Proper Soldering Process for Copper Tubing

Cut and Clean

• Cut your copper tubing carefully to the length you will need for the installation. The ends of the tube should be cleanly cut for easy fitting into other components of the installation. If you are cutting larger copper pipe you will need to use a tube cutter that clamps onto the copper and is spun around to score it. After a few deeper scores around the pipe it will snap in half with a clean line. You should clean the pipes before soldering, particularly where you will be soldering them together. Thoroughly clean the fittings you’ll be soldering onto the tube as well. These are often valves or tee sections. Use a brush to clean out the insides of the tube if needed and use an emery cloth to shine the ends of the tubes where they’ll be soldered for a better seal.

Heat the Joints

• Insert the copper tubing into the fitting or joint that you wish to connect it to. Slide it into place and then light up a propane torch. The propane torch is the suggested heat source for soldering. With the flame lit and burning in a blue cone, wave the flame back and forth over the joint to heat it up evenly on all sides. Without proper heat on the connection, the solder will not seal the copper.

Apply Solder

• Solder is sold in a roll that looks like thick, stiff, silver twine. With the joint heated up properly you only need to touch the end of the solder to the hot copper. Like magic, the solder will be attracted to the heated joint and actually flow into the joint automatically to seal off the connection and make it airtight. Simply feed the solder onto the pipe as it flows, keeping it in contact with the copper until the joint is full. Use lead-free solder that is labeled for use with copper. You can buy leaded solders, but it may leach lead into your water supply if you are using the tubing as a supply line.

Let it Cool

• After the joint is full of solder, all you’ll need to do is let it cool. By the time the solder cools the joint will be sealed and you will have a leak-free pipe that should last for years. Simply give it time and then wipe it down with a cloth to make the job look professional. The cooling time for solder varies based on how much heat you have applied with your torch. But the wait is very short. Usually within two minutes you will have a sealed joint.