Soldering copper pipe is one of the easiest tasks when it comes to plumbing repairs. Although it does take time it is quite simple to do with a little bit of patience. The only thing that makes it difficult is water and that usually can be rectified. Once this is taken care of soldering is a breeze.
Tools required for this job include; A torch and igniter, sand cloth, steel wool, flux, lead free solder, copper cutters, a fitting brush is not a necessity,but it does make cleaning the inside of the fitting faster, mini cutters maybe required depending on where the pipe is located, a bucket, a few rags and a camera to take a picture after you have accomplished a great job.
1. Turn off the water coming into your house or if you are on a well... the valve in your line leaving your pump tank. Little tip...I always turn off the valve to the toilet or flush it as it is possible for the water to syphon from the tank back into the waterlines. Although the ballcocks in the tanks are made to be anti-syphon I don't take the chance.
2. Open the faucet in your home at the lowest place which would be your basement if you have one.
3. Then go to the spot where the soldering is to take place and clean the pipe with sandcloth or emery cloth as some people call it.
4. After cleaning the section of pipe where you are installing the fitting; it is time to cut your copper pipe. Keep your bucket handy as this is the time you may (will) get a little water. Slant the copper you cut to allow all the water possible to leave the pipe. Once this is done, it is now time to dry the pipe with a rag and shine the copper again with the steel wool. This will remove the marks made by the cutters... (little tip...if there is water still in the pipe;run the torch back and forth slowly under the pipe to dry the remaining water out of the pipe).If you are using the torch to remove the remaining water; you may have to clean the pipe again to give it the shine that is required. It is now time to apply a skim coat of flux on the pipe.
5. If you have not cleaned your fittings to be soldered, this is the time to get that done. Use a fitting brush or steel wool on the inside of the fitting. Check to see if all of the fitting is shiny and there are no stains or dirt inside the fitting and apply a skim coat of flux on your fitting.
6. Now it is time to slide the copper fitting over the copper pipe and light the torch. Apply the heat to the bottom of the joint (the torch should be held at a distance where the tip of the blue flame (cone) is at the joint as this is where the highest temperature of the flame is located) .
7. Once the heat has been applied for a short period of time; rmove the torch away and apply the solder directly on top of the joint. The solder will run around the joint and capillary attraction will draw the solder up and into the fitting.Do not apply to much heat as this will remove the temper from the copper and reduce the life expectancy of the copper.
8. Once your solder has run (flowed) into the joint,allow the joint to cool a bit and solidify (a minute should be suffice) and wipe the joint with a rag to remove the remaining flux.
9. Now it is time to get the camera and snap a photo of your work. Congrats........Leave a question if you wish
Tools required for this job include; A torch and igniter, sand cloth, steel wool, flux, lead free solder, copper cutters, a fitting brush is not a necessity,but it does make cleaning the inside of the fitting faster, mini cutters maybe required depending on where the pipe is located, a bucket, a few rags and a camera to take a picture after you have accomplished a great job.
1. Turn off the water coming into your house or if you are on a well... the valve in your line leaving your pump tank. Little tip...I always turn off the valve to the toilet or flush it as it is possible for the water to syphon from the tank back into the waterlines. Although the ballcocks in the tanks are made to be anti-syphon I don't take the chance.
2. Open the faucet in your home at the lowest place which would be your basement if you have one.
3. Then go to the spot where the soldering is to take place and clean the pipe with sandcloth or emery cloth as some people call it.
4. After cleaning the section of pipe where you are installing the fitting; it is time to cut your copper pipe. Keep your bucket handy as this is the time you may (will) get a little water. Slant the copper you cut to allow all the water possible to leave the pipe. Once this is done, it is now time to dry the pipe with a rag and shine the copper again with the steel wool. This will remove the marks made by the cutters... (little tip...if there is water still in the pipe;run the torch back and forth slowly under the pipe to dry the remaining water out of the pipe).If you are using the torch to remove the remaining water; you may have to clean the pipe again to give it the shine that is required. It is now time to apply a skim coat of flux on the pipe.
5. If you have not cleaned your fittings to be soldered, this is the time to get that done. Use a fitting brush or steel wool on the inside of the fitting. Check to see if all of the fitting is shiny and there are no stains or dirt inside the fitting and apply a skim coat of flux on your fitting.
6. Now it is time to slide the copper fitting over the copper pipe and light the torch. Apply the heat to the bottom of the joint (the torch should be held at a distance where the tip of the blue flame (cone) is at the joint as this is where the highest temperature of the flame is located) .
7. Once the heat has been applied for a short period of time; rmove the torch away and apply the solder directly on top of the joint. The solder will run around the joint and capillary attraction will draw the solder up and into the fitting.Do not apply to much heat as this will remove the temper from the copper and reduce the life expectancy of the copper.
8. Once your solder has run (flowed) into the joint,allow the joint to cool a bit and solidify (a minute should be suffice) and wipe the joint with a rag to remove the remaining flux.
9. Now it is time to get the camera and snap a photo of your work. Congrats........Leave a question if you wish
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