Table of Contents
Can you solder a pipe fitting?
Soldering vertical copper pipe shouldn’t be too different from working horizontally. If the joint and tip are hot enough, the solder should flow right in. Heat the middle of the fitting and apply the solder as soon as it starts to melt. Remove the heat once the solder starts moving.
What kind of solder should be used on water pipes?
Lead-free plumbing solders are required for use on pipes carrying drinking water, also known as potable water lines. Leaded solders are available for applications that will not come into contact with potable water, such as sheet metal repair or copper drain lines.
Can you use electrical solder for plumbing?
Typically, electrical solder contains rosin core flux; plumbing solder uses an acid-based flux. So it’s not a good idea to use plumbing solder for electrical connections because the acid in the flux can damage the wiring and lead to connection failure.
Are pre soldered fittings good?
The pre-soldered fittings are just as good as regular fittings, but IMHO they DO need a little extra solder. Joint surfaces MUST be cleaned and fluxed just like normal fittings.
How long should solder cool before turning on water?
The only good way to test is to put pressure on the joint (turn on the water to the house). Be sure to wait until the solder has cooled (2-3 minutes) before pressurizing the line to avoid the solder cracking due to a quick change in temperature.
Why does my solder not stick to copper pipe?
If the solder is beading up or running down the pipe, you have a dirty fitting. Just as Vic says use clean fine grit sandpaper or emery cloth. Clean both surfaces, spread flux as soon as you clean them. Also clean and flux joint after you fit them together.
Can you overheat copper pipe when soldering?
Overheating is a major problem when brazing or soldering copper pipe because the flux will burn (become oxidized), stop working, and become a barrier to tinning. In addition, a heavy oxide can be formed on the pipe itself, preventing a bond from forming between the filler metal and the pipe surface.
What is the best solder to use on copper pipes?
What Type of Solder is Used for Copper Pipe? Lead free solder is best for copper pipes carrying drinking water. It will be free of elements you don’t want entering your drinking water. However it will require a higher melting point than a 50/50 solder.
Can I use silver solder for plumbing?
Oatey® Silver Lead Free Plumbing Wire Solder is a silver bearing wire solder designed for plumbing and potable water line applications. Safe Flo Silver Lead Free Solder is also effective on stainless steel, brass alloys, chrome alloys, galvanized steel and cast iron piping.
Can I use acid core solder for plumbing?
Acid core is NEVER used for electical connections. They REQUIRE “rosin core”, otherwise they will corrode and lose conductivity. You cannot use ANY core solder to make copper pipe connections. If it is just a small can of flux, toss it and buy a new one when you need to make some joints.
Can you solder copper pipe with water in it?
Don’t try to solder pipes with water in them. Soldering a joint in pipes that contain even tiny amounts of water is nearly impossible. Most of the heat from the torch goes into turning the water to steam, so the copper won’t get hot enough to melt the solder. Stop the trickle of water with a pipe plug.
Do you need flux to solder copper pipe?
Strong metals such as brass and copper will require a synthetic acid flux in order to be soldered. This will remove not only oxidation but also corrosion and other residues that build up on these metals.
How do you know if solder is plumbing?
1 Answer. Plumbing solder is generally kind of thick – more than 1/8 inch. Electronic solder is usually much thinner – less than 1/16 inch. You can tell if solder has a core by melting some on a piece of paper – it will leave a greasy, maybe sticky spot if it has a core.
What is the difference between rosin core solder and acid core solder?
Rosin core solder contains a mild flux and is designed to solder parts where flux residue cannot be removed. The name acid core tells us the flux is an aggressive type designed to solder steel as well as other metals. Flux residue from acid core solder must be removed after soldering to avoid potential part corrosion.
Can you use pre soldered copper fittings on gas?
It can be used with all types and sizes of soft solder fittings for applications including gas, and is char-resistant to normal heating levels of 250ºC.
How do you know if your solder joints are good?
A good solder joint should have an even band of solder showing all the way around. If you see an area that looks as if it needs more solder, brush a little flux onto the joint. If the joint is still warm, the flux will melt and flow into the void.
How long does it take for solder to cool?
Solder won’t fill spots that are cooler than its melting point. Fill the joint until solder drips out, then move on to the next joint. Give the joint 30 to 45 seconds to cool and harden before putting pressure on it. Be careful; it’ll still be too hot to touch.
How long does it take for soldering iron to cool?
It is recommended that you wait at least thirty minutes before storing tools in an enclosed space, because most of the devices will be cool enough within two to three minutes.
Can you use too much flux when soldering?
Although there is a sufficient amount of flux present in the core of the solder wire to get your job done, the technicians (to make their job easy) tend to use additional flux in form of paste or liquid during the rework on the PCB. There is no problem with the use of flux during soldering.
