I am helping my buddy install his underground sprinklers in his backyard. We hit a snag as neither one of us has messed with copper plumbing. The stub out for the sprinklers is a 3/4" copper pipe. I cut the end off and am ready to put the fitting that slides on the pipe and has threads on the other end to attach the manifold/valves I put together.

I have a torch, lead-free solder, flux, and some quick in-a-tube stuff (replacement for solder/flux).

We have tried three times to flux/solder this fitting onto the pipe. Let it dry for over an hour each time. It just won't hold!!!

All the sprinkler installs I have done have been on the poly stub outs. Piece-o-cake to attach.

Somebody please give us directions/info on how to make this work.


Thanks. Jason.

P.S. I am going home, my buddy and his wife get to go the night without water until we get this figured out.

 

Use regular solder/flux.
Use crocus(spelling) cloth to clean the fittings, then use the torch to heat the copper and then apply the solder. Heat the back portion of the joint and you should only have to apply the solder in one spot on the joint, the heat will suck it into and fill the rest of it.

 

I learned how to do this from an AWS/ASME CWI. The way I do it is to just stick your fittings together, heat it with a torch until it gets cherry red, then use Silver Solder, no flux. Take the silver solder and run it around the edge of your joint. The silver melts and sucks right in to the joint. Works better than melting butter. Basically, I guess I just described it the same way SemperFiMac did, only with using Silver Solder.

 

Hmmm, I use flux on my silver solder joints. It is probably best to call a plumber and have him make the joint. If the joint fails because you don't do it right you could end up with an expensive mess. The solder does not "dry" so no need to wait an hour. Solder solidifies or freezes in the joint.

 

If there is any water at all in the pipe, it will give you a very hard time! Even a drip of hot water will prevent the joint from heating up enough to suck in the solder. Be sure to drain all the water out and dry out the pipe before attempting to solder.

 

Regular flux will burn up before you get hot enough to run lead free solder. Make sure you have lead free solder and lead free flux. Your 'won't hold' doesn't explain but there is only three more rules to sweating copper, 1) sand it clean 2) wire brush it clean if you don't have sandpaper and 3) no water in the joint.

 

This really isnt too hard, once you get the hang of it.

1.... clean the joint with sandpaper or emery cloth. Make sure you get inside and out on the fitting.
2.... apply flux. I was taught to use a brush, not my fingers by an old plumber. He said theres something in the oils on your finger that will affect the way solder sticks. I'm not sure theres anything to that, but it keeps your hands cleaner .
3... heat the joint up. A propane torch is all you need. Apply heat to both the pipe and the fitting. You can sort of "feel" the joint with your solder to tell when it's hot enough. Just dont put the solder directly in the flame.
4......remove the heat and add solder. Just touch it to the joint, or quickly slide it around. If it dosesn't quite flow in right, you can add a bit more heat Capilliary action will draw the solder into the joint. Some guys like to wipe the excess solder off with a damp rag, but once you practice a bit, you can avoid any big drips or gobs.

 

One of the major things you want to remember with all this great advice is that you want to heat the fitting and draw the solder into the fitting and not just heat the pipe. Things to remember are clean pipe and inside of fitting. if you have water dripping out of the fitting ball up some bread and stick it up inside the pipe, this will stop the water from drippingout and will desolve quickly and not get stuck in the pipe. Make sure you use a liberal amount of flux ( liberal only because you are new at this and it helps to make sure you are getting enough on the pipe and fitting) make sure the flux you are using is for copper pipe and for use with the solder that you have. This will actually cause the situation you are having. The wrong flux will work against you. Heat the fitting for about 30 - 60 seconds with a poratble propane torch and lightly touch the solder to the tip of the fitting and the pipe. If it is hot enough it will draw the solder into the fitting. do this all around the fitting using a good amount of solder for a first timer ( most plumbers and AC people are experienced enough to heat and walk the solder around) Make sur eyou get no solder on the threads of the fitting and when done wipe the fitting and pipe right away with a damp cloth to cleean the fitting and cool it. Easy as pie................................now where is that darn pie pan.

 

cool, thanks guys, we'll try again!!!

 

...All of the above plus one, We used MAPP gas over propane seemed to heat faster for us.

...OOPS, and one more thing...Turn the water back on to flush the system a little after soldering plumbing...