Benzomatic Mapp Torch For Brazing IN Reefer Compressor?
- Thread starter seagiant
- Start date
nsula_country
Well-known member
What?
"I don gas?"
Oxy-Acy is what you need to use. MAPP (not really MAPP anymore) will overheat everything around it.
You want to use a welding tip, crank it up, get on it, get off it, wet rag cool it. Also, use wet rags on each side of the joint too as a heat sink.
What type of compressor. AC condenser unit or a refrigerator? AC bigger tip, fridge smaller tip.
CT
Hi,
Thanks, a home refridgerator/freezer unit.
I don't want to use my big O/A Torch in my house.
I'm asking what small bottle torch from say LOWE'S that I can use instead???
nsula_country
Well-known member
This will work. O/A and small enough to use inside.
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/bernzomatic-cutting-welding-and-brazing-torch-kit?cm_vc=-10005
Seriously. Propane and MAPP "can" work. Refrigerator lines are very small. Heat will creep quickly the longer the flame is on the joint. That's why I said crank it up and walk fast. The air/gas type torches don't have pencil tip flames.
How long are your hoses? I've got about 125' between 3 hoses. I use O/A inside anytime I sweat evap coil to line set.
CT
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/bernzomatic-cutting-welding-and-brazing-torch-kit?cm_vc=-10005
Seriously. Propane and MAPP "can" work. Refrigerator lines are very small. Heat will creep quickly the longer the flame is on the joint. That's why I said crank it up and walk fast. The air/gas type torches don't have pencil tip flames.
How long are your hoses? I've got about 125' between 3 hoses. I use O/A inside anytime I sweat evap coil to line set.
CT
theoldwizard1
Well-known member
What is current sold is MAPP Pro, only slightly hotter than propane.
Every HVAC guy I have ever seen braze anything uses acetylene, no oxygen.
LS6 Tommy
Well-known member
You can braze that with a regular acetylene "B" or "MC" tank turbotorch if you're any good. IDK what all the overkill suggestions are about.
Tommy
Tommy
Last edited:
Hi,
Thanks my A/O Line is to short to run into the house.
If that Benzomatic rig will work that would be worth it, or...
I guess I could buy more A/O hose?
Jim greengo
Well-known member
A good turbo torch with mapp gas and some staybrite 8
nsula_country
Well-known member
Stabrite will work for a refer. Just keep it away from a 410A system.
OP said "braze" not solder. Brazing needs O/A or Acetylene Turbo Torch (which I personally dislike, dang near need earplugs to operate).
Staybrite 8 will work for lower pressure systems like refers.
CT
Jim greengo
Well-known member
I've used staybrite 8 on 410a systems for years without issues.
nsula_country
Well-known member
Did not say it hasn't been used. But not an industry best practice. Nor recommend by manufacturers.
Its like not flowing nitrogen while brazing. Or not using a micron gauge during evacuation.
CT
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Jim greengo
Well-known member
Have you seen the affect that oxy/acet and stick solder has on the tensile strength of copper compared to mapp gas/stay brite8 ?
LS6 Tommy
Well-known member
If you overheat and anneal the copper, you don't know how to braze.
It's not about strength, anyway. The reason no equipment manufacturer allows soldering 410a systems (including silver solder like Staybrite #8) is to eliminate the problems of getting flux in the system and high frequency vibration failures on joints near the compressor.
Tommy
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Jim greengo
Well-known member
Staybrite doesn't affect the strength of copper,which makes it less likely to crack from vibration.
Johnstone and every other supply house in Omaha I've bought from in the last 20 plus years sells staybrite 8 along with every brand of condensing unit under the sun,so they apparently haven't had any problems with it.
There are 100s of condensing units within a 100 mile radius of this town I've installed over the years using staybrite8 that are still running,there's also a few as far south as Arkansas and a few as far north as minot north Dakota that are still running.
Some people just need to learn to sweat copper I guess.
Anyway everybody use what ever works best in your situation.
nsula_country
Well-known member
Pins what?
Learn what?
Tommy actually pinned it.
We went from DYI refrigerator compressor change out to Industry Best Practices and Code quick! Continue this conversation on Hvac-Talk... I'm a pro member, if any of you are also, lets bring up the Stay Brite vs Sil-Phos...
Post the link...
The OP just wants to DYI a compressor. The O/A is in the shop and doesn't want to move the fridge to the shop or O/A to the house. At this point the torch used is probably the least concern!
CT
Learn what?
Tommy actually pinned it.
We went from DYI refrigerator compressor change out to Industry Best Practices and Code quick! Continue this conversation on Hvac-Talk... I'm a pro member, if any of you are also, lets bring up the Stay Brite vs Sil-Phos...
Post the link...
The OP just wants to DYI a compressor. The O/A is in the shop and doesn't want to move the fridge to the shop or O/A to the house. At this point the torch used is probably the least concern!
CT
HI,
Just sayin thanks to everyone for the great help and ideas.
I think my best/cheapest route is to just buy another 25' of O/A hose.
That will get me to the kitchen and still allow keeping the tanks in the drive way!
I also have all my brazing tips for the SMITH torch!
Just sayin thanks to everyone for the great help and ideas.
I think my best/cheapest route is to just buy another 25' of O/A hose.
That will get me to the kitchen and still allow keeping the tanks in the drive way!
I also have all my brazing tips for the SMITH torch!
nsula_country
Well-known member
Sounds like a winner winner chicken dinner! Good luck.
CT
CT
LS6 Tommy
Well-known member
Staybrite doesn't affect the strength of copper,which makes it less likely to crack from vibration.
Johnstone and every other supply house in Omaha I've bought from in the last 20 plus years sells staybrite 8 along with every brand of condensing unit under the sun,so they apparently haven't had any problems with it.
There are 100s of condensing units within a 100 mile radius of this town I've installed over the years using staybrite8 that are still running,there's also a few as far south as Arkansas and a few as far north as minot north Dakota that are still running.
Some people just need to learn to sweat copper I guess.
Anyway everybody use what ever works best in your situation.
The silver solder itself is what fails under vibration, not the tubing.
Johnstone and other supply houses are NOT equipment manufacturers or HVAC engineering firms and most of the sales people have almost zero HVAC training or field experience. Just because something is sold there doesn't justify it for improper use.
Installing a CU is a lot less critical in proper joint connecting than replacing a compressor. Using siver solder for a compressor replcaement will actually void many manufacturer's warrantees.
Silver solder plain and simply is NOT supposed to be used for R410a.
Tommy
Dagny
Well-known member
45 or 55 percent silver solder is the best for discharge joints. Refrigeration men don't consider stay brite no 8 silver solder even though it has 6 percent silver. It is soft solder and you can use propane to use it. It is a very good product.