Best plumbing solder?

Submitted by Dorammu t3_ybx337 in DIY

I’m trying to cap off some old plumbing and close up a wall, I thought plumbing solder/silver solder would be the easiest path.

Where I am the plumbing shops/contractors use brazing today which melt at around 1400F, but I wonder what that’s doing to my copper pipe getting it that hot…

YouTube videos show me people using stuff that melts at a lot lower temps (400F), but is this strong enough?

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A_Plumber2020 t1_itju48u wrote

Just use soft solder and Flux. It takes much lower temps (you can even use a propane torch). Typically silver solder is only necessary for connections that are going to be in a concrete slab or for industrial applications that use high temperatures. And you can pick up a small roll of solder at any hardware store or home improvement center

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Dorammu OP t1_itoxajw wrote

Awesome. Definitely not crazy high temps. Why’s that with concrete slabs? Is it in case of movement or something? Sorry for the radio silence, this is work at my MILs and I was there until midnight last night trying to get it done…

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A_Plumber2020 t1_itpn6ej wrote

It is necessary because the expansion and contraction of concrete will cause soft solder to separate over time

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ness1616 t1_ittk5eh wrote

Soft solder on potable water joints are banned in Australia because it contains lead

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A_Plumber2020 t1_itud5mt wrote

They dont make lead based solder here in the states anymore. It's mostly silver, tin and antimony. It's still soft solder on a roll though it doesn't flow as easily as the old lead based solder.

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sloppyrock t1_itj6201 wrote

Plumbers I have used used silver solder with an oxy torch. Presumably you need to be judicious with its use so you dont slag the copper pipe.

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sanemartigan t1_itj8wmz wrote

Go hard on the flux too.

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nolotusnote t1_itjfa70 wrote

Slather that flux.

And know that the solder will flow to the flame source.

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Dorammu OP t1_itoxeer wrote

Yeah that’s a good tip for silver solder and/or plumbing solder. It should flow to the heat source.

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Dorammu OP t1_itoxi4h wrote

Why do you say that? All the YouTube guys I’ve seen say the opposite, to use it sparingly. They’ve not said why, just that you don’t need much.

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Reacti0n7 t1_itlnq96 wrote

I would recommend Oatey 95 tinning flux and just some plumbing solder. You can get by with Propane or Map Gas (yellow bottle - hotter).

If you are worried about the wall, they also make flame retardant cloth - that do a good job of shielding heat.

Keep a spray bottle of water handy as well, if something would happen to get too hot.

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Dorammu OP t1_itox6d7 wrote

This was the answer I was hoping for, my propane torch didn’t seem to be hot enough to melt the silver solder I got first, and I don’t have easy access to oxy/acetylene and don’t want to buy a new torch. Not sure why all of the plumbers here don’t use solder, but mostly it’s o-ring fittings these days.

Thanks for the tips! Fingers crossed my joins are good…

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