A copper pipe is one of the most common materials used to distribute water throughout the home and copper pipes are typically joined to one another using flux and solder.
Copper soldering iron use.
Excess solder restricts water flow and sometimes forms small balls that break loose and damage the faucet valves.
A dielectric union which is similar to a regular union used on iron.
Lead free solder is also available though it has higher melting temperatures and less wettability meaning you may need a better soldering iron to use it and removing it can be more tedious.
Use tinning flux instead of standard flux.
Apply the right amount of solder e g half inch of solder for half inch copper pipe.
The only real difference is that you will have to use a dielectric union at the point where the copper pipe joins the iron pipe.
Clogs make it challenging to create a good seal.
Heating is often achieved electrically by passing an electric current supplied through an electrical cord or battery cables through a resistive heating element.
It consists of a tip which you apply to the metal.
A soldering iron supplies the heat that melts the solder.
A soldering iron is composed of a heated metal tip and an insulated handle.
Wipe off any solder clogging the threads.
Soldering iron to copper is not much different than soldering a piece of copper onto a copper fitting.
Lead free solder is better for the environment and has other benefits and they function more or less the same way.
This article is about how to use a soldering iron but the iron itself isn t the only item you ll need.