Mapp Oxygen soldering

[Cruiser804]

Anyone out there done this? I am replacing a soak tub faucet and for some reason the one my wife wanted only came with sweatable fittings. (The Mexican unit comes with threading fitting. Go figure?)

Anyway I have access to the plumbing through an opening in a large closet next to the tub. I was told that lead free soilder requires more or at least the copper needs to heat quicker to avoid burning off the flux. So I plan to use a Mapp/Oxygen torch I bought from Sears. It has an adjustable flame suitiable for the application.

My question/conern is that I am working is fairly close quarters and of course there is PVC pipe and wood framing in the work area. I am concern about starting a fire or melting the PVC. More the fire thing really. I sorta fill is should be fine. Anything precautions I should take?

I mocked the damn thing up and it will be sweet once its working.

Thanks

My

 

[e9999]

don't plumbers use some sort of shielding pad to put behind the lines when using a torch...? (don't use asbestos.. )

 

[gladly]

sheet metal between the wood/pvc and the flame, even a cookie sheet or pizza pan. also keep a fire extinguisher, and some water handy, maybe even soak down the wood before starting, pay attention to what you're doing, and it'll be fine.

 

[Doug_S]

I had the same issue when I had to replace a burst pipe on the exterior of the house. I used a soldering protection pad that, IIRC, I bought at Home Depot or Lowes. It worked great but got a bit charred in the process. It's still good for more jobs, though. I hope this helps.

 

[rusty_tlc]

You don't need mapp gas to solder copper pipe with lead free solder. Plain old propane works fine.

 

[Pin_Head]

Although MAPP gas will heat the pipe faster, you have to be careful with it as you can heat it too hot and burn the flux off and oxidize the pipe and the solder won't flow properly. Propane will work just fine.

 

[Pytbool]

I like MAPP better than propane, it heats up faster. I just did over 50 joints in the bathroom, not one leak. I've looked up propane on the net and a lot of DIYers seem to have trouble with lack of heat, sounds like. A couple things I read said people were cooking out the flux with propane, so who knows. Make sure you sand the inside and outside of each joint down to shiny fresh metal and use plenty of flux. Heat on one side, solder touching copper on the other side (out of the flame). Open the valve so the heat can go somewhere and you don't burn its seals.