How To Solder Copper Pipe

Sweat Solder Copper Pipe

Introduction:

If you are a plumber you learned how to sweat solder copper pipe in plumbing school. If you are a DIY homeowner you probably taught yourself. Very often DIY home owners need to repair a water leak or add additional plumbing fixtures. If you do not know how to solder copper water pipes the following instructions will be helpful. It is one of the plumbers easiest task that most DIY homeowners can perform.

Everyone that solders copper pipe have their own soldering techniques. The more you solder the better your technique becomes as you get the feel for it. Soldering copper pipe is quite easy and with experience you will eventually be good at soldering.

Items required:

Soldering or sweat soldering copper pipe, involves using a heart source such as a propane torch or MAPP gas torch. I prefer the MAPP gas torch because it burns a little hotter than a regular propane gas torch. Soldering irons do not get hot enough to heat the piece of copper pipe you would like to solder. When you heat the pipe solder gets pulled into the fitting by "capillary action". Capillary action is just the physical action of the solder getting sucked into the fitting.

A soldered joint will last for many years. The most important step in soldering is to ensure all soldering joints are perfectly clean and fit together easily before soldering. Always dry fit each piece to make sure that everything fits properly. Before beginning to solder be sure that you have all the soldering equipment to complete the job including the fittings you will be using.

1.   Cutting Copper Pipe

Use copper cutters to cut your pieces of pipe. A hacksaw will do the job but then the ragged edges will have to smooth down so the joints fit smoothly. Make a mark on the pipe where you want to make your cut. Put the copper cutters over the cut line and tighten the cutters. Do not clamp the cutters down to hard because it will be difficult to turn the cutters around the pipe.  Spin or turn the cutters around tightening the cutters a little more as you cut until the pipe is cut through. Use the reamer on the end of the copper cutter to ream out the end of the copper pipe. This will clean any burrs from the inside of the pipe.

2.   Use emery cloth or a sanding cloth to clean the ends of the copper pipe where you are going to solder, until it is shinny clean. This will remove any dirt or grease that is created from the oxidization of the copper. Cleaning all pipe and fittings will ensure a leak free joint.

3.   Use a solder wire brush to clean out each fitting just like the pipe before soldering. Dry fit all pieces together to make sure that all your cut pieces fit.

4.   Take all the pieces apart and wipe soldering flux (solder paste) on the ends where you cleaned the pipe and on the inside of each fitting. Use a thin layer of flux as the solder will go where the solder paste is. Fit everything back together again.

5.   Heat the pipe and fitting equally, keep in mind that where the pipe is in the fitting will take a little more heat. Be sure to keep the heat moving. Do not let it stay in one spot for too long or you will over heat the fitting. After about 10 seconds your fitting and pipe will be hot enough to start putting solder in your fitting. The solder should melt on contact, if it doesn’t apply a little more heat. Apply the solder to the fitting until it starts to drip out of the fitting. A half inch pipe should only use about a half inch of solder.  Have a damp rag available to wipe the joint after you have soldered it. Don't wipe the joint too early or you will make a mess of the solder joint. The joint will take about five minutes to cool down to the point that you can touch it without getting burned.

Only use lead free solder on water pipes. Solder containing lead is only used on drain systems.

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