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SWEAT SOLDERING
TIPS /
I
MEASURING
PIPE LENGTHS:
Always
be sure
to include
the length of pipe that goes inside the
fitting,
On 3/4 in. pipe, this length
is about 3/4 in.
CUTTING
PIPE:-Turn
the pipe cutter
back and
forth around
the outside
of the pipe. Tighten
the
pipe cutter
slowly with each turn until all the way
through
the pipe. To keep from crushing
or dis-
torting
the pipe,
do not tighten
the cutter
too
much at a time. File burrs from cut ends.
CLEAN
PIPE AND FITTING
SOLDERING
SUR-
FACES:
With
emery
cloth,
fine
sandpaper
or
steel wool, clean the end of the pipe and inside of
the fitting.
Clean
surfaces
until
they shine.
Do
not grind
off too much material,
making the fit
too loose.
Let soldered joints
cool slowly. Sudden
cooling
can crack or weaken the solder.
SOLDERING:
Light
the
torch
and
set
to a
moderate
flame.
Move
the
flame
over
and
around
the joint to heat pipe and fitting.
In a
short time, touch the end of the solder wire to
the lip of the fitting. DO NOT PLACE SOLDER
IN THE FLAME. The solder will melt and draw
into the connection
when the pipe and fitting
are at the right temperature.
Run the solder
around the lip until the joint is full. Do not over-
fill as solder will run into and harden inside the
fitting.
Being careful not to touch the pipe with
your hands,
make a quick swipe
around
the
joint with a cloth to take off excess solder.
solOer
l/
clean surfaces
!
thoroughly
i
CHECK THE FIT: Push the pipe into the fitting as
far as it will go. Use some force to slip together,
but do not hammer
or pound.
If too tight, clean
surfaces
until fit is good.
PUT ON PASTE FLUX: Freely apply paste flux on
both cleaned
surfaces.
Place pipe into the fitting
and turn to spread the paste around.
BEFORE
SOLDERING,
READ THESE SAFETY
GUIDES.
•
Keep torch
flame away from walls, the water
softener,
and other materials
that will burn.
•
Do not touch
newly soldered
pipe with your
hands.
Wrap nearby,
already
soldered
joints with a wet
cloth so solder
does not melt.
For a good sweat solder joint, the pipe and fitting
must
not have any water
inside
them,
Water,
when
heated
by the torch,
weakens
the solder
and often the joint will leak. If you can not keep
the inside of the pipe dry, wad up a piece of bread
into s ball. After putting
paste flux on both the
pipe and fitting, place the bread wad into the pipe
and poke
in several
inches.
Put the pipe and
fitting
together
and solder.
The bread
absorbs
moisture
while
you
are soldering.
When
the
water
is turned
on, the bread dissolves
and is
flushed
out an open faucet.
7
LEAKING
CONNECTIONS:
You
can
try
to
reheat
and resolder
a leaking
joint,
but it's usu-
ally best to start over. Turn off the water,
reheat
and take the pipe and fitting
apart. Take off all old
solder,
cleaning
down
to the copper
surface,
Apply
new paste flux and solder again.
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