Soldering is the process of connecting elements made of different materials by introducing solder between them. In addition, this material has a melting point lower than that of other parts. Such an operation is widely used as the highest quality bonding method. Soldering copper pipes allows you to extend the service life of such a connection, the tightness of its seams under pressure, and ensure high resistance to corrosion.
Before you start doing the work yourself, it is advisable to familiarize yourself in detail with their main components in order to prevent unwanted errors and end up with a high-quality connection.
Copper pipes are soldered with soft solder or hard solder. The first material is used at a temperature of about 425 °C, and the allowable temperature of the second can reach 560 °C. The determination of the type of solder depends on the amount of copper and other materials that are present in its composition. In the case where copper pipe solder contains silver, its melting point should be lowered.
In order to get a better connection, it is best to use copper-phosphoruselements, but their melting point is much higher than that of silver. For copper-bronze and copper-brass molten materials, flux is used to solder copper pipes. Its use is equivalent to mechanical cleaning of parts before carrying out a procedure that prevents the appearance of an oxide film, which is quite important for this process. The flux is mainly used, which has the appearance of a paste, thanks to which the soldering of copper pipes will be greatly simplified.
In order to avoid mistakes in connecting parts, you also need to follow some rules. The connection must be cleaned with a decreasing flame that will generate maximum heat. It is necessary to degrease metal surfaces. The gaps between the elements and their relative position must be carefully checked.
Soldering copper pipes involves applying a small amount of flux from the outside of the joint. In addition, the place for this must be evenly heated to the required temperature. The solder can then be applied to the joint and evenly distributed in it using a soldering torch. When molten, it will flow towards the junction, which is hotter.
After soldering is complete, flux residues must be removed. It is quite important to adhere to one of the main rules: the heating cycle should not last too long, and overheating is completely excluded during operation. In addition, adequate ventilation must be ensured toprevent the occurrence of cadmium vapor, which is very harmful to the human body.
Compliance with the above recommendations will greatly facilitate the work, save time and help achieve the desired result.
