Soldering copper pipes with a torch with your own hands: paste, solder. Soldering copper pipes: technological features and work progress How to solder copper pipes for heating

Why are there any copper pipes in modern life, and even with soldering? Solid relics of the past, when there are cool synthetic substitutes, gluing technologies and much more. Well, these kinds of questions can and do arise in many heads. We answer.

Copper things are a wonderful phenomenon in our technical life, they are eternal pipes in the house, which are worth reading our article and come to grips with arranging, for example, your home. - a process with features that you need to know, which is quite within the power of everyone who is interested in it.

Everything is very simple: you need it where they are used - in plumbing systems and air cooling systems - modern air conditioners. It is used for mounting or repairing copper parts and workpieces.

This technology is quite capable of home amateurs, and the result is characterized by exceptional reliability and amazing durability.

We will not hide, the cost of copper products is not the lowest, but all costs are fully paid off. They can be used to build a heating system, a water supply system, and a cooling system: everything where strong pipes are needed.

Gas burner device.

Of course, things made of copper can be boiled. But the most optimal method of connecting them has long been soldering. The essence of the process is simple, like laundry soap: the blanks are held together by a special molten filler called solder.

The solder is melted by means of high temperature. After the joint is filled with solder, it begins to cool quickly, thereby forming a strong joint with airtight properties.

Another significant advantage of this connection method is the ability to easily separate the parts, if needed for any reason. To do this, you just need to reheat the solder to its melting point.

What you need to have to solder copper

No expensive copper soldering equipment or special consumables are needed, everything is very simple.

To solder copper pipes for home use, you will need the following:

Heating element in the form of a gas burner for heating and melting the solder.
The most commonly used propane gas is regulated pressure. You can use a more powerful soldering iron or a construction hair dryer with decent power.
Special cutter for copper products.
Copper is a very soft metal, so you need to cut it with tenderness because of the risk of crushing the walls. Such cutters are called pipe cutters, they are of a huge variety - for every taste. There are a wide variety of models on the market, including devices for cutting in the most difficult-to-reach places.
Solder fittings if bends of unannealed tubing are expected.
A pipe expander is also a special device to enlarge the diameter of a copper pipe before heating, if necessary.
This possibility is extremely important when products with dimensions that are slightly different in size are joined.
The so-called "bevelling device" is a device where the name speaks for itself.
It's about chamfering from the end sides of the tubes. The fact is that after cutting, metal burrs can form at the ends. They are not at all harmless, but on the contrary, they will not allow to form a strong and beautiful butt joint. Bevellers are of two types: pencil-shaped or round in shape. Round is preferable and more convenient to use: they can be used to remove burrs from soft copper products with a diameter of up to 36 mm.
Brushes and brushes with steel bristles for preparing copper parts: removing dirt and oxide film.
Consumable material for the solder itself.
Solders for brazing copper pipes can be of two types of wire: copper wire with a high melting point, which contains a small proportion of 6% phosphorus. The second option is tin wire, whose melting point is much lower - about 350 ° C.
Pastes and special flux mixtures to protect metal from the formation of defects in the form of air bubbles and better adhesion between the copper of parts and the solder.

Additional things to the basic tools for brazing copper pipes will be non-specific tools:

measuring tape or tape measure;
building level;
marker and brush;
hammer.

Before starting pipe soldering, it is necessary to solve a fundamental technological question: what kind of solder will be soldered? Copper wire hard solder, which is more commonly used in air conditioners and refrigerators?

Or use tin wire that works great with heating pipes or plumbing?

Now Technology: Nine Steps and Some Tips

Brazing technology for copper pipes is not complicated at all.

Here are the steps you can divide the process into:

Cutting and Sewing: Cut the metal to length with a pipe cutter.
Make the cutting area even, keep the cutter perpendicular to the surface.
Cleaning workpieces with a wire brush, removing burrs from the ends.
Emery cloth should not be used at this stage due to the risk of the formation of fine sand, which will interfere with the adhesion of the drink.
Expansion of the edge of one of the pipes so that the end of the other pipe fits easily into the first with minimal clearance.
Thorough cleaning of the ends with a wire brush after expansion.
Application of the flux mixture to the end of the pipe in the most uniform thin layer.
Insert the ends of the pipes into each other, warm up thoroughly until the color of the flux on the pipe turns silver.
Solder is brought to the joint, which immediately melts and fills the joint gap between the pipes.
The process ends when the gap is filled with solder.
After warming up, the sealed pipe must be allowed to cool down thoroughly - in no case should it be touched at this time.
Wipe clean, remove flux residues.

Pipe connection method.

Copper tubes using solder are based on a physical phenomenon - the capillary effect. The fact is that the molten solder fills the gap between the pipes due to the forces of surface tension. After solidification, the solder in the gap turns into a strong monolithic seam.

If suddenly a defect occurs in the form of a fistula or damage to the joint, the product can be quickly and easily repaired. To do this, it is enough to heat it up and dismantle it. After removing defects, reheat and re-solder.

Pure butt joints of copper products cannot be made - they are not viable, and you will surely have a flood - all the soldering will collapse. It is better to make couplings by expanding the end of one of the pipes.

Now about bending. Only soft annealed pipes can be bent using a pipe bender. If not annealed, braze copper fittings are used. The angle can be 90 ° or less.

Pros and cons of brazing copper pipes

To begin with, let's remember that copper is a metal with a high melting point and generally quite capricious, with its own character. From our point of view, this feature has both pros and cons for working with it.

A definite plus lies in the possibility of a continuous heating process and due to the ability of copper to hold and retain heat, even if there is a break in heating.

A serious plus is the availability of consumables and equipment. There is no need to purchase anything specially, all the necessary things are usually available in any home workshop.

An unambiguous minus is a high degree of heat dissipation, which is why heating is needed "with a margin".

Another technological disadvantage is the heating of the entire product along with the attachment points. Because of this, you need to work with gloves and with great care.

Expendable materials

The procedure for soldering copper pipes.

What is required for soldering:

Salicylic acid flux.
The chemical composition of fluxes for brazing copper pipes is quite complex: it contains alcohol, petroleum jelly, and even a little bit of gold. Its use results in excellent quality seams.
A group of phosphorus-based solvents.
They perfectly clean the parts from oxides and additionally displace unnecessary water from the soldering point.
Rosin.
It is practically not used in its pure form. In mixtures, it is perfectly combined with sodium salts: if the molten rosin covers the soldering surface with a film, then the sodium salt plays the role of an antioxidant. There is also a drawback: the mixture does not like heating.
Homemade Aspirin Mix.
You can make the mixture yourself: we take petroleum jelly, alcohol, aspirin tablets are the basis. Such a mixture is not particularly effective. You can only work with it on electrical assignments.
Soldering paste for copper pipes.
This flux paste for soldering copper is more expensive, but the game is worth it. It is used in important tasks. The paste adheres perfectly to the work surface, spreads in a thin layer when heated - a great option.
for brazing copper pipes.
The choice of the type of solder depends on what exactly you are going to solder. If the main criteria are strength and resistance to high temperatures, you need to choose a solder from copper wire with a proportion of phosphorus. The most popular and affordable is the soft solder - tin. It is suitable for all plumbing systems. This also includes fittings for copper pipes for soldering.

Soldering with a gas torch

First, let's deal with the low-temperature method. For copper pipes with soft solder, heating occurs gradually and for a rather long time, the solder melts from the heated part. You can use either a torch or a hair dryer with a soldering iron. Propane or butane are used as gases. Everything is familiar, nothing special and new.

High-temperature brazing of copper occurs when heated to 650 ° C and above. Here you will not do with a hairdryer or a soldering iron, you will need a gas burner using a mixture of acetylene and oxygen. It is important to remember here that you will get simultaneous heating of the solder and the seam.

Solder melts instantly - with one touch and immediately fills the gap. Let it cool in the most natural way, no dousing with water.

At the end of the brazing of the copper pipe, remove the remnants of the flux mixture, wipe it with a cloth. We make a final inspection for possible defects.

The use of pipes made of copper and its alloys no longer looks like something unusual in the arrangement of modern heating systems: in this way, water and gas pipelines, modern air conditioning systems and refrigeration units of various types are increasingly equipped. When carrying out installation work, it is important to know how to properly solder copper pipes.

How copper pipes are connected

When forming permanent joints from products of this type, soldering is mainly used. This long-known method of joining copper products is realized by saturating the contact zone with a special melted adhesive solution - solder.

When studying how to solder copper pipes, it is important to remember that for a reliable welding contact, the melting point of the solder should only be slightly inferior to that of the pipes being connected. When soldering a copper pipeline yourself, it is important to be especially careful. It is best to study well the technology of how to weld copper pipes before this.

Advantages of the welded method of connecting copper pipes

Copper welded joints have received many positive reviews regarding their reliability, which makes them even more popular.

Among the most significant positive qualities of copper soldering are the following:

Welded copper products are very strong and durable.
Copper is one of the easiest and most affordable materials to process.
The welding contact has a very significant scope for choosing the most suitable conditions - the so-called. "Welding mode adjustment".
Soldering the connection without the need for standard adapters and fittings. Thus, significant savings in finances are achieved when organizing a heating system.

What kind of soldering is, and what tool is needed

Carrying out special operations for welding pipes of different sections, the following temperature conditions are mainly used:

High temperature... Provides thermal heating of the melting area up to +900 degrees. Usually, workpieces under constant loads are soldered in this way.
Low temperature... This mode is especially suitable for home use. The operating temperature along the contact line usually does not exceed +450 degrees in this case.

In order for the process of connecting pipes by soldering to be as comfortable as possible, for this you will need the following tool:

A special grip-pipe cutter, to obtain an even cut of the pipe at the place of its future docking.
Equipment for chamfering and deburring.
A special expansion device, with the help of which the docking site of the required depth is prepared. This indicator is usually correlated with the diameter of the abutting pipes.
Welding machine or gas torch. They serve as a tool for brazing copper pipes.
A thermal hair dryer that quickly heats up the joining areas up to +650 degrees. It is used in cases where the work is carried out with low-melting solder. This welding and heating device makes it possible to achieve simple observance of the required temperature regime at the soldering point, with the possibility of maintaining it within the required limits. As a rule, the set of the device includes replaceable nozzles, which make it possible to direct hot air strictly to the desired section of the pipeline.

Solders for soldering at home

This name is used to refer to solders with a high level of refractoriness. Outwardly, they look like long rods with an arbitrary profile, which is very convenient when the metal is heated directly in the soldering area to a temperature of +900 degrees.

As for the so-called. "Soft" solders, then they are used for low-temperature processing of copper products at home. Most often they look like very thin wires made on the basis of tin, lead, zinc and their alloys. This form of solder is very convenient when deciding how to solder copper pipes at home.

How to properly solder using flux

In order to solder copper pipes yourself, it is important to make this process as simple as possible. Especially for this, the use of special pasty or liquid substances called fluxes is practiced.

With the help of these chemicals, the following goals can be achieved:

Before welding the copper tube, harmful oxides and other substances that interfere with the quality of the connection are removed from the soldering zone.
The work area receives additional protection from oxygen exposure, which is usually abundant in the environment. This prevents the substances used for soldering from entering into chemical reactions that are unnecessary in this case.
Fluxes are very convenient for creating the most suitable conditions, allowing the solder to be distributed as evenly as possible over the entire joint area. As a result, the copper connection receives the necessary resistance to thermal and vibration effects, which protects it from the appearance of gaps and leaks.
The degree of adhesion of the copper pipe and solder, due to the components contained in the flux, reaches the required quality level. This is especially important if the line is experiencing rupture effects.

Compliance with the required temperature during operation allows the heated solder to uniformly cover all parts of the workpieces to be joined, which ensures the required degree of reliability for the connection. When the soldering zone has cooled down, it is cleaned of all excess solder.

When a person takes up the arrangement of his own home, then naturally he tries to do everything at the highest level. At the same time, there are only two ways to implement the conceived ideas: to do the work with the help of involved professionals, or to do everything exceptional yourself. Moreover, the second option is not only an attempt to save money on the services of specialists. There are people who believe, it should be noted, often very rightly, that only a person can do the job ideally with his own hand. And even if the principle "I do everything myself" is dictated solely by financial considerations, then there is nothing wrong with that. Moreover, people who undertake complex and high-tech work are respected. Brazing copper pipes can be considered as an example. One has only to add that the relevance of such a topic is dictated by the great popularity of copper pipelines when installing plumbing or heating systems.

A little theory before starting work

To begin with, it is worth noting that the opinion about the prohibitive high cost of copper piping for the average homeowner is highly exaggerated. Yes, copper communications cannot be called a budget option when compared with PVC pipes, but on the other hand, if we consider the strength characteristics and reliability of connections, then the comparison will definitely be in favor of copper.

So, we are interested in the connection of copper pipes when installing, say, a water supply system from the point of view of independent execution. Before getting to work, there are a few important things to understand:

The vast majority of pipes are 3/8 "and 3/4" in diameter.
The nominal diameter is in any situation 3.2 mm less than the outside diameter.
Copper pipes with walls of various thicknesses can be used in the work, which is indicated by the corresponding indices: K, L, M. In addition, there is a division of these products into hard and soft.

We hasten to assure you that you won't have to buy something extraordinary and expensive.

The technology of brazing copper pipes in a standard version implies the use of elements that can be easily found in your own stocks. Well, in case of emergency, you will have to visit the nearest plumbing store. So, in order to perform the correct installation of copper pipes with your own hands, you need to prepare:

Solder - exists in the form of special rods or wires. Its melting point is lower than that of copper, which allows it to be used for connecting copper pipes by heating.
Steel brush - the functional purpose is to clean the pipes from the outside, and the fittings from the inside in preparation for soldering. Alternatively, a fine-grained abrasive cloth can be used, but in this case the process will be more labor intensive.
Soldering flux - Coating pipes and fittings in preparation for soldering.
Brush - applying flux paste.
Sanding - surface cleaning.
Small steam propane torch with welding changeover mechanism. It is used to heat pipes and fittings during the joining process.
Heat resistant gasket.
Copper pipe.
Fitting.

The most specific item of the above list is the gas burner. The modern market offers them in various variations: simple, with piezo ignition, for different types of gas cartridges.

Brazing copper pipes is an alternative pipe joining method that provides a high seam strength. The additives are BCuP or BAg brazed alloys. It is they who ensure the reliability of the soldered connection. But according to SNiP, such a solder is required first of all when repairing refrigeration equipment or air conditioners, and for communications it is enough to use soft solder, for example, tin.

The work will be done as efficiently as possible if there is an inexpensive, for example, Polish-made, burner at hand, but with piezo ignition. Buying a branded model without this feature is a mistake.

Soft Soldering Algorithm

The inside of the joint is cleaned with a brush. Then, with a sandpaper, the outer surface is brought to a beautiful copper shine. After that, a brush is applied to the flux paste both outside and inside the joints, which are then inserted into each other.

Solder is carried out along the edges of the joints. In this case, there is no need for processing with solder along the entire perimeter of the joint, if tin solder is in operation, then it is enough to process it, only half of the perimeter. Tin tends to be absorbed into the compound.

Possible soldering errors:

Before properly soldering copper pipes, you need to clearly understand that the flame temperature of the burner reaches 1000 ° C. It is important not to overexpose the compounds in the epicenter of the flame. It takes 15-20 seconds to warm up.
Do not forget about protecting objects from heat in the place where soldering is performed. Particular emphasis should be placed on the removal of flammable and flammable substances.
The importance of ensuring adequate ventilation in the work area is often underestimated. Windows and doors should be open, if necessary, you can turn on the fan.

How else can you connect copper elements?

An alternative to the classic brazing is the connection of copper pipes with fittings, which can be of two types:

Crimp - made of brass. There is a compression ring inside such a fitting, which ensures the tightness of the connection.
Capillary brazing - differ in the inner diameter from the external indicator by 0.1-0.15 mm.

The use of a fitting method for connecting copper pipes later can provide additional benefits, namely the possibility of complete recuperation. That is, the replaced copper elements can be reused under certain conditions.

Safety first

The installation of copper pipes cannot be performed when arranging a kitchen, that is, to meet drinking needs. When copper comes into contact with chlorine contained in tap water, compounds harmful to the body are formed. If we are talking about such a source of water supply as a well, then there are absolutely no restrictions.

The end result of brazing copper pipes is a tight, beautiful seam, but its reliability needs to be checked. If the soldering was carried out within the framework of the plumbing system, then it just needs to be filled with water, creating the maximum working pressure. In this case, there is no need to rush, it is necessary to allow the seam to cool completely, otherwise it will simply crack from a sharp temperature drop.

Soldering copper pipes with hard and soft solder - installation technology

Everything about how to properly solder copper pipes - installation technology using soft and hard solder. And also, safety technology and some other ways of connecting pipes.

How to solder copper pipes

Fully plumbing or copper heating is rarely done today, but still they do it. If you count the number of years that copper can serve, it turns out not only inexpensively, but very cheap. Nevertheless, the material itself is not the cheapest, but you can save on installation - brazing copper pipes is not the most difficult task in the world. There are certain rules and features, knowing which you can achieve a high-quality connection.

Types of copper pipes and their uses

There are two types of copper pipes on the market: annealed and unannealed. After being annealed, they undergo additional heat treatment - they are heated to 600-700 ° C. This procedure restores elasticity to the material, which is lost during molding. Therefore, annealed pipes are more expensive, but also more flexible - they can even endure freezing of water. The disadvantages of these products include lower strength - it decreases due to heating.

There are different copper pipes

Unannealed copper pipes are more durable, but practically not bend. When distributing water supply or heating, they are cut into pieces, and all taps are made using appropriate fittings.

There are copper pipes with different wall thicknesses; they are sold annealed in bays of 25 and 50 meters, unannealed in runs of 3 meters. If we talk about the purity of the material, then according to GOST 859-2001, at least 99% copper must be present in the products.

Connection methods

Most often, copper pipes are connected using soldering and a set of special shaped elements - fittings. There are also fittings for pressure testing. They have grooves with a rubber O-ring fitted. They are crimped with special pliers. But this technology is used infrequently - soldering is considered more reliable.

Crimp fittings

There are two technologies for brazing copper pipes using different solders:

Low temperature - soft solder. This is just our case. This type of connection is used for laying water pipes and heating systems with a working medium temperature of up to 110 ° C. Low temperature is a relative term. In the brazing zone, materials are heated up to 250-300 ° C.
High temperature brazing. This type of connection is used in networks with high pressure and temperature of the transported medium. In household networks - rarely (although no one forbids it), more often in industrial ones.

What type of brazing copper pipes to use is your choice. Both types are suitable for both plumbing and heating. But the high temperature one requires a professional torch, while the soft solder can be melted even with a blowtorch or an inexpensive hand torch with a small disposable gas can. For the connection of small diameter copper pipes, more is not required.

Types of copper solder fittings

In general, there are more than two dozen different shaped elements for copper pipes - fittings, but three types are most often used:

couplings - for connecting two pipes;
corners - for turning;
tees - to create branches in the pipeline.

Couplings for brazing copper pipes

The number of fittings used can be minimized - copper can be bent, which reduces the number of required corners. Also, if desired, you can do without couplings: one end of the pipes can be expanded (using an expander) so that the pipe goes into it and there is a gap for solder to get there (about 0.2 mm). When creating an extension, the pipes should overlap by at least 5 mm, but better - more.

What is difficult to do without is without tees. There is equipment for tapping in a bend - a beveler, but it belongs to the professional and costs a lot. So in this case it is cheaper and easier to get by with tees.

There are brazing fittings for brazed copper pipes

There are two types of fittings - conventional, with sockets that provide the required clearance for the solder to flow. Solder is fed into the welding area manually. There are fittings with embedded solder. Then a groove is formed on the socket, into which, during production, a piece of solder is installed, which makes the soldering process easier - you just need to heat the welding zone, but it leads to an increase in the cost of fittings.

Consumables and tools

In addition to pipes and fittings, you will also need a torch, solder and flux - for the soldering itself. And also a pipe bender and a few related little things for processing before starting work.

Brush for cleaning fittings from the inside

Solder and flux

Brazing of copper pipes of any type occurs using flux and solder. Solder is an alloy usually based on tin with a certain melting point, but always lower than that of copper. It is fed into the soldering zone, heats up to a liquid state and flows into the joint. After cooling, it provides a tight and durable connection.

For amateur soldering of copper pipes with their own hands, solders based on tin with the addition of silver, bismuth, antimony, copper are suitable. Compositions with the addition of silver are considered the best, but they are the most expensive, the optimal ones are with a copper addition. There are also lead additives, but they should not be used for plumbing. All these types of solder provide good weld quality and easy soldering.

Flux and solder are required consumables

Soft solder is sold in small spools, hard solder in bundles, cut into pieces.

Before the start of soldering, the joint is treated with flux. A flux is a liquid or pasty agent that allows molten solder to flow into the joint. There is nothing to choose from here: any flux for copper will do. Also, you need a small brush to apply the flux. Better - with natural bristles.

For soft solder applications, you can buy a small hand torch with a disposable gas can. These cylinders are attached to the handle and have a volume of 200 ml or more. Despite its diminutive size, the flame temperature is from 1100 ° C and higher, which is more than enough to melt the soft solder.

What you should pay attention to is the presence of a piezo ignition. This function is not superfluous - it will be easier to work with. There is a valve on the handle of the manual gas burner. It regulates the flame length (gas flow rate). The same valve turns off the gas if the burner needs to be extinguished. Safety is provided by a check valve, which, in the absence of a flame, will shut off the gas supply.

Hand torch for brazing copper pipes

Some models are equipped with a flame deflector. It prevents the flame from scattering, creating a higher temperature in the soldering zone. Thanks to this, the burner with a reflector allows you to work in the most inconvenient places.

When working in household and semi-professional models, you need to be careful - do not overheat the unit so that the plastic does not melt. Therefore, it is not worth performing many rations at a time - it is better to let the equipment cool down and prepare the next connection at this time.

Related materials

To cut copper pipes, you need a pipe cutter or a hacksaw with a metal blade. The cut must be strictly vertical, which ensures the pipe cutter. And to guarantee a smooth cut with a hacksaw, you can use a regular carpentry miter box.

When preparing pipes, they must be cleaned. For this, there are special metal brushes and brushes (for cleaning the inner surface), but you can get by with sandpaper with medium and fine grain.

To remove burrs from cuts, there are chamfering tools. The pipe worked out by them fits better into the fitting - its socket is only a fraction of a millimeter larger than the outer diameter. So the slightest deviation leads to difficulties. But, in principle, everything can be eliminated with sandpaper. It will only take more time.

It is also advisable to have safety glasses and gloves. Most do-it-yourselfers neglect these safety measures, but burns are very frustrating. These are all the materials and tools needed to solder copper pipes.

Step-by-step copper soldering technology

Brazing copper pipes begins with the preparation of the joint. The reliability of the connection depends on the quality of preparation, therefore, devote enough time and effort to this process.

Brazing copper pipes consists of several stages

Preparing the connection

As already mentioned, the cut of the pipe should be strictly vertical, without burrs, the pipe should not be jammed, the edge should be even and smooth. If there are even small deviations, we take a beveller or sandpaper and bring the cut to the ideal.

It is necessary to remove the oxidized layer

Next, take the fitting, insert the pipe into it. the part that goes into the socket needs cleaning. We take out the pipe and use the sandpaper to remove the upper oxidized layer from this part of the pipe. Then we carry out the same operation with the inner surface of the bell.

Flux application

The flux is applied to the entire cleaned surface - outside the pipe and inside the fitting. There are no difficulties - the composition is evenly distributed with a brush.

The processed pipeline fragments are inserted into one another and fixed. If there is an assistant, he can hold the parts motionless. If not, you will have to contrive yourself. Next, the burner is ignited, the flame is directed to the junction. The flame temperature is from a thousand degrees and above, and it is necessary to heat the junction to 250-300 ° C, and this takes 15-25 seconds. At the same time, you can focus on the color of the flux - as soon as it darkens, it's time to inject the solder.

The correct location of the burner when soldering copper pipes with your own hands

To ensure uniform heating, direct the burner flame in the middle of the joint. Then the entire welding zone is warmed up more evenly.

Soldering copper pipes

The solder is injected into the joint - where the fitting and the pipe join. As it heats up, it begins to melt, spreads and fills the gap between the elements. It can be applied only half the length - when it melts, it will flow into the rest of the connection. Actually, that's all - the brazing of copper pipes is over. All other connections do the same.

When using hard solder, everything is almost the same, only other burns are used - gas-flame ones, and during the soldering process it is necessary to turn the pipe, winding the softened solder onto the pipe.

Brazing copper pipes: technology, equipment, features

Soldering copper pipes yourself is not the easiest, but also not very difficult task. By knowing certain points, you can achieve a good connection.

Diy soldering instructions for copper pipes

Have you decided to use copper pipes in the arrangement of the water supply system? Looking to create an interesting steampunk style in your bathroom but don't know how to solder copper pipes? Guidelines for performing work for beginners are offered in the material below.

Copper, although it has a high cost, unlike polymers, is still a high-quality material for the device of water supply communication. The advantages of copper include high strength, aesthetic appeal, corrosion resistance, high pressure capability and excellent thermal conductivity. The copper pipeline will work faithfully for more than a dozen years.

A little about copper

Copper is a soft metal alloy, which in ancient times was used with pleasure by chasers for their work. Today copper is no less in demand. Pipes made of such an alloy are an integral part of heating and air conditioning systems. Plumbing can also be arranged using copper elements.

For the installation of the line, the soldering method is used, in the process of which the copper elements are connected to the solder. This soft metal material melts when exposed to specific temperatures to form a single sealed joint.

Important: soldering copper pipes with your own hands is not a difficult task. The main thing is to choose the right solder and determine the soldering temperature. At the same time, it is worth knowing that, at its high cost, copper pipes do not require additional connecting elements. That is, copper can be connected into a single line and at the same time save on the purchase of fittings, couplings, etc.

Brazing methods for copper pipes

Soldering copper pipes with your own hands can be carried out in two ways:

Low temperature method. Most commonly used at home. Here soldering takes place using soft solder from tin, lead or their alloys with the addition of silver. The soldering temperature can reach a maximum of 450 degrees during work.
High temperature method. It is also called brazing copper pipes. In this case, in order to melt the solder and achieve the connection of the line elements, it is necessary to reach the heating temperature of the burner in the range of 600-900 degrees.

Tools required to complete the work

In order to competently solder the copper pipes of the water supply system, you need to stock up on the following set of tools:

Pipe cutter. It is necessary for perfectly smooth cutting of pipe sections before brazing. Thanks to such a tool, the inner lumen of the pipe and its circumference are not disturbed during cutting.
Beveller. It is used to clean the edge of the cut and round it inward of the pipe for high-quality joining of the water main from several pieces of pipe.
Pipe expander. It is used if the brazing of copper pipes of the water supply will be carried out without the use of fittings and couplings. The expander expands one end of the pipe to the desired diameter so that the cut of the other tube fits snugly into it.
Brush and brush for high-quality cleaning of soldered pipes from oxide.
Reflector. A working element that is attached to the burner nozzle so that the flame does not damage other nearby objects.
Gas-burner. It is she who supplies the flame to the section of the tube to be soldered.

Gas stove

In order to properly solder copper water pipes, you need to prepare the appropriate type of burner. They are divided into several types:

A device with a disposable cylinder for household use;
Burner with installed stationary cylinder;
Oxyacetylene torch suitable for brazing copper pipes. It is she who needs to be found to perform the work.

In turn, a torch for melting solder and brazing copper may differ in power. You need to choose depending on what kind of solder you will work with (soft or hard).

For soft soldering, you can take a low-power semi-professional torch with a hot air gun. Such a tool develops temperatures up to 650 degrees while burning a flame. A distinctive feature of such a device is that here it is possible to regulate the temperature of the flame supply, and at the same time it will remain preset-stable.
Brazing of copper pipes of a water supply system can be carried out only with professional burners.

To perform reliable soldering, you need to purchase solder. It comes in two types - hard and soft.

Brazing alloy is produced in the form of long rods. Such solder can be used for brazing pipes for hot water, gas supply, air conditioning, or for a line operating at high pressure. The soldering temperature of such solder reaches 900 degrees. The most common types of hard solder are considered to be copper-phosphorus self-fluxing alloy Cu94 P6 and alloy Cu92 P6 Ag2 with the addition of silver from phosphorus and copper.

Important: such a solid solder contains a 6% addition of phosphorus, which reduces the soldering temperature to 750 degrees.

Soft solder is produced in the form of a thin wire with a diameter of 2-3 mm. Such solder is used when soldering a water supply system with your own hands in everyday life.
There is also a special paste called flux. Issued in banks. It must be used for high-quality cleaning of pipe joints, removing oxide from the seam after soldering and improving the melting characteristics of the solder. In this case, the flux can be used both for soldering at high temperatures (over 450 degrees) and for soldering at low temperatures (up to 450 degrees).

Important: the flux contributes to better adhesion of the solder to the copper.

In addition to all the tools, solder and flux, it is also necessary to prepare fittings if there is a need to make turns and bends in the water main. All fittings have a regulated diameter and comply with GOST. The cost of fittings and adapters is quite affordable.

We carry out pipe soldering

The technology for soldering a copper line looks like this:

Cut off the required pipe sections with a pipe cutter and clean the edges with a chamfer.
If a fitting is used, then both its edges and the edges of the tube are qualitatively degreased. If the fitting is not used, then the edge of one pipe is expanded with a pipe expander.
Trying on the details for an overview of the evenness of the joints.
Now we process the edges of the tubes with a thin layer of flux from the side of the joints.

Important: if high-temperature brazing will be carried out using self-fluxing solder, then no flux is needed here.

Now we turn on the gas burner and qualitatively heat the pipes at the joints to the specified temperature.
After that, we put the solder in the places of the gaps. In this case, it is worth making sure that the solder melts strictly from the heated pipe, and not from the burner flame. Press the edges of the tubes carefully.
After the tubes have cooled down, remove the remnants of the flux and oxide from the copper surface with a cloth.

Important: it is worth knowing that the heating of the tube and the melting of the solder occur within 5 minutes. Therefore, it is important not to overheat the pipes.

Advice: if two pipe sections close to each other are soldered, then the already processed part of the line must be cooled with a rag soaked in cold water. Otherwise, there is a risk that the welded joint will disperse under the influence of high temperature when the next section of the pipe is heated.

Avoiding mistakes

When soldering copper tubes, novice craftsmen often make a number of common mistakes. These are:

Weak heating of the line elements, as a result of which the melting of the solder is incomplete. Such a connection will fail under any load.
Excessive overheating of the copper alloy, on the contrary, leads to the destruction of the flux layer. This, in turn, will lead to the formation of oxide and dross on the metal surface. This effect will also lead to the destruction of the connection.
Ignoring security measures. Since work is carried out with chemical elements and at high temperatures, protective gloves and a mask should be worn.
If you are going to check the connection, you should make sure that the tube has cooled down at the soldering point.
During the soldering procedure, it is worthwhile to ensure good ventilation of the room. This is required by the technology of work, since soldering is carried out using aggressive acidic substances.
Protective clothing made of coarse fabric will also not be superfluous, since there is a risk of sparks of flame and solder particles falling on the body, which can lead to burns.

Advice: if in doubt about the correctness of heating the pipes to the desired temperature, invite an experienced craftsman to get practice. A professional knows exactly how long copper heats up to certain temperatures.

Soldering copper pipes: how to do it yourself with hard solder

Description of methods for soldering copper pipes with your own hands. Necessary tools and possible mistakes. Soldering with solder, lamp and torch.

Soldering copper pipes with your own hands - instructions and video

The need to solder copper pipes, which is not difficult to accomplish, given all the features of this process, arises in situations when it is required to install or repair water supply and air conditioning systems where they are used. Soldering copper pipes with your own hands or by the forces of involved professionals is an excellent opportunity to create a water supply system in your house or apartment, which many experts call eternal.

Heating up the solder in the burner flame

The essence of the process

The pipeline created in this way, due to the use of copper pipes during its installation, is distinguished by high reliability and exceptional durability. Of course, such a system has a fairly high cost, but it is fully justified by the unique characteristics it possesses. What is important, copper pipes can be used both in plumbing and heating systems. And in fact, and in another case, they demonstrate the highest reliability and durability.

The simplest and most reliable way to install such systems is to braze copper pipes. This connection technology has been used for a long time, it is well studied and does not cause any particular problems in practical implementation. The essence of this method is that the joint between the parts to be joined is filled with a special compound called solder. In order for the solder for brazing copper pipes to enter and fill the joint between the parts, it is melted under the influence of high temperature. After the heating of the solder stops, and it has already completely filled the future seam, it solidifies, forming a reliable, sealed and durable connection.

Brazing copper is also convenient in that, if necessary, the connected elements of the pipeline can always be easily disconnected. To do this, it is enough to heat the joint to make the solder soft and pliable.

Copper pipe brazing process

What is needed for brazing copper pipes

Soldering copper pipes, which is not difficult to do with your own hands, does not require expensive equipment and any special materials. In order to correctly implement it, you will need the following tools.

A burner, due to which the solder and the pipe section will be heated, where they will be connected. Such a torch is supplied, as a rule, with propane gas, the pressure of which is regulated by means of a welding reducer.
Special device for cutting copper pipes. Since products made of this metal are very soft, they should be cut gently enough so as not to wrinkle the walls. On the modern market, pipe cutters of various models are offered, differing both in their functionality and technical capabilities. The design of individual models of such devices, which is important, allows them to be used even for work in hard-to-reach places.
A pipe expander is a device that allows you to expand the diameter of a copper pipe, which is necessary in order to better perform soldering. In various systems mounted from copper pipes, elements of the same section are used, and in order to connect them qualitatively, it is necessary to slightly increase the diameter of one of the elements to be connected. This is exactly the task that such a device as a pipe expander solves.

Copper pipe flaring kit

In addition to flux, solder and other basic elements, additional tools will be needed to solder copper pipes, which can be found in every workshop or garage. To solder or cook copper products, additionally prepare:

regular marker;
roulette;
building level;
a small brush with stiff bristles;
hammer.

Before starting work, it is also important to decide how to solder the copper pipes. The main options can be two: brazing copper (used less often) and the use of soft type solder. When solving this issue, it is important to proceed from the fact that there are requirements for the use of one or another type of solder. Thus, solid-type solders are used for brazing elements of refrigeration units and air conditioners. In all other cases (water supply systems, heating systems, etc.), tin wire can be used. But whatever technology is chosen, it should be remembered that the flux is necessary in any case.

Brushes for cleaning the inner surface of a copper pipe before brazing

Brazing technology for copper pipes

It is quite easy to solder or weld copper pipes for water supply and heating systems, air conditioners and any other devices. The algorithm for performing such an operation is as follows.

First, you need to cut a piece of pipe to the required length, for which a pipe cutter is used. It is very important to position the tool perpendicular to the axis of the pipe so that the cut is as smooth as possible.
After the pipe is cut, it must be cleaned. A metal brush is used to clean the surface of the product, and its end is freed from burrs and metal dust using a brush. In no case should you use sandpaper for these purposes, as it will leave fine sand on the pipe surface, which will impair the adhesion of the solder to the base metal.
For whatever purpose you solder copper pipes, for air conditioners, refrigerators or heating systems, the edge of one of them must be expanded. The diameter of the end of one of the pipes should be increased to such a value that the other end easily enters it, leaving only a small gap.
The extended end of the pipe should also be cleaned using a wire brush, not sandpaper or cleaning paste.
Before brazing, flux should be applied to the end of the smaller pipe. It is very important to evenly distribute the flux when it is applied, otherwise its excess will get inside the pipe and form there frozen drops, which will create noise when the liquid moves through it.

Pipe cutter for copper and aluminum pipes 3-35 mm

Before soldering, the prepared pipe ends should be inserted into each other, after which you can proceed to soldering by wiping off excess flux with a damp cloth. In order for the connection to be of high quality and reliable, it is necessary to warm up the pipes to be connected before using the solder. Heating can be considered sufficient when the flux applied to one of the pipes turns silvery.

After preheating the junction, solder is brought to it, which, from the high temperature, begins to melt and fill the joint space. The process is also facilitated by the principle of capillarity, due to which the molten solder fills the gap between the pipes. The soldering is completed at the moment when it completely fills the gap between the pipes to be connected. This process can be seen very well in the video filmed by many specialists.

After the end of the soldering, the pipes should be allowed to cool and under no circumstances should they be subjected to mechanical stress. The cooled seam can be wiped with a damp cloth to remove any flux residues from it.

Soldering copper pipes with your own hands - video, technology, solder

The specifics of a process such as soldering copper pipes with your own hands. Tools and devices required for pipe soldering, as well as the algorithm for its implementation.

Brazing copper pipes in a water supply network is a standard method for joining two or more pieces of ordinary copper pipe together. The solder joint (seam) forms a strong, watertight hydraulic seal that will last for decades or longer if done correctly. In reality, the correct seam of the solder is less likely to leak than the rest of the copper pipe, in which a tiny hole allowing leakage can lead to chemical erosion.

For many homeowners, the thought of doing any plumbing soldering work seems daunting enough. We all foresee that our basements or living quarters may fill with water due to some mistake or oversight in our own work. The point is that basically brazing, including sealing pipes as described in this article, is a relatively straightforward job that any interested homeowner can safely do with just a few specialized tools.

This article covers the basics of brazing copper pipes. If you are looking for additional information, we strongly recommend that you familiarize yourself with this and other topics in more detail.

How to solder copper pipes

Before soldering copper pipes, it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the theory of what these materials are and what options are used in engineering communication networks. Most of the water pipes in the house are 3/8 "threads; and 3/4 "in diameter. The main pipes for water supply are 25.4 mm, while small structures (for example, to the refrigerator-ice maker) can be as small as 9.5 mm. The nominal diameter of the product is always 3.2 mm smaller than the outer diameter. The dimensions of the wall copper pipe vary according to its size so that the inner diameter is always the approximate nominal width. Copper plumbing pipes are sold in three different wall thicknesses (with the designation K, L or M), and can be hard or soft.

In order to connect two pieces of copper pipe together, a coupler or other types of fittings such as a tee must be used. They have an inner diameter that matches the outer diameter. The tee and the valve fit closely to the copper pipe and are designed to be soldered to it. In order to connect two structures instead of three, a coupling should be used, not a tee.

How to choose solder for copper pipes

The list of tools and materials for standard soldering is not so long and complex. These can be easily found in your own inventory or at a plumbing supply store.

1. Plumbing soldering (not lead-based). Solder for copper pipes is sold in the form of wire or rods. It melts at a lower temperature than copper, making it suitable for joining two copper pipes when heated.

2. Cleaning brush. Used to clean the inside of fittings and pipes from the outside to prepare them for brazing. A fine abrasive cloth can be used as an alternative, but this tool will make the task easier.

3. Small propane torch and welding changeover mechanism. Used to heat pipe and fitting for connection.

4. Soldering flux. Used to coat pipes and fittings to prepare them for brazing.

5. Fine abrasive cloth for plumbing. Used for grinding pipes.

6. Heat resistant gasket.

7. Copper pipe and fittings.

Advice: Brazing is an alternative joining method and contributes to an even higher seam strength. Braze seams are achieved more by the various filler metals (such as the higher tough brazing alloys BCuP or BAg) rather than the brazed joints themselves, however, these alloys require significantly more heat to reach the melting point. You can even find solder joints, for example, on a refrigeration pipeline, but brazing is not necessary in most residential plumbing.

Cooking solder for soldering copper pipes and surfaces

This guide does not apply to soldering a seam that is already part of a household plumbing. However, if you intend to work in such an environment, these steps are very important. Regardless of the environment, you should always take precautions to protect the area where the pipe will be heated by the propane torch.

Remember that the solder for brazing copper pipes is prepared in advance in accordance with the instructions attached to it.

Turn off your home's tap water by opening the bottom-most valve (such as a communal drain in your basement) to drain all the water. The water in the joint will prevent the pipe from heating up and will cause the job to fail. It may also be necessary to open the pipe on the top floor of the house to reduce the vacuum pressure.

Disconnect all PVC plumbing systems from adjacent copper (newer homes may have a PVC to copper connection). You will have to work with a propane burner that has a flame temperature of up to 1000 ° C, so protect objects around the entire seam area from heat. Make sure there is no flammable material nearby and that you put a heat shield between the burner and flammable materials such as wood spacers. A partner's help may be helpful.

Provide adequate ventilation in the work area, open doors and windows, and try turning on the fan. Do as much work as possible on the workbench. If you are making multiple seams, work them outside the plumbing system as much as possible.

Brazing technology for copper pipes

Brazing technology for copper pipes involves cleaning the surfaces as a first step. Using a brush, clean the outside of the pipe and the inside of the fitting. After that, they must be completely cleaned of dirt, and a shine should appear on them.

Grind the pipe and fitting (small metal particles on the surfaces can prevent an easy connection). Try to dry the piping fittings so that they attach easily, and if they do not fit lightly and tightly enough, clean the surface further away using a brush or fine sandpaper (as shown below).

After the fitting has dried successfully, peel off the pipe and fitting and apply tap soldering flux to the outside of the pipe and to the inside of the fitting. During soldering, the tap flux will evaporate and turn the solder into a seam, forming a seal around its entire perimeter.

Soldering copper pipes step by step

Light a propane burner and turn on a medium heat. Note: Most burners will produce more flame when tilted down. Therefore, be careful to keep the burner at a constant level. Aim the flame directly at the seam. It will heat up in about 20-60 seconds. Note that the figure below shows the valve is closed. As for the valve, it is better that it is open. This is to reduce the risk of damage.

Press down on the solder to create a mounting gap between the fitting and the pipe. When the seam is sufficiently hot, the solder will melt and, through capillary action, turn into a seam. As the solder begins to melt, move the flame all the way around the entire joint to avoid overheating in one area. When the solder covers the outside of the seam, it becomes even. Turn off the heat and let the pipe cool. Clean up excess flux as this can corrode the metal inside the plumbing and cause a tiny hole that could leak.

What to remember to do when brazing copper pipes is complete

If you followed these instructions, the seam is most likely very tight. The only good way to check is to put pressure on him by turning on the water in the house. Be sure to wait until the solder has cooled down (2-3 minutes) before pressurizing the plumbing to avoid cracking the solder due to sudden temperature changes.

Add-ons

As stated at the beginning of this article, for more information on these and other piping topics, we strongly recommend that you study this topic in more detail, as well as other home plumbing guides. Good luck with your plumbing work!

Main pipelines made of non-ferrous metals are highly resistant to corrosion. To connect the elements, the joints are filled with solders. Brazing of copper pipes can be done independently, no special equipment or tools are required to complete the work.

Soldering copper, why it is worth learning it

The use of copper pipes for supplying water to premises is limited by the high cost of materials. But copper and alloys based on it have increased elasticity, which makes it possible to manufacture highways of complex geometric shapes without the risk of tearing the walls.

The chemical inertness of the material allows the placement of water supply and heating pipelines in the thickness of concrete walls or ceilings, without fear of corrosive destruction of the metal.

The technology of brazing copper pipes does not require the use of aggressive chemicals to remove the oxide layer from the surface. Low-melting alloys based on tin and lead have increased adhesion to copper, which simplifies the procedure for selecting a joint material.

When applying solder, the copper base does not heat up to high temperatures that cause the formation of compounds with atmospheric oxygen. The tube does not deform during processing; if necessary, the resulting joint is disconnected by heating the seam with a portable gas torch.

Methods for soldering copper parts

When joining products made of copper and copper-based alloys, 2 technologies are used:

capillary brazing at low temperature;
the process of filling the seam with refractory solder (at an elevated temperature of heating of parts).

Features of high temperature connections

The technology provides for the use of solders passing into a liquid phase at temperatures up to 450-500 ° C. The joint material consists of copper and silver with the addition of alloying metals (for example, to increase elasticity or reduce shrinkage on cooling). The technology allows you to create a strong seam resistant to mechanical stress or local overheating of the main pipeline.

Brazing copper pipes with silver-based hard solder leads to annealing of the base, which negatively affects the strength characteristics of the structure. To reduce the negative impact, cooling of the joint line is used in a natural way. When installing fans or supplying water to the seam, the strength of the pipe decreases. The connection technology is used to connect gas pipelines and water supply channels with a diameter of 12 to 160 mm. The technique is recommended when supplying liquids heated to 110-120 ° C through pipes (heating mains).

Low temperature brazing in detail

Low-temperature brazing of copper pipes is carried out at temperatures below 450 ° C. For the connection, radio-technical solders based on lead and tin (with additional additives) are used. The use of a low-melting alloy leads to an increase in the width of the weld, the resulting joint is not designed for the application of loads. The connection belongs to the category of soft, but lowering the heating temperature helps to eliminate the likelihood of annealing of copper parts during the connection process.

The technology is used when connecting lines with a diameter of 6 to 108 mm; it is forbidden to solder lines for gas supply with low-melting solders. When arranging copper channels for heating, it should be borne in mind that solders allow pumping of a coolant with a temperature not exceeding 130 ° C.

What is needed in the process

Before soldering copper pipes, you will need to prepare a flux that can clean the surface of oxide deposits. The quality of work depends on the correctness of surface preparation. The flux additionally contributes to the spreading of the alloy over the surface of the tube, which improves the appearance of the weld. Then you need to decide on the connection technology, on which the choice depends on how to solder copper pipes.

High-temperature welding uses lead-free solder (marked Lead Free on the packaging). For low-temperature technology, a standard POS solder is used, produced in the form of a rod with a diameter of 3 mm. It is allowed to use alloys with the introduction of alloying elements (for example, bismuth or lead), which have a positive effect on the strength of the joint.

Soldering copper pipes with your own hands means cutting parts into elements of the appropriate size. A pipe cutter is used to divide the pipe into sections, the edges of the workpieces are processed with a chamfering tool. Since, when connecting pipelines, it is required to expand one of the ends of the line (to ensure a tight and reliable fit), an expander is required, which is a pliers with a special sleeve designed for several pipe diameters.

To heat the solder and non-ferrous metal elements, a gas burner with a nozzle is used, which forms a narrow directional flame. The equipment is equipped with a cylinder filled with pure butane or propane-butane mixture. It is allowed to work with an electric soldering iron, the tool is used in areas where the use of an open flame is prohibited. Also, the master will need a set of drawing tools that allow you to mark the workpieces.

Brazing technology for copper products

After the preparation of tools and materials, pipes are soldered, consisting of the following stages:

cutting blanks into pieces;
degreasing and removing oxides;
docking of elements;
application of solder to the joint line.

Cut off the part of the required length

Welding copper pipes begins with marking the pipeline, which is then cut into elements of the required length. When marking, it is necessary to take into account the margin of length required to connect the pipes after expanding the end. The hand-held cutting tool allows the pipe to be clamped, and then a carbide roller is rolled around the outer surface of the workpiece. As the pipe is cut through, the roller is tightened by the adjusting bolt, which allows you to get an even cut.

It is allowed to cut blanks using a hacksaw for metal and a special template that ensures the perpendicularity of the cut. When cutting, compression of the pipe is not allowed, since the ovality of the outer surface worsens the tightness of the joint (due to a change in the gap, which will not be filled with solder). The resulting flash is removed with sandpaper and a metal brush. Then one of the edges is processed with an expander, which will create a sealed joint with increased strength.

Apply flux to the pipe surface

Welding copper pipes with your own hands requires the removal of oxides from the surface of the parts to be joined. The workpieces are wiped with a degreasing compound (for example, acetone), and then a reagent is applied to the edges to be joined. It is not recommended to use an increased dose of flux, the active substance is evenly applied in a thin layer to the joint area. To apply the reagent, a paint brush is used that does not leave fibers on the surface.

We connect the parts before soldering

After applying the flux, the tubes are connected, it is recommended to connect the elements immediately after lubricating the surface (to reduce the risk of dust settling). When connected, the parts rotate relative to each other, which allows the flux to be distributed and ensures a tight fit. The reagent squeezed out of the joint is removed with a dry cloth; it is forbidden to keep the flux on non-ferrous metal elements, since the destruction of the material begins.

Joint formation during low temperature brazing

Low-temperature technology uses a flux designed for reduced heating of the structure when joining. Soldering copper pipes with a gas burner provides for the supply of a torch to the joint zone, the burner moves along the joint, ensuring uniform heating of the parts. Then a bar of solder is taken into the hand, which is fed into the gap between the pipes. The molten metal begins to spread over the surfaces, the burner is retracted to the side, the solder fills the joint due to the temperature of the heated pipe.

Seam formation during high-temperature brazing

When using refractory solders, the pipes are heated by the torch to an elevated temperature. The burner moves along the joint until the pipe heats up to a cherry-red hue (corresponds to a temperature of 750 ° C). Then, solder, preheated by the flame of the burner, is fed to the junction.

Solder melts from contact with heated pipes, evenly filling the mounting gap. Excessive solder is not required as the material will remain on the outside of the piping. After the end of the procedure, it is necessary to wait 2-3 minutes, after reducing the temperature of the joint and crystallization of the solder, the remains of the flux are removed. Additional machining of the joint is not required.

Safety when soldering copper pipes

Basic safety rules for self-soldering of non-ferrous pipes:

Protective clothing and goggles are required when applying chemicals and heating pipes. If the flux comes into contact with open areas of the skin, it is necessary to remove the reagent with running water, and then rinse the area of the body with soapy water.
Do not wear protective clothing made of synthetic material that melts or ignites when exposed to the flame of a gas torch or the tip of an electric soldering iron.
Since the flux evaporates during the work, ventilation is provided in the room.

The main mistakes made when soldering

The main mistakes that arise when welding a copper pipeline on your own:

Insufficient quality processing of joints. When applying the solder, voids are formed that violate the tightness and strength of the joint.
Oil stains on pipe surfaces that prevent fluxing of the material.
Wrong choice of joint width. To ensure a correct connection, the surfaces must contact over a length of 7 to 50 mm (depending on the diameter of the pipes being connected).
Heating parts to a low temperature. The solder melts, but after cleaning the burner it immediately crystallizes, which does not allow filling the gap between the connected elements. Another mistake is excessive heating of the pipes, which contributes to the burnout of the flux and the formation of dross.
The application of an insufficient amount of flux, which is not enough to clean the surfaces from oxides. When the solder is introduced, a joint of insufficient width is formed, allowing water or gas to pass through during operation.
An attempt was made to check the joint line before the final solidification of the solder, resulting in the failure of the joint. To restore the joint, you will need to remove the solder, and then reconnect the parts.
Violation of safety regulations.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Inexperienced installers are advised to carry out a training cycle using waste pipes. After completing the test 5-6 seams, it is allowed to take on the connection on the pipeline. Since there is a risk of marking errors with insufficient experience, the pipeline is collected on the floor of the room. After checking the correctness of the dimensions, the joints are sequentially connected with hard or soft solder for brazing the copper pipeline.

Video # 1. Features of high temperature brazing copper:

Video # 2. How to properly solder copper fittings:

Video # 3. What are the soldering fluxes:

Videos from the assembly teams show how to properly solder copper pipes at home. A novice installer does not always accurately determine the degree of warming up of parts, therefore it is recommended to resort to the help of an experienced mentor. Since copper pipelines and technological components of water supply networks made of non-ferrous metals are expensive, doing installation work on your own will save money (even taking into account the need to purchase a tool).

By the way, you can buy copper pipes inexpensively on the website https://eurometalgroup.ru/