How to braze copper pipes, what solder should I use?

Copper is a metal that has a fairly soft, supple structure. Therefore, unlike the same steel, it is easier to solder such material than to weld it. At the big desire, availability of necessary tools and account means to cope with the similar task the beginner even is capable. Let's find out how to solder copper pipes.

Quality of copper pipes

Often, pipes made of the presented material are used in the household when installing elements of heating and water supply systems. Copper is the optimal solution for creating such conductive paths. It has a perfectly smooth surface, does not corrode, is not blocked by deposits, and also has bactericidal properties. After figuring out how to braze copper heating pipes correctly, you can ensure the uninterrupted service of the system for several decades.

Tools and materials

Before you figure out how to solder copper pipes, you need to prepare a set of tools that you might need in the course of the work:

1. Truborez. Copper is a fairly soft material. Even slight pressure on such pipes can cause deformation. For this reason, when cutting them, it is recommended to use a specialized tool.
2. Expander. Since during the arrangement of a water or heating system copper tubes of the same size are used, in preparation for soldering joints, you will have to use a tool to increase their diameter.
3. Chamfer Remover. After dividing the pipes into the required segments, it is necessary to perform the processing of their edges. Only so the elements of the future system will be able to go into each other.
4. A steel brush is required to strip pipes from the inside.
5. A metal brush allows you to remove dirt, all sorts of layers and oxides, which can make it difficult to perform high-quality joint soldering.
6. The gas burner is used for heating the joints. Must contain a special nozzle, which allows you to make flame adjustments.
7. The solder has the form of wire or rod, the melting point of which is lower compared to copper.
8. Flux is a chemical compound, the application of which facilitates the soldering of joints.

How to solder copper pipes?

Currently, numerous types of solders are widely available, which are capable of providing reliable connection of copper pipes by soldering. Most often, masters resort to the use of low-temperature solders. The latter make it possible to create joints with a relatively low heating of the material, which does not cause deformation of copper. However, such seams are not the best mechanical qualities.

With regard to solders, intended for soldering at the highest temperatures, they allow you to create the most durable connections. At the same time, it is recommended that they be used only by experienced craftsmen, since without the appropriate skills, prolonged thermal effects on the metal can lead to its burning.

How can you weld copper pipes together? When low-temperature soldering, which is common in the arrangement of domestic heating and water supply systems, most often resort to the use of lead-free solders. The latter make it possible to create a sufficiently stable connection to mechanical loads. Among such solders it is worth noting the alloys of tin with bismuth, antimony, selenium, silver. The main share in their composition is tin - about 95%. The rest is accounted for by additional components.

For low-temperature brazing, cheap solders based on tin and lead are quite suitable. However, they are not recommended for use in the construction of water pipes, which are designed to supply drinking water, since lead is a toxic material.

What is the best flux for brazing copper pipes?

In the case of low-temperature soldering, chemical compositions based on zinc chloride are usually used . However, trying to figure out how to solder copper pipes, do not pay too much attention to the composition of the flux. For soldering copper, it is sufficient to purchase any product intended for these purposes, for example, rosin-vaseline paste.

How to solder copper pipes without flux? It is quite possible to make strong connections without the use of chemical compounds. However, high-temperature brazing should be carried out using the best quality solders based on tin and silver.

Soldering procedure

How to braze copper pipes? The works are performed in the following order:

1. With the help of the pipe cutter, the workpieces are divided into lengths of the required length.
2. The outer and inner surfaces are cleaned with a metal brush and brush, which will be subject to soldering.
3. A special expander increases the diameter of the endings of the segments, which are planned to be pushed onto other pipes.
4. At the edges of future joints, a flux is uniformly applied.
5. The endings of the pipes are inserted into each other. The moistened sponge removes the remnants of the flux.
6. The connection is heated. As soon as the flux changes the original shade to silvery, the heat treatment of the surfaces must be stopped.
7. To the future joint is brought solder. The latter should begin to spread without heating the burner, from the increased temperature of copper.
8. The solder is discontinued as soon as the solder fills all voids in the seam area.
9. After cooling of the joint, the joint is wiped with a wet piece of material, which allows removing the solder and flux residues.

Useful recommendations

There are a number of tips that can be useful in the performance of work. So, for masters who do not have an impressive experience of soldering copper pipes, it is recommended to practice beforehand, using pieces of unnecessary blanks as an expendable material. According to specialists, it is necessary to perform a trial soldering several times to form a general idea of such work.

During heating of the joints by the burner, it is important not to over-extinguish the flame at one point, since its temperature can reach about 1000 ° C. In order not to burn copper, it is enough to evenly heat the area for 20 seconds.

When soldering is complete, a thorough flushing of the pipeline system must be carried out under a considerable head of water. This is the only way to remove surpluses of solder and flux that are frozen inside the joints.

Finally

So we figured out how to solder the copper pipes. With a responsible approach to the task and the availability of the necessary tool, everyone is able to cope with such work. It is important only to practice beforehand, without deviating from the technology.