I'm trying to solder some electric wire to a .5 inch piece of copper pipe, and the solder is sticking to the wire ok, but not to the pipe. Could someone tell me how to do it please?
2007-12-20 06:47:57 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
First things first. DO NOT USE a PIPE for a GROUND in a building. It is not a legal electrical ground.
Other than that they are right, you need more heat and flux is almost certainly needed to solder to pipe unless you have very fresh copper. You can clean the area with sandpaper to get clean copper exposed.
2007-12-20 11:49:03 · answer #1 · answered by Charles C 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like you have not prepared the surfaces properly and are not getting enough heat to the pipe. Clean the pipe with fine emory cloth and use a paste flux. The materials you are soldering must be hot enough to melt the solder. Do you know what type of solder you are using? If it's for anything electrical do NOT use any acid based materials. If it is for a structural part use 50-50 for best results.
2007-12-20 15:12:15 · answer #2 · answered by Johneye 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Soldering something to pipe requires a lot of intense heat. Plumbers use torches to generate the heat necessary. They also use what's called a flux paste that contains acid to clean the soldered surface, and other ingredients help the solder melt and flow properly.
You'll never generate enough heat to get the solder to melt on the pipe with a soldering iron. You need to use a torch.
If you're doing this for electrical conductivity (like for a ground or something), use a pipe clamp that includes a screw for attaching a wire. You can get it in the electrical department at a home improvement store.
2007-12-20 14:55:47 · answer #3 · answered by Paul in San Diego 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Polish the copper until it is bright, use acid-core solder and heat the pipe until the solder will melt when you touch it to the copper. Apply the wire and the solder to the hot pipe.
Bert
2007-12-20 14:56:45 · answer #4 · answered by Bert C 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
score the copper pipe preferably with a scoring tool
dont make too deep a score just the area the solder will
go on to,it will give the solder something to grip into and
set properly a copper pipe is smooth and so is the solder when it sets on something smooth
2007-12-20 14:56:41 · answer #5 · answered by infobod2nd 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
if the pipe you are trying to solder has water in it you will never heat it enough. like Paul says if you are using the pipe as a ground use a mechanical connector.
2007-12-20 16:21:43 · answer #6 · answered by doug c 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋