newbie. Another good tip: you can fix drat near any appliance by googling the make & model along with "service manual". And meecrob was right, the term "soldering" is used more often for other soldering uses, like circuit boards (which we have another thread in DIY for), or even arts and crafts. kid sinister fucked around with this message at Feb 17, 2013 around 23:45 |
| # ? Feb 17, 2013 23:41 |
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I'm no expert but it seemed like most of my problems with doing it were actually that I was sitting there with the torch on it too long and letting it get too hot. You just want the flux to start to fizzle a little If all else fails sharkbites or similar are still cheaper than hiring a guy. Sometimes you want to make a connection in some dank old inaccessible corner where you also can't drain the water completely and a sharkbite is way easier.
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| # ? Feb 18, 2013 03:46 |
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Honestly the best way to learn it to try it out. Buy some cheap bits and start sticking them together. Here is another secret. Reusing fittings is asking for trouble. No matter how much prep I have tried I always seem to have pinholes when reusing fittings.
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| # ? Feb 18, 2013 15:27 |
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I learned by buying the materials and reading a general home how-to book. My test setup was square of 4 90 degree corners, pipes connecting them, and a T joint with a hose connection in the middle of one of the pipes. Sand/prep, add flux Sweat the connections, allow to cool then hook up to the hose. Surprisingly enough it didn't leak. Then I replaced all the old galvanized pipe in the house with copper over the next few days.
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| # ? Feb 18, 2013 19:43 |
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meecrob posted:DO NOT LET HOT FLUX OR SOLDER DRIP ON YOU. THEY ARE CAUSTIC AND WILL LEAVE SEVERE BURNS (trust me I know). ALWAYS WEAR SAFETY GEAR INCLUDING GLOVES AND GLASSES. Also, wear a cotton shirt in case it does drip on you. One time my dad (HVAC installer) was brazing copper pipe, and a drop of condensation fell onto the workpiece, causing it to pop and splatter a bit of molten metal onto him. The front half of his Dickies polyester workshirt (and all his chest hair and a quarter-inch of beard) instantly disappeared in a Michael-Bay-style fireball.
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| # ? Mar 30, 2013 06:37 |
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All the above advise is pretty good... I learned after already knowing how to solder electronics/wiring/PCBs for around 10 years, so I kinda cheated. Cleaning the surfaces is key - if they are well cleaned it will sweat solder incredibly easily, if they are not, you will have a hell of a time trying to get anything done. I'm a fan of those red plastic handled/covered metal bristle brushes and bristle brush sockets/chinese finger traps Home Depot has for cleaning copper pipe, you just spin em about 10-15 times and the pipe or fitting is perfectly clean, unless it was heavily corroded starting out. Don't touch the solder to the joint until the flux is bubbling a bit, then just sorta tickle it with the solder on the opposite side of the joint from where the torch flame is until you start seeing it rub off on the joint like a pencil. Wait a second or three, then you should be able to sweat it.
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| # ? Apr 4, 2013 01:25 |
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| # ? May 20, 2013 04:50 |
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Lil non-intuitive point: molten flux is generally more dangerous than molten solder (bearing in mind they're both extraordinarily dangerous), because liquid metal wants to bead and stick only to itself, whereas molten flux can and will stick you you and burn the piss out of you, like a much, much hotter hot-glue-gun burn. I've had the Leidenfrost effect make a molten drop of solder that skipped off my bare skin not burn me at least once or twice, you will never get that lucky with flux.
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| # ? Apr 4, 2013 01:42 |
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