Table of Contents
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 solder water pipes?
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.
Can you solder galvanized water pipe?
Each material requires their own unique flux. Zinc has a relatively low melting point and therefore is not ideal but still can be soldered. Galvanized steel has poor thermal characteristics but can still be soldered using the proper steps. Lead coated copper should be soldered with 60/40 lead tin solder.
Is electrical solder and plumbing solder the same?
Perhaps the key difference between electrical and plumbing solder is the type of flux used in each application. The flux also aids wetting, helping the solder to flow and bond with the metals more readily. Typically, electrical solder contains rosin core flux; plumbing solder uses an acid-based flux.
How long after soldering can I turn water on?
If you followed these instructions, the joint is likely very tight. 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.
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.
Do you have to solder copper pipes?
It is possible to connect a copper pipe without soldering. Copper has found a home in many types of piping systems, from hot and cold potable water to fire protection systems.
Can wire solder be used for plumbing?
Electrical solder is commonly a 60/40 blend of lead and tin. Because of the dangers of toxic lead in drinking water, local building codes now legally require the use of lead-free plumbing solder on all potable water plumbing connections that require soldering.
Why is the solder not sticking 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 I use electrical solder on copper pipe?
Electrical solder is often a softer alloy, so it won’t withstand pressure as well. Definitely flux the pipe fittings as you normally would. You won’t get good coverage with the flux in the solder.
Why does my solder not stick?
A classic reason solder won’t stick to something is because you’re not getting it hot enough. My interns come to me with this problem all the time. Make sure the tip of the iron is nice and shiny. Touch some solder on it, and it should melt almost instantly.
How long does it take for solder to harden?
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.
Do you apply flux to both sides?
Wipe both sides of the joint with flux This helps solder flow into the joint. We recommend tinning flux. It contains a bit of powdered metal alloy that is similar to solder. The alloy melts and coats the inside of the joint and helps ensure a solder joint that’s completely filled and leakproof.
Can you use solder without flux?
Yes, solder can be used without flux. To do so, you will need something other than flux to break down the oxides on the metal surface, without which your surface may be damaged or not properly cleaned.
Should I use water soluble flux?
If you need high reliability for a long term then it is a good idea to use a water soluble paste as it has high activation flux and after cleaning there will be no residue or contamination left on the board.
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 kind of torch do you use to solder copper pipe?
The torch needed for soldering copper can be propane or MAPP gas (methylacetylene-propadiene propane). MAPP gas comes in a yellow tank and propane comes in a blue tank. MAPP gas, usually a bit more expensive, gets much hotter than propane, so heats the pipe faster.
Which is better solder or compression fitting?
Compression fittings are not nearly as robust as soldered fittings making them much more sensitive to powerful stresses. They are not ideal for applications where they could be potentially exposed to lots of flexing, bending and excessive vibration or tube movement.
