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Learning to solder
Posted on 8/1/24 at 3:20 pm
Posted on 8/1/24 at 3:20 pm
I am reasonably handy. Decks/carpentry, moderate car repair, replacing toilets and sinks...
I have to replace a couple shower faucets but it's not just the stems, the whole valve assembly needs to be swapped. Can I use some scrap pipe to learn or is this a disaster waiting to happen?
I have to replace a couple shower faucets but it's not just the stems, the whole valve assembly needs to be swapped. Can I use some scrap pipe to learn or is this a disaster waiting to happen?
10
Posted on 8/1/24 at 3:32 pm to tadman
How about a sharkbite and some pex? Super easy
Posted on 8/1/24 at 4:42 pm to tadman
There’s not a lot of learning to it, plenty of YouTube vids out there and it’s not hard.
That said, get the pex fittings and be done with it.
That said, get the pex fittings and be done with it.
Posted on 8/1/24 at 4:42 pm to tadman
I had lots of experience soldering point-to-point electrical components and picked up pipe soldering with a torch easily enough. The two are different, but wiring experience gives you a feel for a good versus a bad joint.
HD has a comprehensive instruction link...
LINK
Something to worry about is how much room you have to use the torch between the pipe and wood. Space can get very tight in a wall.
I've looked online for a DIY homeowner's class but was surprised to find none. Check in your own area. I suspect the liability of encouraging someone to use a torch in a wooden wall is just too great.
HD has a comprehensive instruction link...
LINK
Something to worry about is how much room you have to use the torch between the pipe and wood. Space can get very tight in a wall.
I've looked online for a DIY homeowner's class but was surprised to find none. Check in your own area. I suspect the liability of encouraging someone to use a torch in a wooden wall is just too great.
Posted on 8/1/24 at 4:49 pm to tadman
quote:
How about a sharkbite and some pex? Super easy
Don't do this.
quote:
I have to replace a couple shower faucets but it's not just the stems, the whole valve assembly needs to be swapped. Can I use some scrap pipe to learn or is this a disaster waiting to happen?
So you are replacing the manifold inside the wall? Soldering pipe is easy, as long as you know how to cut, deburr, clean, and flux. Definitely get some practice joins in, get a feel for how much heat you'll need to apply and how the solder flows into a joint. If you want some extra assurance, use tinned flux as that will help draw solder into the joint faster as it will wet the surfaces as soon as it gets hot enough. Also make sure you drain out as much water as you can from the pipes you are attaching the manifold too, even small amounts will suck the heat right out and will make the job nearly impossible with spattering the solder all over the area and yourself.
Posted on 8/1/24 at 5:19 pm to tadman
It is soldering but in plumbing, it's called sweating, typically. As I understand it, it is not hard to do but also not hard to screw up where you get a leak. As others have said, there are videos online that will instruct you on how to do it.
My plumbing friends have always told me having dry fittings (and pipe) and heating in the appropriate place makes a big difference and to use flux. Instead, I just paid someone to do it when needed
My plumbing friends have always told me having dry fittings (and pipe) and heating in the appropriate place makes a big difference and to use flux. Instead, I just paid someone to do it when needed
Posted on 8/1/24 at 7:10 pm to tadman
It’s really easy,,,, clean the shite out of the fittings up still the copper shines,,,,,,,use more flux than u think you need, put the parts together, heat it evenly and dob the solder wire until it flows in the fitting,,,,,let it cool, then pressure test it with a cap on the end and let it sit for a while. It’s really easy
Posted on 8/1/24 at 7:24 pm to tadman
Pex it imo. Much faster, easier, harder to screw up. Sweating copper to copper is pretty easy but sweating brass to copper is harder imo. The shower fittings are usually not copper.
Posted on 8/1/24 at 8:06 pm to tadman
Sweating pipe is very easy. Clean it, flux it, heat it then apply the solder and let it flow into the joint. Very easy.
This post was edited on 8/1/24 at 8:07 pm
Posted on 8/1/24 at 8:17 pm to tadman
I did an a/c compressor the other day. We coolin 
Posted on 8/1/24 at 10:16 pm to tadman
Don't pex a shower connection. It needs to be sweated, if you're not comfortable trying that then hire someone.
Pex is good for most applications, this isn't one of them.
Pex is good for most applications, this isn't one of them.
Posted on 8/1/24 at 11:25 pm to BoogaBear
quote:
Pex is good for most applications, this isn't one of them.
PEX is perfectly fine here if it's the right system. I've done numerous installations with PEX but I also have a powered expander and understand the do's and don'ts with F1960 fittings.
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