Home Page link

do sloppy copper joints fail easier?

Home| Search | About
Login Password
Register Now! Lost Password?

Building Construction - Building Construction Industry Discussions. 

Page 1 of 3       1 2 3 > last >> Bookmark this page:  YahooMyWeb Yahoo!  Google Google  Windows Live Favorites Windows Live  del.icio.us del.icio.us  digg digg  Add to Netscape Netscape
Subject Author Date
do sloppy copper joints fail easier? beerguzzler50 02-27-2007
If you were  Registered and logged in, you could reply and use other advanced thread options
Posted by on February 27, 2007, 9:46 pm
I had to relocate some plumbing copper pipes in by basement. They are
3/4 pipes. They were in a difficult place and there was some moisture
in the line. I cleaned the joints well and used the flux paste like
normal, but since there was moisture in the line (dripping water in
the line) the joints took a long time to heat up. I got the solder
flowing into them eventually and I used a good amount, but they look
like crap and are burnt looking too. On some of them I can see the
solder looks like it has gaps in it at the seam.

Anyway, they aren't leaking and I tried to shake them/stress the joint
and they still hold fine. My question is this, it is possible that I
burned off the flux while heating it so long...does this mean that
these joints can fail prematurely? or is it that if it holds water,
it is fine and will last as long as a nice looking joint. I have read
that pinholes can happen when the joint is soldered, but not sure
about after the fact.

Thanks.


Posted by Edwin Pawlowski on February 27, 2007, 9:54 pm

>
> Anyway, they aren't leaking and I tried to shake them/stress the joint
> and they still hold fine. My question is this, it is possible that I
> burned off the flux while heating it so long...does this mean that
> these joints can fail prematurely? or is it that if it holds water,
> it is fine and will last as long as a nice looking joint. I have read
> that pinholes can happen when the joint is soldered, but not sure
> about after the fact.

Yes, it is possible. If you got a good bond of solder inside the joint, it
will last forever. The crappy look may be just on the outside. Keep an eye
on it though. If you have to do it over, use a hotter torch rather than
play on the joint with a little propane job. You sometimes overheat the
outside in order to get the right heat to the inside and allow for the
solder to flow.



Posted by DAC on February 27, 2007, 10:06 pm
Time will tell...you could grab ahold of the pipe and move it back and
forth to see if it leaks.

A couple of tricks for the future...in the plumbing supply stores,
they may have little balls that you push into the pipe while
soldering. When done, the water will dissolve the ball. Or, you could
put a small plug of bread in pipe, solder and when the water is on
open the tap and the plug will be dissolved and flushed out.

I've heard that MAPP gas torches work well.




>
> > Anyway, they aren't leaking and I tried to shake them/stress the joint
> > and they still hold fine. My question is this, it is possible that I
> > burned off the flux while heating it so long...does this mean that
> > these joints can fail prematurely? or is it that if it holds water,
> > it is fine and will last as long as a nice looking joint. I have read
> > that pinholes can happen when the joint is soldered, but not sure
> > about after the fact.
>
> Yes, it is possible. If you got a good bond of solder inside the joint, it
> will last forever. The crappy look may be just on the outside. Keep an eye
> on it though. If you have to do it over, use a hotter torch rather than
> play on the joint with a little propane job. You sometimes overheat the
> outside in order to get the right heat to the inside and allow for the
> solder to flow.



Posted by hallerb@aol.com on February 27, 2007, 10:18 pm
> Time will tell...you could grab ahold of the pipe and move it back and
> forth to see if it leaks.
>
> A couple of tricks for the future...in the plumbing supply stores,
> they may have little balls that you push into the pipe while
> soldering. When done, the water will dissolve the ball. =A0Or, you could
> put a small plug of bread in pipe, solder and when the water is on
> open the tap and the plug will be dissolved and flushed out.
>
> I've heard that MAPP gas torches work well.
>
>
>
>
>
> > > Anyway, they aren't leaking and I tried to shake them/stress the joint
> > > and they still hold fine. =A0My question is this, it is possible that=
I
> > > burned off the flux while heating it so long...does this mean that
> > > these joints can fail prematurely? =A0or is it that if it holds water,
> > > it is fine and will last as long as a nice looking joint. =A0I have r=
ead
> > > that pinholes can happen when the joint is soldered, but not sure
> > > about after the fact.
>
> > Yes, it is possible. =A0If you got a good bond of solder inside the joi=
nt, it
> > will last forever. =A0The crappy look may be just on the outside. =A0Ke=
ep an eye
> > on it though. =A0If you have to do it over, use a hotter torch rather t=
han
> > play on the joint with a little propane job. =A0You sometimes overheat =
the
> > outside in order to get the right heat to the inside and allow for the
> > solder to flow.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Use Mapp gas next time if the joints fail. Mapp is hotter and really
need with the no lead solder.

Keep a eye but most likely joints will be fine


Posted by The Other Funk on February 28, 2007, 12:25 pm
Finding the keyboard operational
DAC entered:

> Time will tell...you could grab ahold of the pipe and move it back and
> forth to see if it leaks.
>
> A couple of tricks for the future...in the plumbing supply stores,
> they may have little balls that you push into the pipe while
> soldering. When done, the water will dissolve the ball. Or, you could
> put a small plug of bread in pipe, solder and when the water is on
> open the tap and the plug will be dissolved and flushed out.
>
I once saw a guy try the bread trick on a large water pipe (2 or 3 ") using
a dinner roll from the company cafeteria. He had to re open the pipe when
the roll didn't dissolve. I never ate in the cafeteria after that.
Bob
--
--
Coffee worth staying up for - NY Times
www.moondoggiecoffee.com


Page 1 of 3       1 2 3 > last >>
Similar ThreadsPosted
Help on sealing RCP joints July 17, 2007, 10:08 pm
Re: Sheetrock Tape -- is it always necessary at joints January 6, 2008, 8:44 pm
Re: Sheetrock Tape -- is it always necessary at joints? January 6, 2008, 9:41 pm
Re: Sheetrock Tape -- is it always necessary at joints? January 7, 2008, 2:59 pm
Re: Sheetrock Tape -- is it always necessary at joints? January 7, 2008, 5:41 pm
Filling concrete joints in pool area July 14, 2007, 9:54 am
Re: What's the prospect for the price of copper? July 1, 2006, 8:46 am
can a 1/2" copper 90 elbow be re-soldered January 23, 2007, 4:01 pm
Waste pipe sizes and joining ABS with copper November 26, 2006, 8:54 pm
How to diagnose for cracks or condensation in 1/2" copper pipe January 19, 2007, 7:36 pm

Contact Us | Privacy Policy

XML SitemapXML Sitemap