How To Solder Copper Wire With A Torch
So considering I am wiring a heavier wire 12 gage my soldering iron is isnt powerful enough to wor.
How to solder copper wire with a torch. Spread the flux over the entire surface with a brush. You must heat the copper tubing and fitting for about ten or fifteen seconds before touching the solder wire to the hot copper. Work with solder paste for copper or copper solder in wire form both of which are self-fluxing.
Heat the area of the square surrounding the circle. You can direct the solder to the spot you want it to flow by moving your torch. When the solder flows the circle will settle onto the square and you will see a shiny flow line around the edge of the circle.
You have to thoroughly clean the copper pipes before you solder them. Run the solder over the entire splice so it can melt and travel into the gaps between the wires. Read the instructions that come with your torch before beginning your project.
Heat the end of the wire with the torch. Do NOT do that. Using the locking tweezers simply hold the wire vertically above the bowl of water.
Turn the torch switch on turn the gas up if youre using a variable torch and light the torch with the lighter. Only use lead-free solder wire approved for copper pipes. Soldering irons that are designed for use with nichrome wire tend to have a high temperature.
To make the whole lighting process easier it is recommended to get a regulator with a built-in igniter. Once you have a good size ball quench the wire in the water. Youll see the solder change from a shiny surface to one that is duller and similar to the unused solder on the roll.