How do you soldier copper pipes?

Question

im trying to sweat a vertical copper pipe to a shut off

Answer 1

wire brush or emory cloth,flux,then assemble,heat,and touch with solder...done...

Answer 2

All the pipes have to be empty.  Buy some flux and solder, lightly sand the ends of the pipe you will be soldering.

Coat both pieces of pipe with flux, and put them together.

Use a propane torch to heat the pieces of pipe at the connection, put the solder at the connection and move it

completely around the connection. The heat will draw the solder into the connection , don't use too much solder.

It would be best to experiment a couple of times on some

scrap pieces to get the idea before you try the real thing.

Answer 3

Both pieces must be copper. You'll need.

Sandpaper

flux

solder

torch

wet rag

sand the place where they will join with emory cloth or fine sandpaper

spread a thin coating of flux on both pieces where they will join

assemble pieces

heat with torch from behind for a ten to fifteen seconds

move torch around to front and heat until flame gets a slight green tinge to it

touch solder to copper that is now hot enough to melt solder even w/o the torch, touch around backside

you should see it flow into the joint all around

now either wipe with wet rag to make the work look clean, or not

Read cite below before starting, the above is just how I do it. And it works every time :)

Answer 4

The valve should be open and the piped drained so the water don't absorb the heat.  There can be no water dripping onto or through the joint while you are working.

You will need a hand held propane torch and striker, small tin or bottle of paste acid FLUX and brush, a bit if plumbing solder, some medium/fine sandpaper, a pair of medium to heavy fabric or leather gloves and a rag.  If you are soldering near wood or a wall you will also need a heat shield cloth.

The solder, flux, a flux brush and sandpaper are available in a small kit at the home centers.

Use the sandpaper to remove any burs and clean the end of the pipe shiny to about 2 inches from the end of the pipe.  Now use the sandpaper on the inside of the valve where the pipe will go.  Coat the areas just cleaned with the flux taking care not to miss any spots.  Put the pipe into the valve and prop the pipe so it stays up in the valve.  Hang the heat shield on the wood or wall at the joint for protection from the flame and place a pan of water or some other protection on the floor, if needed, to catch any dripping hot solder.

  Put on the gloves and start the torch by cracking the gas valve a bit and lighting it with a striker or pulling the trigger on the better models.  You will see a light outer cone of flame and a darker inner cone.  Place the tip of the inner flame on the valve near the lip as we want to heat the end of the valve.  Move the flame around the valve and try to heat it evenly but not too long as to damage the valve seals.  As you are applying the heat, touch the end of the solder to the joint where pipe meets the valve and don't heat the solder directly  with the torch.  The valve has to melt the solder.  When the heat is right, the solder will melt quickly and disappear as capillary action will draw the melted solder up into the valve.  Push the solder into the joint all the way around until it don't take anymore and just starts to ooze out.   Turn off the torch and carefully use the rag to wipe around the joint to remove excess solder.  Not only does it make the work look neat, it helps seal the joint.

Let cool and close the valve and turn on the water.  Crack the valve and check for leaks,

Good luck.

Answer 5

Flush all the water out of the system as this will cause steam and hurt. Claen both pipes to be solderd. Emory cloth or sandpaper works. Apply Flux to both sites and connect. Heat the area with mepp gas torch. its the yellow one and works much faster. once youu acheive a slight glow it is hot enough to apply the solder all the way around it will melt as you go once youve applied enough turn the heat off and place a damp cloth on it. fyi the flux is needed to make the solder bond and suck it up to make a complete seal