BajaNomad

SOLDERING WITHOUT FIRE

DENNIS - 3-11-2012 at 11:58 AM

Have any of you Baja builders seen this tool? It's new to me so I bought one and it works well. No torch....just electricity. It works best on the thinner copper connectors, but it'll test your patience with the heavier copper threaded ends etc., although it works with them as well.
Great for working in tight spots too.
Maybe these tools have been around for a while. I don't know.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NRa-CdcHy0w

No soldering

bajaguy - 3-11-2012 at 12:13 PM

http://www.sharkbiteplumbing.com/

Works great, available at Home Depot in the U.S., works with copper plumbing.

DENNIS - 3-11-2012 at 12:19 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajaguy
http://www.sharkbiteplumbing.com/

Works great, available at Home Depot in the U.S., works with copper plumbing.


Looks expensive. Sometimes, compression fittings make me nervous, especially on joints in walls or other innaccessible places. I guess that's what they are.

DavidE - 3-11-2012 at 12:25 PM

Welding supply stores sell carbon sticks in various diameters. I like the 3/8".

I use a pair of cheap 10-gauge jumper cables, 8-gauge seems to pass too much amperage so I stick with the 10 gauge.

I will clamp whatever I am working on with the free negative (ground) clamp of the cables. Affix the carbon rod into the positive clamp, then attack my big-league soldering project. Everything to be soldered has to be shiny clean. I use acid-core paste flux and 60/40 solder.

Using a bit of copper tube, this system can make really nice battery cable butt connectors to repair corroded or damaged cable ends.

Striking the carbon rod will produce a brilliant flash so I wear dark glasses to protect my eyes from arc burn.

Bob and Susan - 3-11-2012 at 12:41 PM

i just used a flame in a tight spot...this electric thing looks ok

the compression stuff is scarry...leaks...later...

of course the solder came lose and that why i need to solder

are those compression joints LEGAL in california

wessongroup - 3-11-2012 at 02:44 PM

WOW am I behind times... :lol::lol::lol:

comitan - 3-11-2012 at 04:30 PM

If the old time plummer that showed me how to solder copper pipe was right, the demo is all wrong according to him you heat the joint on the inside of if the pipe end and it draws the solder in making a complete soldered joint.;)

woody with a view - 3-11-2012 at 05:23 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Bob and Susan
are those compression joints LEGAL in california


they are making a comeback, believe it or not.

Yes

bajaguy - 3-11-2012 at 08:33 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by woody with a view
Quote:
Originally posted by Bob and Susan
are those compression joints LEGAL in california


they are making a comeback, believe it or not.





Yup, legal in California. Works with PEX (plastic) pipe, copper and cpvc pipe.

They don't leak.........try em

bent-rim - 3-12-2012 at 08:47 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by bajaguy
http://www.sharkbiteplumbing.com/

Works great, available at Home Depot in the U.S., works with copper plumbing.


A friend of mine has this in his house in Las Vegas, however in the utility room there's a manifold that supplies each fixture with an un-broken line. This means that there are no fittings inside the walls. Personally I'm a copper/cast iron fan for plumbing, probably from learning the trades in Frisco, where plastic pipe is illegal. The reason plastic pipe is illegal in Frisco is because of the fumes emitted when it burns. There are alot of firemen that moonlight as plumbers and they were concerned that the ease of installation of plastic pipe would hinder their business because it's so easy to install. Ain't politics grand!

vandenberg - 3-12-2012 at 11:29 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by comitan
If the old time plummer that showed me how to solder copper pipe was right, the demo is all wrong according to him you heat the joint on the inside of if the pipe end and it draws the solder in making a complete soldered joint.;)


Same here Wiley. I have done a lot of copper soldering and always heat the joints and not the pipe.

DENNIS - 3-12-2012 at 11:37 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by vandenberg
Same here Wiley. I have done a lot of copper soldering and always heat the joints and not the pipe.


Not the way it works with the Pipe Master. As in the demo, you heat the tube about three eighths back from the connector. Like I said, I now have one and that's the way it works.

It's a new world. All of what we were taught in the past has no significance. We're "Old and In The Way."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYETHsxAv8c

DENNIS - 3-12-2012 at 05:10 PM

Quote:
Quote:
Originally posted by lencho
We're "Old and In The Way."

My concern would be that this "new way" may create inferior joints, with the solder not bonded to the fitting surface all the way in. A way to tell would be to see if solder readily liquifies on the outside of the fitting beyond the tip of the inserted pipe.



OK, Larry. Whatever you say.
My comment [and link] were only meant to give you a Jerry Garcia et al bluegrass tune.
Now....I'm gonna play with my peepee and hope it doesn't leak.

msteve1014 - 3-12-2012 at 05:11 PM

It looks like a nice "gizmo", but really a torch works just fine most of the time. I also think the "old way" will make a more fully soldered joint.