Soldering Copper Pipe

construct30 said:

I would like to see a homeowner use a $30 propane torch to solder anything bigger than 3/4".

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The 1-1/2 inch sani-tee on the left had to be turned a few degrees to get things to line up to the sink. It took 20 mins with the propane torch to get it hot enough. I kept the heat on for another couple of minutes after getting it in position so the solder would have a chance to reflow in the joint.

You can't tell, but there is room behind for a heat shield that I had in place. And after it cooled off, I left a smoke detector in that cabinet for the day, just in case.

I also soldered the 1-1/2 copper-ABS transition, with propane, but that was much less trouble. Anyone used one of these? I wanted to use a brass thread fitting, then an ABS thread fitting to do this transition, but the HD didn't have the brass/copper end and the salesbeing recommended this. I had to get it so hot, I'm sure the ABS-end was deforming. It's been in place for over a year and has not caused any problems though. Fingers crossed.

construct30 said:

I would like to see a homeowner use a $30 propane torch to solder anything bigger than 3/4". The guide line only goes so far, if you need to solder anything bigger than 3/4" hire it done.

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Hmmm...

I have a 7 pump hydronic manifold I did with 1.5" and 1.25". It took a little practice. I had 2 leaks that I had to fix. Once nice aspect to the project was that I could assemble it and sweat it on a bench before I placed it on the wall.

I knew to look for MAPP gas from my previous life. Some homeowners might needed to be prodded in the right direction.

Do any plumbers actually use propane?

Steve

Acetlene turbo torch.

We all know that a person with some mechanical experience can solder a pipe larger than 3/4". I didn't say it was imppssible. I said I would like to see someone asking a simple question, like this one, solder a pipe larger than 3/4". Unexperienced.

Also you said you soldered a few larger fittings on a boiler and had only a couple of leaks. A couple of leaks are unacceptable in my book, you fail.

Did you pressure test those drain fittings?

Do a big job with NO leaks and then we will talk. Did you solder those pipes the first time you tried your hand at soldering or did you have some experience. You took what I said out of context.

seaneys said:

Do any plumbers actually use propane?

Steve

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None that I know - at least up here. I've only seen propane in the toolboxes of handymen & DIYers.

Mike (my plumber, who does a lot of side-jobs with DIYers & etc) says he recommends propane for people just learning: it's slower, but that means it's more forgiving, you're less likely to over-heat the fitting and 'burn off' the flux. Once they learn to recognize the right temp, he switches them over to MAPP.