| There are four basic ways to join pipe and tubing:o | | | | of the joint. If the joint is clean and fluxed and has |
| Pouring lead in the jointo Screwing together threaded | | | | been heated to the right temperature, the solder will |
| pipes and fittingso Solderingo Gluing or cementing | | | | melt immediately and flow through the whole joint. |
| At one time plumbers sealed the joints of black iron | | | | Do not move the joint until the solder has cooled. If |
| pipe with hot, liquid lead. Today, however, sewer | | | | the joint is too hot, the solder will not stick. In this |
| pipes are joined with clamps and neoprene gaskets. | | | | case, use pliers to pull the hot joint apart. Let it cool, |
| Most galvanized pipes are threaded. They can be | | | | clean it, flux it, and start again. |
| screwed together without any preparation, but the | | | | It is impossible to solder a wet joint. Even a drop of |
| joint will leak until it rusts shut. It is also very difficult | | | | water is too much. If you've turned off all the valves |
| to turn the pipes. Teflon tape makes the job easier | | | | and opened every faucet, and water still trickles |
| and seals the joints as well. Be careful though. Teflon | | | | through the line, stuff some bread uphill in the line. |
| makes the threads turn so easily that you can | | | | This will stop the water long enough to solder. Later |
| tighten them too far and break the pipe. | | | | when you turn on the water, the bread will dissolve |
| Copper tubing is usually soldered. Clean the joint with | | | | and be flushed out the nearest faucet. |
| steel wool or sandpaper. Do not touch the joint after | | | | Plastic pipe joints are the same as copper tubing |
| cleaning. Your fingers may leave some grease that | | | | joints except they are cemented instead of being |
| will repel the solder. Apply a light coat of | | | | soldered. After cutting and cleaning the edges with a |
| noncorrosive soldering flux to the ends to be joined, | | | | file and knife, brush cement around the outside of |
| both inside and out. Assemble the joint exactly as it | | | | the pipe and the inside of the fitting. Plastic cement is |
| will be when finished. | | | | really a solvent that dissolves the plastic surface. |
| Now light a propane torch. When the flame settles | | | | When it evaporates (in about 10 seconds) the joint is |
| down, move the torch so the blue tip of the flame is | | | | fused. This doesn't give you much time to position |
| 1/2 to 3/4 inch from the joint. Heat the entire joint | | | | the joint and wipe away the excess cement. After |
| and along the tubing for 2 to 3 inches in all directions. | | | | plastic pipe has been glued, there is no way to take |
| Watch where you're pointing the flame. Heat until the | | | | it apart except by cutting. |
| flux begins to boil. Do not overheat. | | | | Use plastic cement with great care. Avoid breathing |
| Remove the torch and touch the solder to the end | | | | the fumes and keep it away from eyes, mouth and |
| of the joint. If the joint is clean and fluxed and has | | | | skin. |
| been heated to the right temperature, the solder will | | | | Before soldering copper tubing, clean the ends to be |
| melt immediately and flow through the whole joint. | | | | joined. Use sandpaper, steel wool, or a wire brush. |
| Do not move the joint until the solder has cooled. If | | | | Then with your finger or with an old toothbrush apply |
| the joint is too hot, the solder will not stick. In this | | | | flux to the surfaces being joined. Use a light coat, but |
| case, use pliers to pull the flame settles down, move | | | | cover the area completely. |
| the torch so the blue tip of the flame is 1/2 to 3/4 | | | | To join plastic pipe, cut the pipe, clean the cut edge |
| inch from the joint. Heat the entire joint and along | | | | with a pocket knife, a file, or sandpaper. Brush |
| the tubing for 2 to 3 inches in all directions. Watch | | | | cement on the outside of the pipe and the inside of |
| where you're pointing the flame. Heat until the flux | | | | the fitting. Join and hold for 10 seconds. There is no |
| begins to boil. Do not overheat. | | | | way to pull this joint apart again. |
| Remove the torch and touch the solder to the end | | | | |