Pipe cutting & soldering

Biohazard

Biohazard

Biohazard

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Joined
29 Aug 2003
Posts
31,330
Hi guys

I need to trim some piping, installing a new kitchen and the old hot and cold pipes are at bunker level. I need to chop those pipes down about 3-4 inches, so I can get the flexi hoses for the new tap connected.

I have blow torch, copper - copper solder and three something or other brazing rods.

Do I need to use the rods? Or can I just lop off the connections, and re-connect with just the copper solder?

Thanks if anyone can help (know some of you have used copper piping in rigs)

:)
 
I used copper piping in my watercooled rig...

I didn't use any brazing rods tho, I simply cleaned both the ends with wire wool, coated them in flux, made the connection, heated with the blowtorch, then fed the solder in.

Maybe practice on a few scrap bits first, it's not too hard. :)
 
No need to use brazing rods, but you should use a pipe slice when cutting copper pipe to achieve a nice clean edge for soldering, then as MikeHunt79 describes.

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Why dont you use compression fittings? or the new push and play fittings(im not 100% sure about them yet but they are doing a dine job in my bathroom for the shower)
 
Cut the pipe using the tool illustrated above and then use either push fit to tap thread flexies or compression to tap fit flexies; no soldering/ brazing required and very easy to do.
 
Thanks trill I will pick up a pipe cutter, was going to hacksaw it but better do it properly. The solder I have is flux free apparently.

So I don't need the rods, cool cheers.

As for compression fittings - the pressure on the cold is 3.5bar so it'd need to be tight. I will have a look tonight in B&Q..

cheers for the advice guys :)
 
Biohazard said:
Thanks trill I will pick up a pipe cutter, was going to hacksaw it but better do it properly. The solder I have is flux free apparently.

So I don't need the rods, cool cheers.

As for compression fittings - the pressure on the cold is 3.5bar so it'd need to be tight. I will have a look tonight in B&Q..

cheers for the advice guys :)
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No problem. Don't use a hacksaw, those cutting tools are cheap and give perfect cut every time if you use them correctly. :)

Also, buy a tub of flux if you don't have one already...

I've never tried any other sort of fitting, so I'm not sure about their pressure rating... A well soldered pipe will have no problems with 3.5bar tho. :cool:
 
make sure the new taps are fixed firmly as you get no support from the flexis to stop the tap turning after a while,especially if its a large mixer tap,speaking from experience and a lot of time under a sink unit lol

dave
:D:D:D:D
 
Watch out with those cutting tools, they can get you into trouble..........


.........with the missus, i picked one up when doing my kitchen, then spent the next 2 or 3 nights just cutting little ends of a piece of pipe, there were bits everywhere, amazing what can fascinate a blokes mind! :)
 
A soldered joint is much stronger than a compression joint. The important thing to remember is to make sure the pipe is shiny (sandpaper as required) and use plenty of flux. I personally wouldn't trust flux free solder.

Heat the flux until it is clear then apply solder to the top with heat. Very quickly it will melt and feed itself around the join - job done.
 
Thanks Gillywibble, the fact the water is unvented is the reason I went for torch and solder.

I will take the flux free stuff back and get flux / solder / cutter.

Cheers lads :)
 
kefkef said:
Watch out with those cutting tools, they can get you into trouble..........

.........with the missus, i picked one up when doing my kitchen, then spent the next 2 or 3 nights just cutting little ends of a piece of pipe, there were bits everywhere, amazing what can fascinate a blokes mind! :)
Click to expand...

Lol. I once sopent ages with a hole punch eating full sheets of !4, until the bottom came off. Thousands of little paper discs all over my flat. Last time i do that . . . . (Without taping it :D)
 
Good luck! I moved all the pipes in our downstairs loo into the wall and I also went the solder method. It's pretty easy and certainly gives you more piece of mind than any compression fitting. There's something really satisfying when the solder gets sucked into the joint. :D
 
When using the pipe cutter, remember- one full clockwise turn, one half anti-clockwise turn. It clears the groove and stops making a thread instead of a cut.
 
Remember the wirewool to clean the pipes prior to soldering or making joints.

Also if you are using a blowtorch get a heat proof mat, and be careful, it's surprising how easy it is to set wallpaper on fire.
Not that i've ever done that
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