Posted on 03/14/2024 3:00:58 PM PDT by Paul R.
Is the inside surface of clear copper tubing, such as used in refrigeration systems, anodized or have some other finish applied to it? It appears to be impossible to solder to, even using acid flux, unless the surface is thoroughly sanded (or use steel wool or a wire brush). The inside surface "as is" looks clean, with no darkening or oxidation, but is smooth, lacking the tiny scratches of sanding with high grit sandpaper, or using steel wool on it.
Yeah, I probably just got too used to not having to prep stranded copper wire unless I could see the oxidation (wire darkened slightly or worse.)
Why the difference, I just don’t know.
Nonsense. The national building code does not allow 50/50 solder in potable water system, but it is still used widely in stained glass, electronics work and other applications. It's available in all wire sizes, bars, flux cored wire, and solid core wire.
Many years back, an old electrician claimed he always carried a small bottle of olive oil in his tool box. Said it was like flux. Never knew if he was serious. I know I never tried it.
Well, this isn’t a home repair, but, I’ll take it. :-)
May be. I do know my flux brushes rusted away quickly if not very thoroughly cleaned.
I might try that on the parts I already made up!
I have a lot of rolls of the old 50/50 that I had in stock when California made the transition, I think the 95/5 is just fine but I use a TurboTorch acetylene torch.
The melting point of the 50/50 is a lot lower and makes it a lot easier to work with.
That said, I’ve had no problems with 95/5 using MAP gas.
Today’s MAP gas is nothing like the MAP gas in the 90s, though. The formulation changed. But it still gets hot enough to do the job with a small torch up to 1” copper.
Nitric will burn you severely if it gets on you almost as bad as sulfuric acid.
Ha! I’ve been watching too many episodes of Moonshiners. You just made think of them.
“””””Mostly residential, assistant, never got licensed as a contractor though.”””””
I don’t know what a residential assistant is, what is it?
There is always some oxidation/corrosion even on brand new pipe. I use a fitting brush mounted in a cordless drill to clean the inside of the fittings, and medium emery cloth to clean the outside of the pipe. Then I wipe everything clean with a new cloth. Apply good flux generously to BOTH items to be joined, assemble them and sweat the joint to where I see solder all around the seam.
I’ve had 3 joints fail in 30+ years, and they failed because I used old flux.
Hope this helps, enjoy your project.
That’s a good question, now that you mention it.
Ummmm - why do you think they sell the metal brush tools to clan the inside and outside of pipes before soldering them?
Cleans and slightly roughs the surfaces to make them accept the solder.
“”””Mostly residential, assistant, never got licensed as a contractor though.””””
You were in the plumbing business as a “residential assistant” but fell short of getting your contractor’s license?
what in the world are you talking about and why won’t you explain what a “residential assistant” is?
I apologized wholeheartedly for spreading nonsense.
LOL...I’ll forgive you. But just this one time!
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