How to Put Fitting on Copper Tubing

Creating a watertight seal between copper tubing and a fitting requires soldering the two pieces together. A proper solder joint requires some preparation. Both pieces being soldered together need to be cleaned thoroughly to eliminate contaminates from the solder joint. If the pieces are not clean, the solder will not adequately seal the joint. This will result in a leaky connection that can be difficult to fix. Also, because you use heat to make the solder joint, you must ensure that there are no flammable materials near the solder joint.

Things You'll Need

• Roll of emery cloth
• Copper tubing
• Plumber's round wire brush
• Copper fitting
• Safety glasses
• Leather gloves
• Acid brush
• Flux
• Soldering torch
• Striker
• Lead-free solder
• Clean rag

Instructions

1. Tear a piece of emery cloth from the roll that is twice the circumference of the copper tubing.

2. Wrap the emery cloth around the end of the pipe that you are going to solder to the fitting and pinch the ends of the emery cloth together. Keeping the emery cloth stationary, twist the pipe several revolutions. This will remove any debris from the tubing.

3. Inspect the cleaned end of the copper tubing. It should be a bright copper color, free from discoloration. If you notice any discoloration, repeat Step 2 until the discoloration is removed from the copper tubing.

4. Insert the plumber's round wire brush into the end of the copper fitting you will join to the cleaned section of copper tubing. Twist the wire brush until the inside of the fitting is cleaned of contamination.

5. Put on your safety glasses and leather gloves.

6. Dip the acid brush into the flux.

7. Swab the inside of the fitting and the outside of the copper tubing with the flux brush.

8. Slide the fluxed end of the fitting onto the fluxed end of the copper tubing.

9. Turn on the valve of the soldering torch and light the torch with the striker.

10. Unroll 12 inches of solder and bend the last 3 inches of solder at a 90-degree angle.

11. Place the torch flame 2 inches away from the copper fitting. Alternate the flame between the fitting and the copper tubing. When both pieces are hot, concentrate the heat on the fitting.

12. Touch the bent end of the solder against the connection between the fitting and the copper tubing. When the solder melts, run the solder around the weld joint.

13. Wipe the area around the fitting with a clean, wet rag to remove the excess solder from the connection.

14. Allow the fitting and copper tubing to cool before handling.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear safety glasses and gloves to avoid the risk of injury.

References

• Solder Tips for Copper Tubing