I have done a lot of plumbing with hard copper pipe.
But I am running a new line and it would be much less repair work on the walls if I could use soft copper tubing.
Does it match up with standard copper fittings and can it be soldered like copper pipe?
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Assume you are talking type K?
Yes.
There are some other wierd size out there I've gotton at surplus places, could squeeze the OD down in a flare tool vise and then solder in std fittings. .
Until you get to small tubing sizes, yes, soft copper is the same OD as hard copper. It uses the same fittings.
The tricky part is keeping it round. Plan your layout so you aren't making a joint in the middle of a bend. Bends kink the pipe a bit. You want a nice round, unbent length of pipe to sweat a joint.
Then sand, brush, flux and sweat. Just like hard copper pipe.
Then sand, brush, flux and sweat
What's the diference between the brush and the flux?
being concerned I'm missing something
'Nemo me impune lacesset'No one will provoke me with impunity
"What's the difference between the brush and the flux?"
The brush is the stiff-wired version of a bottle brush used to scour off the oxidation from the inside of a fitting. Flux is a acid paste (often applied with a metal-handled brush that costs about $0.08) that also removes oxidation and helps the solder flow better.
The label on the brush claims it is so good, you don't need to use flux.
The label on the flux cliams it is so good, you don't need to use a brush.
Real plumbers (who get less than one leak per 500 joints) use both.
If you get a leak once in ten houses, you're good.
If you get more than a one leak in a one house, examine your technique!David Thomas Overlooking Cook Inlet in Kenai, Alaska
Thanks Dave,
I got to thinking later that was what you were talking about but at the time somehow I couldn't put it together.
On the subject of the application of the flux, is there a particular type of brush experienced plumbers use that is so much better than the brush applicators one might find at a bigbox?
Those several inch long metal handled ones are so cheaply made you have to keep your eye on them all the time as even new ones can start leaving a brush hair in the flux on the fitting.
Also, if I may trouble anyone for opinion, I recall an earlier thread mentioning the necessity of washing away any extra leftover flux residue from a soldered fitting as the caustic nature of the flux can eat away at the copper over time. I had never heard of that before.
Is this from a specific type of flux or would it also be necessary from the more common manufacturered as Oatey No.95 or a water soluble like Sterling?
'Nemo me impune lacesset'No one will provoke me with impunity
"I recall an earlier thread mentioning the necessity of washing away any extra leftover flux residue from a soldered fitting as the caustic nature of the flux can eat away at the copper over time. I had never heard of that before."We had a woman posted here about 4 or 5 years ago. Copper pipes were leaking. She'd witnessed the plumber's, er, "technique". He'd dip the pipe in the flux and, glob of flux still attached, would sweat the joint. Like a teaspoon or more in some joints.David Thomas Overlooking Cook Inlet in Kenai, Alaska
I still have somewhere a set of anti-kink benders for soft copper pipe. They look like screen door springs, in a variety of sizes, with one end flared to make insertion easier. You slide them over the pipe, bend it just a tad bit too far, then back off to release the friction between the tube and bender.
-- J.S.
Benders like in the pix are also available, the pix is for small stuff, bigger ones look like conduit benders but with the backing shoe.
There are some mighty fancy benders out there, some can bend Ti and 6061-t6 almost as tight as the dia of the tube. Saw a 3" piece of Ti tube the other day bend really clean on a 4 inch radius!
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Edited 11/23/2005 4:22 pm ET by junkhound
Thanks all.I really don't need to "bend it".It is about a 5 ft straith line. But to get a hard pipe in there I would have to open almost the whole bay. I just need to flex it enough to get it in. In fact I will probably leave it curled up as it comes from the hardware store and then straith it as I put it in the wall.