PROBLEM SWEATING COPPER. WHAT AM I DOIN WRONG?

Posted by Cwatters on October 28, 2008, 4:54 pm

> 8-10 seconds? Not nearly long enough. The pipe must get hot enough to
> melt the solder, not the flame. Right now you are melting the solder
> with the flame, but the pipes are still down-right cold!

That gets my vote.

Posted by ransley on October 23, 2008, 6:07 pm

> I am a general contractor but it has been years since I sweated copper.
> I cut the pipe with a pipe cutter tool. I clean both the pipe end (male) =

and

> the fitting (female) thoroughly. It is shiny clean. I coat both with past=

> flux (the brown stuff). I put the two pieces together until the pipe seat=

> all the way into the fitting. My torch is one of these where you just pus=

> the button and the gas comes on and it lights. The flame is not a pin-poi=

nt,

> it is pretty open. I hold it about an inch from the fitting and heat it u=

> I have to stay on one side of the fitting since I am blocked by things in
> the way. the flame is on it about 8-10 seconds. I apply solder and it mel=

> but it doesn't go into the fitting, it just balls up and runs off without
> being sucked into the fitting. What am I doing wrong?
> Thanx

What size pipe, Mapp gas would heat it up.

Posted by Cwatters on October 28, 2008, 4:53 pm

>I am a general contractor but it has been years since I sweated copper.
> I cut the pipe with a pipe cutter tool. I clean both the pipe end (male)
> and the fitting (female) thoroughly. It is shiny clean. I coat both with
> paste flux (the brown stuff). I put the two pieces together until the pipe
> seats all the way into the fitting. My torch is one of these where you
> just push the button and the gas comes on and it lights. The flame is not
> a pin-point, it is pretty open. I hold it about an inch from the fitting
> and heat it up. I have to stay on one side of the fitting since I am
> blocked by things in the way. the flame is on it about 8-10 seconds. I
> apply solder and it melts but it doesn't go into the fitting, it just
> balls up and runs off without being sucked into the fitting. What am I
> doing wrong?
> Thanx

Pick up some flux on the solder then apply to hot joint. Thats what I do.

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PROBLEM SWEATING COPPER. WHAT AM I DOIN WRONG? - Page 4