Soldering aluminum at home, technologies, methods

1. The simplest and most reliable way to connect or attach something to aluminum or its alloys is, of course, a bolt and nut or rivets. All other methods require some training, fixtures, special solders, aluminum soldering fluxes, etc.

As practice shows, aluminum is not soldered at all in the usual way, with tin-lead solder, the reason for this is an oxide film, which forms almost instantly after cleaning the surface to be soldered.

2. Therefore, one of the ways to solder aluminum is - coating the surface, immediately after stripping, with a layer of molten rosin. Not the best, but after repeated attempts, rubbing the soldering point with a soldering iron tip, you can achieve satisfactory results.

3. Further, a solution of rosin in diethyl ether can be used to solder aluminum. We clean the surface and immediately lubricate it with such a flux, and then sprinkle it with copper filings, which serve as an abrasive to remove the oxide film, and tin the place of soldering with ordinary solder (tin-lead). After that, we solder a copper wire or something else to the tinned area.

4. The next aluminum soldering technology is the use of special solder for aluminum soldering and flux. Most of these solders are low-temperature, but their melting point is higher than that of tin-lead, within 300-600 g. C. The key to success is also a good warm-up and for this they use a gas burner or a blowtorch.

High-temperature solders are used for soldering massive parts, they are used to repair and restore parts made of aluminum and its alloys of any complexity (cars, motorcycles, etc.). The soldering is very strong. In this way, tubes are soldered, for example, aluminum and copper, inserting one into the other and soldering around. But, when soldering aluminum with other metals, make sure that the solder and flux are designed for one and the other metal.

The surface is cleaned and covered with a special flux, as in previous cases, and when the solder melts, you can scrape the place of the solder with the tip of a stainless steel knife (or stainless steel brush) to better remove the oxide film. Thus, we tin the aluminum surface and solder everything we need to it.

This does not end the ways of soldering aluminum at home. You can apply the electrochemical method.

5. We clean the surface and apply a few drops of CONCENTRATED solution of copper sulphate to the place of soldering. Then, we take a power supply for 5-12V and a current of about 1 ampere (or more), we connect a resistance of 4-5 ohms and powerful to the power supply. 5-10 W, and our device is ready. We calculate the load in such a way that the PSU does not burn out during operation, i.e., approximately at a current of 1-5 Amperes.

Now we connect the aluminum blank to the negative pole of the power supply, and to the positive we attach a bare copper wire (you can twist it into a small flat spiral), which is then introduced into a drop of vitriol solution so that the end does not touch the surface of the part. Everything is ready, turn on the power supply and wait a few minutes. A layer of copper, as a result of electrolysis, will settle on the place for soldering. And then, wash off (but do not try to erase the copper), tin, and solder the wires or terminal. This method, of course, is not suitable for soldering some massive parts, but it is suitable for contact with wires.

6. Alternatively, instead of a solution of vitriol, you can use hydrochloric acid: drop it into the place of soldering and then drive the copper drive along the contact pad. Copper precipitation occurs faster than in the first case, but one must be careful with acid. And be sure to thoroughly rinse the place of soldering with water.

Connecting copper pipes: instructions and comparison of various installation technologies

So that the acid does not corrode the excess area, it can be sealed with tape or filled with paraffin, and the desired area should be exposed. That. you can solder aluminum with copper and other metals, and the contact pads will have a beautiful, neat shape.

That's all, and if there are any other ways to solder aluminum or additions to the above, write.

Viktor Donskoy
www.masteru.org.ua

17330 0 7

Size matters: how to connect two pipes of the same diameter

In this article I want to talk about ways to connect pipes, first of all - sealed, used in the installation of water supply and sewerage. The material is of an overview nature and is intended only to acquaint the reader with a variety of mounting methods: I deliberately will not mention the subtleties of technology and recommend this or that tool. So, let's go.

Steel

Despite the abundance of polymer pipes, black and galvanized steel is still in demand in the housing and utilities sector and in the installation of high pressure lines. The methods used to connect elements of steel pipelines to a large extent depend on the cross section of the pipe.

Electric welding

Diameters: any, pipe wall thickness: from 0.5 mm.

When welding with high currents, it is easy to burn through the walls of a thin-walled pipe; a decrease in current leads to sticking of the electrode. Therefore, electric welding of thin metal requires a certain skill.

Advantage: arc welding is the only way to connect large diameter pipes with significant wall thicknesses that provides acceptable weld strength. Automated welding is used in the production of seam pipes and in the installation of pipelines.

Disadvantage: A sealed seam is almost impossible for a beginner. Welding pipelines requires the highest qualifications.

Technology:

As usual, there are a number of nuances:

• The chamfer can be removed only from the outside of the pipe or from the outside and from the inside. Thick-walled pipes of large diameters are welded on both sides;
• When welding pipes of small diameters, the lashes must first be grabbed at two or three points and aligned along a common axis, then proceed to weld welding around the entire circumference. Due to uneven heating, the seam area leads noticeably;
• Welding can be performed with a continuous supply of argon to the area of ​​the arc. Inert gas completely eliminates the oxidation of the seam.

Minor leaks on cold water lines can be eliminated by rubbing a hot seam with a piece of bitumen. Due to the capillary effect, it instantly fills the pores with the melt. On hot water, this instruction is useless: when reheated, the bitumen will melt again and be forced out of the pores.

Gas welding

Diameters: up to 100 - 150 mm.

Pipe wall thickness: up to 3-4 mm.

Advantage: undemanding to the experience of the welder. I got a sealed seam after a few hours of practice.

Disadvantage: the inability to cook thick-walled pipes with gas. The burner is simply unable to heat their walls until the edges are melted.

Technology:

1. The pipe is cut perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;
2. From thick-walled pipes (more than 2 mm), the outer chamfer is removed;
3. The edges of the future seam are heated with an acetylene torch to a bright red glow and fusing edges;
4. A welding wire is introduced into the torch of the burner, the melt of which fills the seam. The melt bath must not solidify: only in this case the seam will be airtight.

A special case

Fixed sutures are welded with a mirror or with the help of a surgical suture. In the latter case, a window is cut in the pipe, then the seam is welded from the inside, after which the window is welded again.

Coupling

Diameters: up to 50 mm.

Wall thickness: any.

Advantage: the simplest threaded connection of pipes that can be connected in series and rotate around the longitudinal axis.

Disadvantage: the coupling assembly of a long whip eliminates the dismantling of a separate connection. Pipes have to be unscrewed from the couplings sequentially.

Technology:

1. Pipes face at right angles to the longitudinal axis;
2. On a lathe or with your own hands, using a die, a short (five thread) thread is cut on both connected pipes;
3. A threaded pipe is screwed onto one of the pipes, into which the second pipe is screwed. For sealing, sanitary flax is used (preferably impregnated with paint or sealant) or polymer sealing thread.

Couplings, in particular, were installed in houses with steel water supply lines and served to connect them to eccentrics when installing a wall-mounted mixer.

Sgon

Diameters: up to 50 mm.

Wall thickness: any.

Advantage: makes the connection of fixed pipes collapsible.

Flaw: the long thread of the drive is the most vulnerable to corrosion due to the minimum wall thickness and the absence of a protective paint coating. It, being applied, is violated at the first disassembly.

Technology:

1. A short thread (5 threads) is cut on one pipe, a long thread (12-15 threads) is cut on the other;
2. A lock nut and a coupling are successively screwed onto a long thread;
3. The coupling is driven all the way to the wound short thread;
4. Following it, a lock nut is driven, clamping the winding of the thread in front of the coupling.

flanges

Diameter: 76 mm or more.

Wall thickness: from 3 mm.

Advantages:

• The connection remains collapsible, including on fixed lashes;
• The force required for mounting or dismounting is not tied to the diameter of the pipe. With an increase in diameter, the number of bolts tightening the flanges increases;
• Flanges can be used to connect to shut-off valves or to install retaining washers. In particular, it is the washers that circulate in the hot water risers of most houses built in the 80s and newer.

Disadvantages: the flange is mounted only by electric welding, which is not always convenient in the field.

Technology:

1. Pipes face perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;
2. External (and with a large diameter - internal) chamfers are removed from them;
3. Flanges are welded;
4. After cooling and cleaning the seam, the flanges are pulled together through a rubber, silicone or paronite gasket. The bolts are tightened alternately, crosswise, one turn at a time. The price of breaking this simple rule is uneven compression of the gasket and a high probability of leaks during pressure surges.

Compression fittings

Diameters: up to 32 mm.

Wall thickness: any.

Advantages: extremely simple installation with the help of an improvised tool, the possibility of installation on pipes affected by corrosion.

Disadvantage: low tensile strength of the connection.

Technology:

1. The edges of the pipes are cleaned from paint and rust;
2. They are then inserted into the fitting with the nuts loosened;
3. Nuts are tightened. At the same time, they compress the pipe with rubber o-rings, sealing the connection.

A special case

Compression fittings are also used for the installation of corrugated stainless steel pipes. However, in this case, the strength of the connection is not inferior to the strength of the pipe itself: it can withstand pressure up to 50-65 atmospheres. The secret is simple: the silicone sealant of the fitting compresses not a smooth surface, but a corrugation crest, so it is almost impossible to pull it out of a tightened fitting.

Many fittings use an additional locking of the comb with a split retaining ring.

American

Diameter: up to 32 mm.

These are the sizes of American women I saw on sale. Perhaps they are also produced for diameters of 40 - 50 mm, but I have not seen such offers in the assortment of local construction and online stores.

Wall thickness: any.

Advantages: extremely fast disassembly of the connection. To open the pipeline, it is enough to unscrew the cap nut.

Disadvantage: American pipe connection requires pre-threading.

Technology: the halves of the dismantled American fitting are wound onto the wound threads of adjacent pipes, after which they are pulled together with a union nut. Tightness is ensured by an annular rubber gasket.

Crabs

The so-called crabs are steel plates that allow you to bolt round and shaped pipes. They are used in the assembly of greenhouse frames, racks (trade, for tools, etc.) and other structures that do not require special strength or tightness of joints.

Pipe sizes: diameter up to 25 mm; sections of profile pipes up to 20x40 and 25x25.

Wall thickness: any.

Advantages: allow quick assembly and disassembly with a pair of open-end or box wrenches; allow multiple reuse of fasteners and pipes.

Disadvantage: limited strength.

Technology: the ends of the pipe are clamped between the halves of the "crab", after which they are pulled together with bolts and nuts.

Collected on the "crabs" greenhouse.

PVC

PVC pipes are known, first of all, as the most affordable solution for indoor and outdoor installation. However, pressure socket pipes are also used for the installation of water pipes.

O-rings

The connection of PVC pipes with the help of ring seals is practiced both in free-flow sewage and in pressure pipelines. Only the thickness of the pipe walls and the force required to undock the socket differ.

Diameters: 50 - 600 mm.

Wall thickness: any.

Advantages: pipes are delivered completely ready for installation of the connection, with ring seals installed. When cutting to size for installation, couplings with two opposite sockets are used.

Disadvantages: a lot of effort required to assemble the joint with a large pipe diameter; the possibility of spontaneous disconnection of the connection.

Technology:

1. The factory ends of the pipes are ready for joining. On pipes cut to size, burrs are cleaned and the outer chamfer is removed;
2. A small amount of liquid soap or silicone grease is applied to the end of the pipe and the o-ring;
3. The pipe is pressed into the socket.

With a significant effort required for pressing, the following can be used:

• Clamp and lever systems;
• Loading equipment.

Adhesive connections

They are used in the installation of pressure pipelines. The glue is a solution of polyvinyl chloride in an organic solvent.

Diameter: up to 110 mm.

Wall thickness: any.

Dignity: the connection is almost as strong as a solid section.

Disadvantage: the connection is made non-separable.

How to connect PVC pipes with glue?

1. Glue is applied to the inside of the socket and to the end of the pipe with the outer chamfer removed;
2. A smooth section of the pipe is inserted into the socket and rotates 90 degrees;
3. The connection is fixed until the glue sets (no more than 1 minute).

Polypropylene

The only mass-used method of connecting propylene pipes is socket welding. For this purpose, a monolithic polypropylene sleeve is used.

Diameters: 20-110 mm.

Wall thickness: any.

Advantage: the connection is as strong as a solid pipe.

Disadvantages: requires a special tool (low-temperature soldering iron); the connection is non-separable and can only be cut out.

Technology:

1. The pipe is cut with a pipe cutter or a regular hacksaw;
2. The outer chamfer is removed;

Aluminium-reinforced PN25 pipe requires stripping of aluminum foil in the welding area. For this purpose, a hand-held shaver or a drill attachment similar in functionality is used.

1. The pipe is inserted into a soldering iron nozzle of the appropriate diameter heated to 240 degrees. At the same time, the second side of the nozzle is used to melt the sleeve;

1. The fitting and the pipe are combined with a smooth translational movement and are fixed until the polymer melt sets. The time of fixing, heating and cooling is predictably determined by the section of the pipe. For the convenience of the reader, I will collect all the recommended parameters in one table.

Polyethylene

Polyethylene pipes are used:

• For laying pressure sewerage;
• As a material for cold water mains;
• When organizing country water pipelines;
• When installing a non-pressure sewer.

When installing a polyethylene sewer, the connection of HDPE pipes is no different from that for socketed PVC pipes with ring seals.

The black sewer pipe is polyethylene.

For pressure water pipes, two fundamentally different installation methods are used.

Butt welding

Diameter: from 40 to 2400 mm.

Wall thickness: from 4 to 70 mm.

Advantage: the strength of the seam reaches 80% of the strength of a monolithic pipe.

Disadvantage: when joining pipelines of large diameters, expensive equipment and mechanical or hydraulic devices for centering and clamping are required.

The clamping force of the pipe during butt welding should reach 1.5 kgf / cm. In this case, the cross-sectional area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe cut of the pipe can be calculated in thousands of square centimeters.

Technology:

1. The pipe ends only at a right angle to the longitudinal axis;
2. Welded ends are centered;
3. A heater mirror is inserted between them;
4. After melting, the mirror is removed, and the ends of the pipes are pressed against each other;
5. After complete cooling of the joint, the burr (extruded polymer melt) is mechanically cleaned on the inside of the pipe.

Compression fittings

How to connect HDPE pipes with a small diameter and insignificant wall thickness?

In this case, the compression fittings already familiar to us are used.

Diameter: 16 - 32 mm.

Wall thickness: any.

Advantages: easy installation without the use of tools, quick disassembly.

Disadvantage: relatively low tensile strength.

Technology:

1. A union nut, a retaining ring and a rubber or polyethylene seal are successively put on the pipe;
2. Its end is inserted into the fitting;
3. The nut is tightened, compressing the pipe with a sealant.

metal-plastic

Metal-plastic is two layers of cross-linked (reinforced by cross-links between polymer molecules) polyethylene with a thin aluminum tube between them. During installation, three connection methods are used.

Compression fittings

Diameters: any.

Wall thickness: any.

Advantage: the use of the simplest hand tools. I usually use for fitting assembly a pair of spanners.

Disadvantage: The quality of the connection depends on the correct assembly technology. If the pipe is not sized, the rubber o-rings will dislodge over the fitting and leak after several heating and cooling cycles.

Technology:

1. We cut the pipe with pipe cutter scissors;
2. Calibrate it and remove the internal chamfer;
3. We put a union nut and a split ring on the pipe;
4. Apply silicone grease to the fitting fitting;
5. Carefully, so as not to displace the sealing rings, we put the pipe on the fitting;
6. Until it stops, we shift the split ring and nut to the fitting;

1. Tighten the nut until you feel resistance.

Press fittings

Their only difference from the previous solution is that instead of a union nut and a split ring, the pipe is crimped on the fitting with a stainless steel sleeve.

Diameter: any.

Wall thickness: any.

Advantage: a properly made connection does not leak at any temperature fluctuations.

I suspect that press fittings do not flow just because when installing them, professionals are not too lazy to calibrate pipes and chamfer. According to my observations, a connection assembled according to all the rules on compression fittings is not inferior to a press fitting in reliability.

In the photo - a plastic tee with two push couplings and an adapter for pipe threads.

Diameter: any.

Wall thickness: any.

Advantage: easy assembly without the use of tools.

Disadvantages: high cost of fittings, moderate tensile strength of the connection.

Technology: the end of the pipe is inserted into the fitting with a previously loosened nut, after which it is tightened. The pipe is fixed with a metal ring with paws directed inward. Tightness is ensured by an annular rubber seal.

To learn how to connect metal pipes without welding, you need to study in detail the methods for connecting these pipe materials. The thing is that pipelines are a complex structure from a series connection of a pipe-rolling assortment, measuring equipment, which are provided for in the project.

Matching can be done in a variety of ways. When choosing the optimal solution, they are guided by the purpose of the highway and the conditions for its use. Also take into account the diameter of the pipe assortment.

When laying the highway, the connection method may be different. Some of them may be one-piece, but dismantling with subsequent reassembly of the structure is possible.

And there are monolithic joints that cannot be disassembled without destroying the structure. Welding has won the greatest popularity among monolithic joints. But, this is far from the only method that allows you to connect sections of the pipeline, there are others.

Despite the high popularity of plastic, steel products are still used. Welded fastening is used very often, but such a joint is impossible without special knowledge and skills. Therefore, many try to use options that allow you to connect in a different way.

Mounting with threaded connection

How to connect iron pipes without welding will be discussed further, but in this article you can find out. To make docking, this method is very common.

The threaded connection can be located in such places of the main line, where the conditions allow for constant control of the joint. It should also be possible to carry out repairs if necessary.

Most often, threads are rolled on special equipment, but such work can be done independently.

It is performed in the following sequence:

How to connect without threading and welding

Next, you can learn how to connect metal pipes without welding and threading. Speaking of connecting metal pipes, this method cannot be bypassed, because it is very popular during installation work.

Installation work is carried out in the following sequence:

1. Metal pipes prepared for fastening are cut off at the end parts. The cut on them should be done perpendicularly and make sure that it runs smoothly.
2. A coupling is applied to the connection area. The center of the connecting element must be located exactly in the pipe joint area.
3. Markings are made on the pipes with a marker, it will indicate the position of the fitting.
4. Silicone grease covers the end parts of the connection.
5. One pipe is inserted into the connecting piece according to the mark indicator. After that, the second is put in the same axial line with the first, and only after that it is attached with a coupling. When dressing, the mark affixed with a marker will be a guideline.

Watch the video

Metal gas connection

• The correctness of the connection is checked as follows. A soapy solution is applied to the joint area. When soap bubbles appear on the surface, it is advised to stretch the joint more strongly.

Docking silencer pipes without welding

If a common problem has come with a rotten muffler flange, then you should think about how to connect the muffler pipes without welding. The whole point is this. In this situation, there are several options.

The first option is to cook. The next option is to buy a new muffler. The third option is to look for alternative exits. In both cases, you have to pay big money. If there is no strong rust on the muffler, then you can use a clamp.

As practice has shown, such clamps have long been used by world-famous car companies such as Volkswagen and Audi. And it should be noted that these devices in many cases have successfully replaced welding in car repairs.

To connect pipes at an angle and for a branch, other types of fittings are installed: elbows, transitional and others. The end parts of the parts for the joint must be cleaned, and the thread must be made with a high degree of accuracy.

To increase the strength of the joint of these products, it is wound with a strand of flax, only the thread is covered with white before that.

The short threaded part is characterized by such features. In the area of ​​the two turns at the end, which are called thread runouts, the depth is usually shorter. This makes it possible to provide a more durable joint without welding, without using runaways and seals.

Two parts on the elongated threaded part can be fastened together without welding by means of a drive. On the first part of it is a short thread, and on the other - a large one. The short one is designed for fastening with a coupling. A coupling with a lock nut is put on an elongated thread. A large thread allows you to adjust the length of the workpiece.

Drives are most often used in the repair of a section of the highway that has become unusable. The docking element and the locknut are driven onto a large thread.

To mount the squeegee, a sealing thread is used. It is screwed to the end of a short threaded thread on a metal product.

Sometimes, when installing the drive, a bundle of FUM tape is laid between the locknut and the coupling. It is laid in three layers. Such a joint is performed as follows:

1. A coupling and a lock nut are screwed onto a large threaded thread.
2. At the same time, they also take a sealing thread. It is wound on the end of the coupling, which is tightly fitted with a lock nut.
3. The tourniquet must lie in a chamfer, only in this way neither liquid nor steam can leak out.

Speaking about how to connect two metal pipes without welding, it is worth dwelling separately on such an option as Gebo. In parts of the highway where the connection is in a hard-to-reach area, this method is quite effective.

The name Gebo was given to a special fitting. It is put with the sole purpose of connecting several pipes. All work can be done quickly and easily. Thread cutting is not required.

There is an erroneous opinion that it is dangerous to join a riser with such a part without welding. But, properly mounted, this element can withstand very heavy loads. It should also be added here that such a mechanism is highly resistant to the influence of axial forces.

While maintaining the norms of the temperature regime, such a part perfectly holds not only metal products, but also plastic ones.

Using the material outlined above it is clear how to join metal pipes without welding. Almost all of the proposed methods are suitable for inexperienced craftsmen, and allow you to connect products without expensive welding, which requires high qualifications and special equipment.

For a metal pipeline, only a high-quality and reliable connection is necessary. Insufficient tightness of the system leads to low pressure in it, and, accordingly, to some inconvenience of living. Many owners of private houses and apartments know only the most popular connection methods: using a weld or thread. Of course, these methods are the most practical, especially if you have the necessary tools at hand. But there are other options for how you can connect metal pipes to each other.

Before moving on to the immediate topic, you should consider popular ways to connect metal or steel pipes. These include:

1. Connection of metal pipes by welding. It is used most often, but has a number of negative points:
   • High price. Welding equipment is quite expensive, and its use is half the cost of a welder.
   • High complexity of application. Not always, but often enough, a welder is faced with a problem in which he simply cannot apply welding. For example, in a cramped room or at high altitude.
   • Insufficient welding speed. Transportation and preparation of equipment takes a lot of time, so often the welder has to wait a long time.

Pipe welding

1. Coupling connection. Couplings for pipes (especially large diameters) are expensive and are often used to eliminate emergencies. A more practical option is to install fittings, which will be discussed later.

Types of pipe connections without welding and threads

But if there is no welding equipment or a set of taps and lerok at hand, then the following methods should be used:

• Use pipe fittings. Affordable pricing and good quality make these products the most acceptable. The fittings have a rigid structure, due to which they tightly and reliably wrap around the pipe section, without passing the liquid circulating through the system. The service life of the fitting depends on its manufacturer, so it is best to give preference to products from Switzerland or France.
• Use flanges. By design, the flange resembles a standard clamp, along the inside of which there is a rubber seal. The flange has the following advantages: ease of installation, low cost, durability.
• Apply the Gebo coupling. The design of the Gebo coupling is quite simple and consists of three rings (clamping, clamping and sealant), a nut and the flange itself. Installation of this product will not take much time if you know the exact installation sequence. Using the Gebo coupling, you can achieve high tightness of the connection. The service life of the product is long, with the exception of the sealing ring, which has to be changed at certain time intervals.
• Apply repair and assembly clip. Structurally, this product is made in the form of two parts, which must be pulled together with bolts. It should be remembered that the repair and installation clip belongs to the category of consumables used in emergency situations. It should not be used for long term use.

The above connection methods are suitable for pipes with a rigid structure. These can be products made of metal, steel, cast iron or polyvinyl chloride. For profile products that do not require high tightness, the following connection options should be used:

• Clamps for fasteners. Universal elements used in almost any construction industry. With the help of clamps, 2 or more profile pipes can be pulled together, while the design, in terms of strength, will not differ too much from the welded one.

Varieties and advantages of fittings

Why is it worth using fittings and what is the main advantage of this material? The answer is simple: these elements have a simple design, but are practical, they have a long service life and affordable cost. By not using welding equipment or expensive taps with lerks, the user achieves the same high result using simpler fittings.

Fittings are successfully used not only in the installation or repair of pipes, this material is also popular in the manufacture of compression equipment and gas turbine mechanisms. This means that the product creates sufficient tightness, with the help of a seal, even in systems with high pressure.

Types of fittings by size and application:

• Direct. It means that the diameter of the product remains unchanged, both on one side and on the other. Used to connect two identical pipes.
• Adapter fittings. Needed to connect two pipes of different diameters. Indispensable, for example, when repairing an old pipeline, where a large number of pipes have different sizes.
• Tees. They allow you to make a branch from the main line without the help of threading or welding.
• Crosses. They have the same purpose as tees, but are able to divide the main line into more branches.
• Fittings. Apply as connection of flexible metal pipes. Fittings are able to create sufficient tightness even when connecting a material that changes its structure.
• Plugs for the pipeline. The main function is to overlap the end of the pipes.

It should be clarified that the variety of fittings, as well as their manufacturers, allows you to purchase products both for outdoor installation and in an apartment or private house.

What is a Gebo coupling

Gebo coupling - appearance

The Gebo coupling is called a one-way coupling, which has such elements as compression rings and a threaded connection. The double-sided Gebo coupling has compression rings on both sides.

Gebo coupling design

The design of the Gebo coupling implies the presence of a special recess for a rubber seal, which creates a tight connection. The seal is made in the shape of a cone, which contributes to its penetration even into the most inaccessible cracks when tightening the coupling.

The procedure for using the Gebo coupling

In order for the operational life of this product to be as long as possible, it is necessary to know the process of proper installation, which will maintain the required tightness of the connection of metal pipes.

1. On both pipes, you should make the most even cut and clean its edges, getting rid of small metal burrs. Paint or enamel is also removed, down to the metal itself. To do this, you can use fine sandpaper or a special circle for the grinder.
2. The first to put on the pipe is the nut that comes with the coupling. Next, you need to place a cone-shaped ring on the pipe, so that the upper part of the cone looks at the nut.
3. The second is put on the clamping ring, followed by the seal. The seal should be turned towards the fitting.
4. Next, tighten the fitting so that when the nut is tightened, it does not turn. Tighten the nut so that 1-2 threads remain.

The coupling is installed and it should be checked for quality by supplying water to the system. If drops of liquid appear from under the coupling, it is necessary to slightly tighten the nut and re-check the connection for tightness. If moisture reappears, the coupling should be removed and the area under it re-cleaned.

The main advantages of the Gebo coupling

Gebo couplings are often used because of the practical ratio of pricing and product quality. With proper installation, the coupling is able to last for many years, after which it is enough to replace the rubber sealing ring on it and can be re-mounted on the pipeline.

The breadth of application of this product is also appreciated. Like ordinary fittings, the Gebo coupling is used not only in water pipes, but also in compression systems. It will take a minimum of time to make the connection, and it does not require a special tool.

Use of repair and assembly clips

Repair and installation clip

An easy-to-use pipe design that is also reliable enough to require no threading or welding. The repair and installation clip consists of two metal parts, a sealant and 4 tightening bolts. Unfortunately, it is not recommended to use the clip for a long time period - this type of fitting is designed to quickly eliminate emergencies.

It does not take much time to install the clip (along with stripping). But the connection should be carried out painstakingly, and after installation it is imperative to check its quality.

The sequence of application of the repair and assembly clip

1. The clip is easy to close, for example, a crack in a pipeline without threading or welding. It is not suitable for connecting two pipes. Therefore, after detecting a crack, the area around it should be carefully cleaned with fine sandpaper. After stripping, a clean and smooth surface should form, on which the sealant will lie tightly.
2. Next, a rubber seal for pipes is put on the damaged place, so as to completely close it. The slightest gap will cause fluid to leak.
3. Now, two halves of the repair and installation clip should be put on the seal and pulled together with four bolts. It is not necessary to overtighten, so as not to damage the thread.
4. Let the fluid in and check if the connection is tight enough. Tighten bolts or nuts if necessary.

The simplicity of this method makes it very popular. The second positive quality is that the repair and assembly clip has a low cost.

Flange connection - easy installation and affordable price

Flange connections are used even when it is necessary to join a plastic and metal pipe without threading or welding. This connection of metal pipes without welding is carried out with the help of bolts, it has high strength and tightness.

The design of the flange for the pipeline is simple: 2 metal discs, each of which fits a pipe. Between the discs is a rubber seal. To connect the structure, bolts are provided, on which, on the other hand, nuts are put on.

Such a connection of steel pipes is reliable and durable, can be operated for several decades. But at certain time intervals (1-3 years), the flange must be maintained for the connection and the quality of the seal must be checked.

Copper pipes are used in the installation of hot water, cold water, air conditioning, heating, gas supply systems. They are expensive, but durable, plastic, resistant to corrosion. But in order for engineering communications from them to last for decades, the connection of copper pipes must be done correctly.

We will tell you how the installation of copper pipelines is carried out, ensuring the tightness of the transported medium or the circulating coolant. The article presented for review describes in detail the installation technologies. Based on our advice, the construction of systems will be done “perfectly”.

To perform the installation of internal pipelines in the house, you can choose a pipe made of plastic, metal-plastic or stainless steel. But only an analogue made of copper is able to serve without problems and overhaul for more than half a century.

Properly installed copper piping systems in practice work properly throughout the entire period of operation, which is assigned to a cottage or apartment building.

According to accident statistics, the fittings and joints used for installation by soldering turn out to be more reliable than the copper pipes themselves - if a breakthrough occurs in the system, then only on the wall of the tubular product

Copper pipes are not afraid of long-term thermal loads, chlorine and ultraviolet. When freezing, they do not crack, and when the temperature of the internal environment (water, sewage, gas) changes, they do not change their geometry.

Unlike plastic counterparts, they do not sag. This plastic is subject to expansion at high temperatures, with copper this does not happen by definition.

Pipe copper products have two drawbacks - the high price and the softness of the metal. However, the high cost of the material pays off with a long service life.

And so that the walls of the pipes are not damaged from the inside by erosion, filters must be installed in the system. If there is no pollution in the form of solid particles in the water, then there will be no problems with the destruction of pipelines.

Pipe processing and welding requirements

When working with copper pipes, the following rules must be observed:

1. When mounting cold water or hot water pipes by soldering, the use of lead solder should be excluded - lead is too toxic.
2. The water flow rate must not exceed 2 m/s, otherwise the smallest particles of sand or other solid matter will gradually begin to destroy the pipe walls.
3. When using fluxes, after completion of installation, the pipeline system must be flushed without fail - the flux is an aggressive substance and will contribute to the corrosion of copper pipe walls.
4. When soldering, overheating of the junction should not be allowed - this can lead not only to the formation of a leaky joint, but also to loss of strength of the copper product.
5. Pipe transitions from copper to other metals (steel and aluminum) are recommended to be performed using brass or bronze adapter fittings - otherwise steel and aluminum pipes will quickly begin to corrode.
6. Burrs (metal deposits) and burrs at the cutting points must be removed - their presence leads to the formation of turbulent eddies in the water flow, which contributes to erosion and a reduction in the operational life of the copper pipeline.
7. When preparing copper pipes for connection, it is strictly forbidden to use abrasives - their particles left after installation inside will lead to damage to the metal and the formation of a fistula.

If in the plumbing or heating system in the house, in addition to copper, there are also pipes or elements made of other metals, then the water flow should go from them to copper, and not vice versa. The flow of water from copper to steel, zinc or aluminum will lead to rapid electrochemical corrosion of pipeline sections from the latter.

Copper pipes are cut and bent without problems, even a novice master is able to cope with their connection into a single pipeline system. You just need to choose the right tools and follow the instructions.

Due to the ductility and strength of the metal, copper pipes are easily cut and bent. The pipeline can be rotated either by using a pipe bender or by using fittings. And for branching and connecting with various devices, there are many parts made of heat-resistant plastics, brass, stainless steel and bronze.

On the interaction of copper with other metals

In most private houses, household water pipes are assembled from steel and aluminum pipes. In heating systems, there are also radiators made of steel or aluminum. Incorrect insertion into such a copper pipe layout is fraught with considerable problems.

According to building codes, in order to exclude corrosion processes in the pipeline from pipes of different metal, the water flow should be directed to copper

The most optimal installation option is the use of pipes and devices exclusively from copper and its alloys. Now you can easily find bimetallic aluminum-copper radiators, as well as the corresponding fittings and valves. Combining different metals is only in extreme cases.

If the combination is unavoidable, then copper should be the last in the chain of pipeline elements. It is impossible to rid it of the ability to conduct electric current.

And in the presence of even a weak current, this metal creates galvanic couples with steel, aluminum and zinc, which inevitably leads to their premature corrosion. When installing a water supply system, it is imperative to insert bronze adapters between them.

Another potential problem is the oxygen in the water. The higher its content, the faster the pipes corrode. This applies to pipelines both from the same metal, and made from different ones.

Often, cottage owners make a serious mistake by often changing the coolant in the heating system. This only leads to the addition of completely unnecessary portions of oxygen. It is best not to change the water completely, but to add it when the need arises.

Mounting Choice: Detachable vs Fixed

In order to form a single pipeline system, you can use several methods of their articulation. Different plumbers use crimp and press fittings, welding or soldering. But before you start work yourself, you need to decide whether the pipeline should be one-piece or detachable.

There are three installation technologies for connecting copper pipes:

• electric welding;
• soldering with a torch or electric soldering iron;
• pressing.

All these technologies can be applied in the formation of both detachable and non-detachable systems. It is more a matter of using a variety of fittings and adapters or abandoning them.

If the structure cannot be disassembled without destroying its individual parts, then it is considered one-piece - it turns out to be cheaper, but it is more difficult to repair

If the pipeline system needs to be detachable, as well as simpler in terms of repair and adding new elements, then the connections must be made detachable.

For this, fittings are used:

• compression;
• threaded;
• self-locking.

Detachable connections are easier to make on your own, you can even do without soldering. They do not require unnecessarily high qualifications from the master.

However, such units need constant inspection and tightening of the nuts to prevent leaks. Pressure and temperature fluctuations in the system lead to loosening of the fasteners. And from time to time it is recommended to pull them up.

If it is planned to close access to copper pipes tightly with a finish or concrete screed, then it is best to connect them into a one-piece structure by soldering or welding. Such a system is more reliable, durable and resistant to gusts.

Threading is prohibited on copper products. This metal is too soft in structure. When installing a detachable pipeline, all threaded connections must be made using fittings. The latter can be connected to a copper pipe by pressing or soldering.

Before making connections, copper pipes are prepared in a special way:

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Copper pipe is cut with a hacksaw or a pipe cutter. The cutting line must be exactly at a right angle.

After cutting, the end of the pipe must be processed with a deburring tool to remove the slightest bumps and burrs

The part of the pipe immersed in the socket prepared for soldering is thoroughly cleaned of dirt and degreased.

Low-temperature solder joints are mainly used in the assembly of pipelines from R 220 soft pipes. They withstand a pressure of 220 N / mm², which does not exceed the operating parameters in domestic heating and water supply networks

To perform low-temperature soldering, it is enough to heat up the pipe and solder with a standard blowtorch