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Solder Recommendations

kand3g

Active member
Joined
Jun 11, 2011
Messages
34
What is the best solder and flux to use on copper air and copper water lines?
 
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03ranger

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 4, 2010
Messages
260
Location
Wickenburg, AZ
Sil-Fos, no need to use flux. the phosphorus in the Sil-Fos serves as the fluxing agent and no separate flux is necessary.
 

csp

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 23, 2010
Messages
5,719
Location
Franktown, CO
Sil-fos isn't really a solder though in terms of the process. It's more of a brazing rod and no propane or mapp gas torch is going to get hot enough to use it, if that's what the OP has for a heat source.
 

DC73

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 27, 2014
Messages
1,627
Location
Lubbock TX
Google and then download the "Copper Tube Handbook". It has a lot of great information on copper pipes including soldering techniques and charts on pressure ratings. I could not find Stay-brite #8 easily when I started my copper airline project. Based on the chart in the handbook on "Pressure-Temperature Ratings of Soldered and Brazed Joints" (table 4a), I chose a 95/5 - Tin/Antimony solder which was readily available locally. It worked very well. I had no issues and no air leaks on first test.

Good luck,

DC
 
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nadogail

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 23, 2009
Messages
31,928
Location
Coronado, CA
I prefer 63/37 eutectic alloy for it's low melting point and almost nonexistent plastic state. Second choice of alloys would be 60/40 followed by 50/50 for low pressure compressed air work.

I am aware that solders containg lead is not allowed is not allowed in any potable water system.
 

zmaxmotorsports

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 11, 2013
Messages
11,948
Location
South of omaha
Google and then download the "Copper Tube Handbook". It has a lot of great information on copper pipes including soldering techniques and charts on pressure ratings. I could not find Stay-brite #8 easily when I started my copper airline project. Based on the chart in the handbook on "Pressure-Temperature Ratings of Soldered and Brazed Joints" (table 4a), I chose a 95/5 - Tin/Antimony solder which was readily available locally. It worked very well. I had no issues and no air leaks on first test.

Good luck,

DC
Stay Brite 8 is usually found at hvac supply houses.
 
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