The copper must be bright and shiny. Old pipes oxidize on the surface and turn dark- they won’t take solder even with flux. Also be careful heating the pipe too long with a torch. It will change the pipe and soften the copper.
Don’t try to solder pipes with water in them. … Soldering a joint in pipes that contain even tiny amounts of water is nearly impossible. Most of the heat from the torch goes into turning the water to steam, so the copper won’t get hot enough to melt the solder. Stop the trickle of water with a pipe plug.
Beside this, What do you do when solder won’t stick?
A classic reason solder won’t stick to something is because you’re not getting it hot enough. My interns come to me with this problem all the time. Make sure the tip of the iron is nice and shiny. Touch some solder on it, and it should melt almost instantly.
Likewise, What is the best solder to use on copper pipes?
Lead-free solder melts at a higher temperature than the now-banned lead-based solder. MAPP gas torches burn hotter than propane, making them a better choice for modern solder. Five to 10 seconds of heating with a MAPP gas torch is all that’s required before you can feed solder into most 1/2- to 3/4-in.
Also, How do you make solder stick better?
By having a clean, tinned tip as others suggested, it will conduct heat better to the *parts* you’re soldering, then the solder will melt and flow on them easier. If your parts are very smooth surfaced, plated or oxidized, DaKiller’s suggestion for using extra flux is very helpful.
How do you solder copper pipe with water?
17 Related Question Answers Found
What can substitute for solder flux?
The best flux alternative is petroleum jelly because it is cheap, effective, most people have it on hand, and it can double as a cleaner. Other good alternatives are lemon juice, homemade pine tar flux, and homemade rosin flux.
How do you make solder stronger?
There is no point in having a solder that is stronger than the material to which it is joined. Generally these are soft metals such as copper, silver gold and tin. If you want a stronger joint, perhaps brazing is a better option.
How do you make homemade solder flux?
How do you get water out of copper pipe before soldering?
Do you have to use flux when soldering copper pipes?
Flux prevents the copper from oxidizing as you heat the copper with the torch. … In addition, it prevents the pipe from oxidizing as you heat it. You can solder without flux, but it is really difficult! Flux is applied to both the pipe and the fitting with a handy miniature paint brush.
How do you fix a leaking copper pipe without soldering?
Copper and PEX piping are the preferred alternatives and can be used in place of the leaking pipe by using sharkbite couplings. Start by turning off the main water line to your home and bleeding the system of water so you don’t get drenched when opening up the pipe. Then use a pipe cutter to remove the leaking section.
Can you solder a copper pipe with water in it?
Don’t try to solder pipes with water in them. … Soldering a joint in pipes that contain even tiny amounts of water is nearly impossible. Most of the heat from the torch goes into turning the water to steam, so the copper won’t get hot enough to melt the solder. Stop the trickle of water with a pipe plug.
Why will my solder not stick?
A classic reason solder won’t stick to something is because you’re not getting it hot enough. … Touch some solder on it, and it should melt almost instantly. Put a nice little blob of solder on the tip of the iron. Press the blob of solder into the metal to be soldered.
Can I make my own flux?
Fluxes can be made from hydrochloric acid, zinc chloride or rosin. Here is a simple and easy homemade rosin flux made from pine cones.
How do you solder a leaky copper pipe?
Can I solder without using flux?
Flux core solder has flux in the center of the solder wire. Additional flux is unnecessary for most applications, but using additional flux still may make the solder easier to work with for some tasks. When selecting flux core solder, it is important to use rosin core solder for electrical applications.
How do you fix a leaking copper pipe?
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