How To Remove Water From Copper Pipe Before Soldering

Download Article

If you lot need to fix a leaky joint in your plumbing, information technology might be economic to try it yourself, provided you lot've got the right materials. Learn how to join copper tubing using components ordinarily available in plumbing, heating, and refrigeration supply houses, and hardware stores such as Home Depot and Lowe's.

i
Get copper tubing of appropriate diameter. Copper tubing used for plumbing piping is available sized nominally, pregnant that the outside diameter of the tubing is 1/8" (0.125 inches) larger than its stated size. In other words, ane" nominal copper tubing measures 1.125" inches in diameter.
- If y'all need to cut the pipage for your project, brand sure that y'all use a tube cutter, clamping the pipe firmly and rotating the cutter around the pipage. Information technology should take about 8 turns.^[i]
2
Make certain the tubing is of the proper wall thickness for your project. ^[2] Most nominally-sized copper tubing is available in four weights, or wall thicknesses, which is color-coded. Typically, though, residential projects volition involve copper tubing of either Blazon 50 or M.
- Type 50 tubing is marked with a bluish tag and is typically the most commonly used in commercial/residential installations. Blazon M is marked cherry-red and has the lightest wall that can be used for a pressurized arrangement.
Advertising
3
Become the proper connectors and joints for the arrangement you are building. ^[3] Depending on your project, you lot'll probably demand some combination of the following:
- Male person/Female adapters, which are used to join a solder pipage to a threaded pipe.
- Reducing adapters, which are used to go from a larger size pipe to a smaller size.
- Elbow joints, which are used to plough corners, typically ninety degree bends, but also bachelor in 45 degree bends.
- Tees and crosses, which are used to bring together a branch tubing to the chief tubing, using a tee, or two branches in the case of a "cross."
iv

Select solder. For potable h2o systems, lead-free solid core solder must be used.^[4] Information technology is typically 95/5 (95% tin and 5% antimony), or an alloy of tin and a small amount of copper and/or argent, normally sold in one pound rolls of 1/8" diameter wire. Solder with pb must not be used for beverage h2o systems.
5

Obtain the advisable solder flux. This is typically a jelly with a zinc chloride or rosin cleaning component used to cover the cleaned surfaces of the copper to be soldered earlier assembly and heating. Information technology is the role of the flux, upon heating, to facilitate farther cleaning, exclude atmospheric oxygen, prevent re-oxidation, and to aide in wetting out the solder.^[v]
6

Get a heat source. Typically, a traditional electric soldering iron won't be hot enough to work with copper tubing. You'll need a heat source of sufficient output capacity to heat the assembled fittings and tubing to a temperature above that required to melt the filler solder, typically 400 to 500 °F (204 to 260 °C). For this reason, a propane/air, or acetylene/air torch fitted with a tip of appropriate size is nigh ofttimes used. Make clean, dry cotton rags and a spray bottle full of h2o will complete the necessary soldering materials.

1
Ready the pipe. Remove the copper oxide coating on both the exterior of the tubing in the surface area to be inserted into the plumbing fixtures, and the inside of the plumbing equipment itself. For this, you can employ sandpaper, emery cloth, or specialty devices sold in stores for this purpose. All copper oxide must be thoroughly removed from both surfaces until they are both completely make clean, with no dirt, grease, oil or other impediment which will interfere with the wetting out of the solder. If you don't, this will upshot in a leaky joint somewhere down the road.^[vi]
- Any small drips of water through the articulation existence soldered will prevent the process from working, resulting in a leaky fitting. If the organisation valves will not cease the baste completely earlier yous beginning working, stop upwardly the piping with a piece of white bread, inserted in the tubing equally far as possible abroad from the heated area. This volition temporarily dam the water flow and volition dissolve hands during the flushing operation suggested at the cease of the job.
2

Brush the cleaned surfaces with the solder flux as soon as possible afterwards cleaning, and gather the plumbing fixtures and tubing. Apply flux to the inside and outside of the copper tubing.^[seven]
3
Low-cal the torch and conform it then yous take a bluish flame. Movement the stop of the blue flame confronting the assembled fitting and tubing, moving it all effectually the components in the area into which solder must exist placed. With abiding movement at all times, estrus slowly and uniformly while testing the melting point of the solder by touching the tip of the solder wire to the joint.^[8]
- This will have some practise. Endeavour holding the flame in your non-ascendant hand and the solder in your writing paw. Remember, you're using the flame essentially to heat upwards the solder and melt it. You reach this by applying the flame to the copper tubing and then touching the solder to the joint. The heated tubing will depict the melted solder into the joint past capillary activity. Utilize the flame sparingly.
4
Melt solder into the joint. Move the solder and flame to the side opposite the melted solder, continually feeding small amounts of solder and moving the torch until the solder has circled the plumbing equipment.
- The solder will seem to run toward the rut. The purpose is to allow the solder to completely make full the expanse between the plumbing equipment and the tubing by letting it see the cracks. On larger fittings, concentrate the heat slightly ahead of the wetted solder to allow this to occur.
- Be careful not to overheat the copper. Keep the torch moving constantly to prevent blackening the copper. If the joint is overheated and blackened, you'll need to disassemble it and re-clean the piping, otherwise yous'll risk a leaky fitting.
five

Wipe excess liquid solder from the hot surfaces using a clean, dry out cotton wool rag. Spray a mist of water on the area soldered to freeze the solder and foreclose movement of the articulation which would create a leak.
half-dozen

Flush the piping thoroughly. Use fresh potable water to remove any backlog flux, dirt, or loose solder beads within the tubing after all soldered connections are completed. This will also help you lot check for leaks when the job is washed.

Add New Question

Question

When there are multiple joints, which one should I solder first?

If information technology'southward a mix of simply elbows, T's, and couplings, then option an finish to start with and solder across everything to the other end. Moving the heat ahead of the path you lot're traveling will brand the remaining joints easier and faster to solder. You'll also know what's been completed and what hasn't, in case you need to stop to answer the phone or become more flux, solder, or gas. However, if you have a valve with Teflon or prophylactic seals in the mix, and so y'all want to first at the valve and work your style away from it and any surrounding heavier contumely items (because you want to only rut a valve once while the valve's open to minimize or avoid damaging the valve seal(southward)).
Question

How long should I wait to run h2o through copper tubing later on installing?

Copper tin be used as soon as it cools; less than a minute is needed.
Question

How can I solder thin strips of copper to copper tubing?

With sanding (cleaning), fluxing, heating, and soldering in that order. Don't skip any of those steps on all items being attached and you'll exist solid. The thin strips can exist moderately clamped into place with real (metal) clamps after they're fluxed.
Question

How much solder does a 5-inch pipe need?

It does not need much. Go on in mind, the solder is going to bail anything that has flux paste on it. Go around the piping in one case or twice with the solder at an appropriate temperature and you lot should be okay.
Question

How practise I get rid of leaks that I didn't see until after the h2o was turned on when I was finished soldering the copper tubing?

You'll have to cut out the bad joint and consider information technology a practise run. Go on trying till you get a tight articulation.
Question

How does solder bond copper tubing?

Jaa Cooper

Community Answer

Solder creates the bond by creating an alloy between the two surfaces. This means solder and copper metallic molecules create the bond with a mix of both through a chemical reaction betwixt the two when the heat is applied.
Question

How do I solder vertically?

Continue it in the vertical position. When the solder melts, it will be sucked up into the plumbing equipment. It won't drip unless you utilise as well much solder.
Question

Volition tinning flux work for copper pipe?

Use a rosin core solder for copper pipe; that serves as the tinning flux. Exercise non use acid core though. It will eat your copper.

Enquire a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Video

Most Solder melts at 324 degrees Fahrenheit. To obtain this temperature, the cone in the center of a cheap propane torch needs to be 1.five inches in top. This manner the pipe will estrus up in about thirty seconds and with flux, you will find soldering copper pipage an easy task. If you use a small flame, it will be a difficult task.
Afterward you have filled the articulation with solder, and equally the pipe cools, continue to button the solder into the joint. This way the joint volition be completely full of solder and you wont have any leaks.
Nigh problems are encountered by not thoroughly cleaning both the surface of the tubing and the inside of the fitting, and promptly covering both with flux after cleaning.

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Be very careful of the hot solder dripping. It volition bullheaded you if it is flung into your eye. Habiliment safe glasses, protective gloves, and heavy clothing.
Fire is an e'er-nowadays danger when using torches in confined areas. A fire extinguisher should exist immediately available before lighting the torch. City ordinances ordinarily require you to have a bucket of water abreast you if you are soldering or welding.

Things You'll Need

Copper tubing
Sand cast or wrought fittings
Solder
Flux with flux castor
Propane or acetylene torch
Fire extinguisher
Sandpaper
Copper tubing reamer
Tubing cutters

Well-nigh This Article

Article Summary X

To solder copper tubing, you'll demand lead-free solid core solder, some solder flux, and a propane or acetylene air torch. One time you accept your supplies, use some sandpaper to remove the copper oxide on the outside portion of the tubing that will be inserted into the fitting, too as the inside of the fitting itself. Then, brush both surfaces with the solder flux and light your torch so you have a blue flame. Finally, melt solder into the joint and wipe away the excess using a clean, dry rag. To larn how to choose the all-time solder flux for the job, whorl down!

Did this summary help yous?

Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 226,075 times.

Did this commodity help you?