While a lot of plumbing is moving toward plastic pvc pipes chances are that at some point in your life you will deal with copper pipes and understanding how to solder is essential. To help you get on your way and to work let's run through the basic steps of soldering.
1. Get the Equipment Before you start the project make sure you have a stud finder, a four foot level, a square, a few 2x4s and slab doors (depending on the number of shelves you want), a band or table saw, glue, nails (use a nailgun), chisel, and lag bolts.
2. Clean off the Pipes If you look at your copper pipes in the basement you will see they have discoloration and dirt all over them. Wipe off the pipes with a rag and then take a handful of steel wool and rub the ends of the pipes you are going to connect. Even if you are installing new pipe make sure to rub the steel wool along the end of the pipe for a good 2-3 inches. As you rub the steel wool on the pipe you will see a shine to the pipe as the dirty outer layer has been scraped away. Hopefully you also have a small wire brush that you can use to slide inside the pipe and rub back and forth as well as twisting to get the same shine on the inside of the pipe as you did on the outside with the steel wool. There are different size brushes for different size pipes, make sure you get the right size otherwise you may end up ruining your brush. Clean the outside and inside of both pipes (not necessary for both but will save you time in case you mixed up which pipe is connecting to which).
3. Create Your Shelves An easy way to build your shelves is to purchase an unfinished slab door. Slab doors are made of thin wood strips that are separated by cardboard, however, the majority of the door is mostly empty space. You will take the door and then use a band saw or a table top saw to saw lengthways down the door to the chosen width for your shelf. Each door will make two shelves which you can adjust to the appropriate width.
4. Connect and Sweat the Pipes Slide both pipe ends into the fitting and make sure that it is nice and tight. Now that the pipes are connected take your blow torch and adjust it to a low blue flame. Move the flame back and forth along the joints where the pipe and connector meet. If you need to touch the pipe make sure to use plyers as the heat will conduct very quickly along the metal. This heating of the pipes is referred to as 'sweating.'
5. Place the Sink Back Now that the faucet, drain, and wire lines are attached to the sink place the sink back on the vanity base and dry fit it to make sure that everything lines up. If it looks good remove the sink and then add adhesive to the top of the vanity base and place the sink along with top vanity back onto the vanity base. Let the glue or other adhesive dry.
6. Let the Pipes Cool and Clean them After the pipes have cooled off go ahead and take steel wool to wipe any excess solder and a rag to wipe off any discoloration of the pipe that may have occurred during heating (if you heat the pipe to much the bluish discoloration will be permanent). Collect your tools and you should be done, make sure to run the liquid, gas, etc. back through the pipe and check for any leaks. With gas spray soapy water on the connection and make sure not bubbles appear from leaking gas.
Now you have a beautiful free-floating shelf on your wall that you can enjoy and your spouse will find attractive. When it comes to small projects like these they are easily manageable and can be done in a weekend but when it comes to large jobs to save you time and money I would suggest hiring a general contractor to take of the work for you.
1. Get the Equipment Before you start the project make sure you have a stud finder, a four foot level, a square, a few 2x4s and slab doors (depending on the number of shelves you want), a band or table saw, glue, nails (use a nailgun), chisel, and lag bolts.
2. Clean off the Pipes If you look at your copper pipes in the basement you will see they have discoloration and dirt all over them. Wipe off the pipes with a rag and then take a handful of steel wool and rub the ends of the pipes you are going to connect. Even if you are installing new pipe make sure to rub the steel wool along the end of the pipe for a good 2-3 inches. As you rub the steel wool on the pipe you will see a shine to the pipe as the dirty outer layer has been scraped away. Hopefully you also have a small wire brush that you can use to slide inside the pipe and rub back and forth as well as twisting to get the same shine on the inside of the pipe as you did on the outside with the steel wool. There are different size brushes for different size pipes, make sure you get the right size otherwise you may end up ruining your brush. Clean the outside and inside of both pipes (not necessary for both but will save you time in case you mixed up which pipe is connecting to which).
3. Create Your Shelves An easy way to build your shelves is to purchase an unfinished slab door. Slab doors are made of thin wood strips that are separated by cardboard, however, the majority of the door is mostly empty space. You will take the door and then use a band saw or a table top saw to saw lengthways down the door to the chosen width for your shelf. Each door will make two shelves which you can adjust to the appropriate width.
4. Connect and Sweat the Pipes Slide both pipe ends into the fitting and make sure that it is nice and tight. Now that the pipes are connected take your blow torch and adjust it to a low blue flame. Move the flame back and forth along the joints where the pipe and connector meet. If you need to touch the pipe make sure to use plyers as the heat will conduct very quickly along the metal. This heating of the pipes is referred to as 'sweating.'
5. Place the Sink Back Now that the faucet, drain, and wire lines are attached to the sink place the sink back on the vanity base and dry fit it to make sure that everything lines up. If it looks good remove the sink and then add adhesive to the top of the vanity base and place the sink along with top vanity back onto the vanity base. Let the glue or other adhesive dry.
6. Let the Pipes Cool and Clean them After the pipes have cooled off go ahead and take steel wool to wipe any excess solder and a rag to wipe off any discoloration of the pipe that may have occurred during heating (if you heat the pipe to much the bluish discoloration will be permanent). Collect your tools and you should be done, make sure to run the liquid, gas, etc. back through the pipe and check for any leaks. With gas spray soapy water on the connection and make sure not bubbles appear from leaking gas.
Now you have a beautiful free-floating shelf on your wall that you can enjoy and your spouse will find attractive. When it comes to small projects like these they are easily manageable and can be done in a weekend but when it comes to large jobs to save you time and money I would suggest hiring a general contractor to take of the work for you.
About the Author:
MBA Construction is a general contractor in Billing MT. We focus in design-build, build-to-print and commercial construction in the energy, industrial & medical industries.
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