How to Sweat a Joint

Sweating a joint creates a permanent bond.

Plumbing requires connections that do not allow any water through. Copper pipes can be attached in a variety of ways, but the most permanent connections are made by soldering, or sweating a joint. Sweating adds metal flux between the two joints being connected. A hot torch is used to melt the flux. Once the flux is dried, a water-tight connection is made. Sweating takes some skill, so practice on scrap pieces of copper first.

Things You'll Need

• Copper tube cutter
• Ream tool
• Copper flux
• Solder wire
• Torch

Instructions

1. Place the copper pipe cutter onto the pipe and tighten the handle until the blade touches the pipe. Turn the cutter around the pipe, tightening the handle on each turn until the blade cuts through the pipe.

2. Insert the blade of the copper cutter into the pipe and turn it to remove copper burrs. Insert the pipe into the brush insert on the ream tool to clean the pipe.

3. Brush the end of the pipe with plumbing flux over the surface at the end of the copper pipe.

4. Place the joint onto the copper pipe.

5. Light your torch and touch it to the end of the joint facing away from you.

6. Touch the end of your soldering wire to the joint on the opposite side of the flame. The solder will melt around the joint. Remove the flame and touch the wire all around the joint to seal it. Allow the joint to cool before use.

References

• "Popular Mechanics"; Plumbing Basics: How to Sweat a Pipe Joint Read more: How to Sweat Copper Pipe - Sweating Copper Pipe Joints; Pat Porzio; April 2007
• Easy 2 DIY: Soldering Copper Pipes