How to Sweat Water Pipes
Soldering, or sweating, is a standard way to join water pipes made of copper. Copper is the preferred material for water supply lines because of its durability. Having the ability to successfully sweat pipes is critical to completing a quality plumbing job. Does this Spark an idea?
Things You'll Need
- Groove-joint pliers
- Pipe cutter
- Hacksaw
- Propane torch
- Solder
- Flux
- Flux brush
- Sandpaper
- Wire reaming brush
- Copper pipe
- Copper fittings
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Instructions
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Cut the pipe to the appropriate length using the pipe cutter. Twist the knob on the cutter until the wheel makes contact with the surface of the pipe and rotate the cutter around the tube until the pipe snaps in the appropriate location. Smooth and polish the last inch on the end of the pipe with sandpaper until it is shiny.
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Clean any burrs off of the inside of the pipe with the reamer found on the pipe cutter. Removing burrs is critical to preventing pipe friction when sweating the joints. Then, clean the inside of the pipe with a wire reaming brush.
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Appy flux to the inside of the fitting and around the outside of the end of the pipe with a flux brush. Place the fitting on the end of the pipe and twist the fitting back and forth a few times to evenly distribute the flux. Then, position the fitting on the pipe appropriately.
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Turn the gas control valve on the torch to the on position and light the nozzle with a striker tool. Adjust the flame so that it is steady and strong.
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Position the nozzle so that it is about 4 inches away from the fitting and move the torch back and forth across the fitting to evenly heat the fitting. Do not overheat the fitting as it can burn and dissipate the flux. Touch the soldering wire to the joint to test the temperature of the fitting. If the solder melts on contact, then the fitting is hot enough.
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Turn off the torch and touch the solder wire to the edge of the fitting. Apply until a line of molten solder is all the way around the fitting. The solder will naturally be pulled in between the fitting and the pipe.
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Wipe off any excess flux from the fitting joint, being careful not to bump or move the newly soldered joint. Allow the joint to fully cool and the solder to harden before maneuvering in any way.
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Tips & Warnings
It is a good idea to wear gloves when applying flux because the chemicals can cause damage to your skin.
Wear safety goggles during the soldering process to protect your eyes from any debris or flash burn.
