Polypropylene pipes have a lot of advantages. They are often used during the repair of plumbing communications. It will not be difficult to do this work yourself. A special soldering iron is used to connect pipes and fittings. This tool must be properly selected and used in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. Which soldering iron to choose for polypropylene pipes will be discussed later.
Working principle
Before you figure out which soldering iron to choose for polypropylene pipes, you need to understand the principle of operation of this equipment. This tool is also called an iron. It is heated to a high temperature of 260-300ºС. There are nozzles on both sides of the metal base. They are also called matrices. They also get hot during the operation of the soldering iron.
One nozzle melts the outer edge of the pipe. Its second part warms up the inner surface. Both elements of the future plumbing system are held on the tool. Then they are combined, leaving to cool. After that, a very strong joint is obtained. It has almost the same characteristics as a solid piece of pipe.
The tool is fixed on a stand during operation. In some cases, it is not possible to install a soldering iron on the desktop. In this case, he is being held by the handle.
Considering which soldering iron is better to choose for polypropylene pipes, you need to consider that they differ in different characteristics. Yes, nozzles are included in the package. They differ in diameter, which determines the scope of the device. Nozzles are made from different materials. It is best, especially for beginners, to purchase Teflon-coated matrices. Metallized Teflon nozzles are also considered easy to use. Such types of coatings provide uniform heating. They are strong, durable and easy to apply.
Power
What kind of soldering iron for polypropylene pipes do professionals and home craftsmen use? One of the important characteristics of the presented equipment is power. It depends on this indicator what diameter pipes can be soldered using a power tool. The power also depends on the warm-up time, the speed of work.
To choose the right tool for your purposes, you need to decidefor which pipes the equipment will be used. So, high power does not mean that the device will be multifunctional. Some buyers believe that by purchasing a soldering iron with a power of 1.5-2 kW, they will be able to work with pipes of both small and large diameters. But it's not. The presented equipment is used for soldering pipes with a diameter of more than 10 cm.
There is a simple calculation that professionals use when buying such equipment. If you do not know which soldering iron for polypropylene pipes is better to choose, you need to do the following. The minimum power of the tool is determined, divided by 100. This is how the diameter of the pipe for which it is intended is obtained. If the minimum power is 500 W, then it allows you to solder communications with a cross section of 5 cm.
Based on this, we can say that for home use, a tool with a power of up to 1.2 kW is usually purchased. Appliances with a power of 1.8-2.2 kW are used by professional plumbers.
It is worth noting that in devices with a power of up to 1 kW, 1 heating element is usually installed. This significantly reduces the functionality of the device. In soldering irons with more power, two heating elements are most often installed.
Ranking of producing countries
Considering reviews on how to choose a soldering iron for polypropylene pipes, it is worth noting that buyers and professionals agree that it is important to pay attention to the manufacturer of the device. Companies with a good reputation, known in the global and domestic market of plumbing equipment for soldering, produce durable, function altechnique. Such devices will allow you to mount the pipeline quickly and efficiently.
According to experts, it is very important that the soldering iron maintains a stable temperature. This allows you to perform high-quality communications installation. There is a generally accepted rating of manufacturers of soldering irons for soldering polypropylene pipes. The places in it were distributed as follows:
- Czech Republic.
- Turkey.
- Russia.
- China.
Soldering irons made in these countries are most often bought by domestic craftsmen. This is a functional technique that optimally combines cost and quality. Going to the store to buy a soldering iron for pipes, you need to pay attention to the products of these manufacturers in the first place.
Reviews on producing countries
After reviewing the rating of the best soldering irons for polypropylene pipes, which are produced by well-known brands, you need to find out what buyers think about the products of these manufacturers. This will help you make the right decision about choosing one tool or another.
Producers from the Czech Republic take first place in the ranking. They produce high quality soldering tools. They are multifunctional, have a large number of attachments.
The second place in the ranking belongs to manufacturers from Turkey. This is a good alternative to expensive Czech soldering irons. They are of decent quality and functionality. But at the same time, among the products of Turkish manufacturerssometimes there is a marriage. The most popular in this group are soldering irons for polypropylene pipes "Kandan", "V altek", "Kalde". This is the highest quality product, worthy of high praise. Affordable cost and high reliability and functionality make the products of Turkish manufacturers in demand.
Russian manufacturers are in third place in the ranking. These are high-quality soldering irons that are cheaper than their foreign counterparts.
Chinese power tools are inexpensive. But in terms of functionality and reliability, they are inferior to the manufacturers presented above.
Rating of manufacturers. Third trio
Another rating of soldering irons for polypropylene pipes should be considered. Based on the statements of buyers, a list of the best manufacturers of the studied equipment was compiled.
Considering which is the best soldering iron for polypropylene pipes, you should pay attention to the rating of popular brands. Places in reverse order were distributed as follows:
- 10th place - Elektromash. Users note the favorable pricing policy and the acceptable quality of domestic products.
- 9th place - Rotorica. This is a good equipment for home use. Many models are equipped with a digital temperature controller. The tips are Teflon coated. These are versatile soldering irons that allow you to solve many problems during pipe assembly.
- 8 place - Bosch. For beginners, this is the best option. They are easy to use, reliable andfunctional. The kit includes nozzles of different diameters. They allow you to solder pipes of different sizes.
Rating of manufacturers. Second trio
The list of the best manufacturers of soldering equipment for polypropylene pipes includes the most purchased, well-known brands. The middle of the ranking looks like this:
- 7 place - Aqua Prom. This company produces devices with extensive equipment at an affordable price. With their help, you can easily lay a pipeline made of polypropylene.
- 6th place - Sturm. The manufacturer produces universal equipment for welding. Models have nozzles in the form of a cylinder, sword-shaped.
- 5th place - Prorab. These are lightweight, inexpensive tools that come with gloves, a screwdriver, a hex key and a tape measure.
Rating of manufacturers. Featured
When choosing a soldering iron for polypropylene pipes for the home, you should pay attention to manufacturers who occupy the top positions in the ranking. These are, according to buyers, the best brands. The places of the top positions of the rating were distributed as follows:
- 4 place - Gerat Weld. This is a product that optimally combines price and quality. The company produces powerful, but at the same time compact devices. They are used by both home craftsmen and professional plumbers. The heating element contains two types of nozzles, which allows you to use the equipment for different purposes. Large selection of modelsacceptable cost make the equipment of the presented brand in demand.
- 3rd place - REMS. According to customer reviews, soldering iron models of this manufacturer have a lot of positive characteristics. This is a well-known manufacturer in the electrical equipment market. The heating element is of high quality. It is made from a corrosion resistant alloy. The soldering iron models of this manufacturer are distinguished by an accurate mechanical type temperature controller. There are practically no errors when setting the heating level.
- 2nd place - V altek. These are soldering irons for polypropylene pipes of Russian-Italian production. They are known for their high quality, durability, versatility. Such equipment is used in their work by both professionals and novice plumbers.
- 1st place - Candan. This is a Turkish manufacturer that produces high quality welding equipment. This is the best brand on the market today.
Reviews about the model Gerat Weld 75-110
When choosing the best soldering iron for polypropylene pipes, it is worth considering some of the most popular models. One of them is Gerat Weld 75-110. It has two heating elements. One of them is a backup. The power of the presented soldering iron is 1,600 watts. The soldering iron is supplied in a metal case and comes with several attachments.
Heating is controlled by a thermostat. He's pretty accurate. The approximate cost of the presented model is 4.7RUB thousand
Among the advantages of Gerat Weld 75-110, buyers note reliability and high power. Also, this model has excellent functionality. In operation, the soldering iron is convenient, allows you to solder pipes of different diameters. It is purchased for both home use and professional activities.
Of the shortcomings, buyers note that this soldering iron is relatively expensive.
Reviews about the model Prorab 6405-k
When deciding which soldering iron for polypropylene pipes to choose, many buyers prefer inexpensive domestic products. One of the most popular models of this type is Prorab 6405-k. This equipment can be used in professional activities, as well as purchased for home use.
The power of the device is impressive, it is 2 kW. At the same time, its cost remains acceptable to all buyers. It can be purchased at a price of about 2 thousand rubles. The heating temperature is adjustable, which allows soldering pipes of different diameters. To do this, the design of the model provides a mechanical thermostat.
The advantage of the presented model, buyers call a decent package. In addition to 6 nozzles, a stand, pipe cutters and a tape measure are supplied with the purchase. The set is stored in a metal case. He's pretty strong.
The device heats up quickly, which allows you to increase the speed of work. Another positive quality of the model, buyers call the ability to work in windy conditions. The main advantages of Prorab 6405-k buyers call lowvalue, decent functionality. The presented model has only one drawback. Buyers claim that this soldering iron is hard to find in the free market.
Reviews about the model Candan cm-03
Thinking about which soldering iron to choose for polypropylene pipes, you should pay attention to the Candan cm-03 model. This manufacturer consistently occupies the top positions in the ratings. The presented soldering iron is called by users unpretentious equipment. In their opinion, the equipment is easy to use. At the same time, the cost is quite affordable. You can buy Candan cm-03 for only 3 thousand rubles.
The presented model allows high-quality welding of pipes with a diameter of 20 to 63 mm. This is one of the best options for home use. The nozzles are sword-shaped. With it, you can heat two welding nozzles at once. The maximum power of this unit is 1.5 kW. The heating cable can withstand temperatures up to 400ºС.
Fixed stand included. There is also a special clip. This greatly facilitates the task for the master, allowing you to perform work in different conditions. A positive quality is the presence of a thermostat. This allows for uniform heating of pipes and fittings.
The switches have a special indicator. It shows if the device is working. Buyers also attribute the availability of a complete set to the advantages of this model. It includes various nozzles, scissors for cutting pipes. Also, the manufacturer supplements the kit with a tape measure. This is a compact soldering iron that is easy to use anddoes not take up much space.
Among the shortcomings, there is a large consumption of electricity. However, this does not reduce the demand for this soldering iron.