Soldering question

Gary Swart

Gary Swart

In the Trades
Messages
8,101
Reaction score
84
Points
48
Location
Yakima, WA
I've been installing a sink in my shop and after getting a fair way into plumbing the water line, I find I misaligned an elbow. All I need to do is turn it a few degrees. Can I just reheat the joint and turn it or will I have to redo everthing back to it? :confused:
 
If it has never been wet, you might get away with it; but I would not do it. Is there any reason you cannot just remove that elbow, clean everything up and resolder? There is usually enough play in the piping to do that, unless it is very close quarters.
 
No water in it yet. It will be possible to redo, but a little extra work. Think go that way anyway, I was a little uneasy about it which is why I asked the question.
 
copper

Go ahead Gary and move it. Just have your flux and flux brush ready and after you have moved it and while its still wet, wipe it with your brush before it sets.

Then wipe the flux from the joints.
 
I actually paint the whole joint first with lots of flux, heat, adjust, then flow a little solder. Let it cool and if it has that nice clean look you should be all set. On a very few occasions I've had to actually remove the elbow because I couldn't get a good joint. If that happens I tend to grab a new elbow instead of hassling with cleaning the old one.
 
Thanks to all who replied. I'm going to redo this piece of s**t because I want to make a better arrangement for cut off valves, but this is good information for sometime in the future. I know once water has been in the pipes, it's total replace, but this is still in the construction stage. :)
 
Gary Swart said:
....I know once water has been in the pipes, it's total replace....
Click to expand...
huh? where did you hear that? It's not true at all. You abviously can't solder a pipe with water inside, but once it's been drained it shouldn't be a problem. If it's still wet you'll have to heat it enough to dry the inside, but that's it. You might find a MAPP torch better suited to that situation, but I've done it many times. Don't start throwing away good copper!
 
Most plumbers will cut out, or remove, reclean and reflux anytime they work with copper pipe that has had water in it.

Based on years of trying the other method, NO.
 
copper

What ever works for you.
Just because water had been turned on and you had a leak and were able to drain the line right away, doesn't mean you have to take apart and redo everything.
Based on a lot of years too. But each job is a common sense judgement call.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

T
Need advice for re-soldering 2" copper washer standpipe that barely fits into the pipe in the slab
Replies
7
Views
449
Jeff H Young
Jeff H Young
K
ABS DWV Back to Back Units
Replies
0
Views
467
kham888
K
E
Should my wet vent wye's be horizontal or rolled up?
Replies
3
Views
532
wwhitney
wwhitney
Mliu
Slightly backing out an old threaded connection?
Replies
18
Views
6K
John Gayewski
John Gayewski
mherman
Is this fix legal?
Replies
4
Views
593
mherman
mherman
Back
Top