Soldered joints are more reliable, simpler and cheaper. There are two types of soldering: high temperature and low temperature. In high-temperature soldering, solders made from alloys of copper and other non-ferrous metals are used. Previously, even silver was sometimes soldered. But I have never done high-temperature soldering and even watched it only once briefly, so I will not bullshit you.

Low-temperature soldering is performed with lead-tin solder. The outer surface of the pipe and the inner surface of the fitting are cleaned. Flux is applied to the outer surface of the pipe. It is not worth smearing the flux inside the fitting, because then, when inserting the pipe, you will squeeze out part of the flux inside the fitting, which is undesirable. We immediately insert the pipe into the fitting and turn it back and forth a little so that the flux is evenly distributed. I advise soldering immediately after preparation so that the flux does not dry out and run out.

The junction is heated by a burner or a special electric powerful heater. The end of the solder wire is applied to the gap between the parts. The wire melts and flows into the slot. They say that the reason is in the capillary effect. I don’t know, but the fact remains - in the space between the pipe and the fitting, the flux is replaced by solder melt without additional effort.

When soldering, you need to use a special flux for soldering copper pipes. The fact is that the universal flux is not suitable here. I have learned this from my own sad experience. The soldering technology is such that the flux must withstand temperatures up to 350 degrees (not burn out). Only then will the solder melt and begin to flow into the space between the parts. Universal flux loses its fluidity at temperatures below 200 degrees.

Soldering also has some serious drawbacks. Firstly, everything looks very good in theory, in practice imagine yourself with a gas burner in a room saturated with heat-resistant elements (wall panels, pipe fixtures, sewer pipes, etc.). You try to heat the junction evenly from all sides, but the pipe is fixed to the wall, it is very difficult to crawl up to it from the side of the wall, and you need to heat it carefully, if you overheat, the flux will burn out and nothing will be soldered. You also need to keep the connected elements in a strictly defined position relative to each other so that the gap between them is the same on all sides. Otherwise, the solder will not leak and will not solder the joint from all sides. As my mentor, who taught me this matter, said, oh, why am I not the many-armed Shiva?

Secondly, the solder contains lead, and the seam is in contact with water. For hot water and heating, this is not critical, but I would not pass drinking water through such a pipe.

Thirdly, It is not always possible to ensure complete removal of flux residues. And the flux is corrosive and can eat through the copper pipe.

glue

Therefore, lately I have been gluing copper pipelines. I use cyanoacrylate (superglue) (its version with metal bonding additives) or poxypol depending on my mood. Cyanoacrylate holds very well, but sets in one second, so it's hard to glue them. Poxipol holds a little worse, but you have 5 minutes for the mutual positioning of the pipe and fitting.

Solder fittings are used. The fitting from the inside and the pipe from the outside are cleaned with sandpaper. Care must be taken to leave small grooves from the sandpaper across the pipe on the pipe and fitting. This will increase the strength of the connection. Next, the parts are degreased with acetone. The glue is applied in a thin layer both to the end of the pipe and to the inner surface of the fitting where the pipe is inserted. Poxipol must be prepared before application: mix the two components according to the instructions. Glue should be applied a little, but evenly. It should not be strongly squeezed out of the gap. It is better to first practice on a table with a pipe cut. Now we insert the pipe into the fitting, turn it back and forth a little so that the glue is evenly distributed, and wait for the glue to rise.

The connection is surprisingly strong and neat. I have been using this technology for several years with excellent results.

My colleagues complain that such a connection is not separable. But this is not true. It is collapsible to the same extent as soldering. It is enough to drain the water, heat the fitting with a soldering torch. The poxypol or cyanoacrylate will melt and the compound will disassemble with little effort. Parts can be cooled, cleaned of adhesive residue, degreased and glued again. Soldering parts with solder residue after disassembly is also possible, but more difficult.

Be very careful when disassembling. When heated, cyanoacrylate vapors are released, which are very toxic. This is another argument in favor of poxypol.

By the way, there is a special two-component adhesive for metal on sale. Try it, it should hold up even better.

If the connection is leaking

If a soldered or glued joint leaks a little (drips - 2 drops per minute or less), then it is not necessary to disassemble and redo it. Water always contains suspended impurities. Such a small hole will quickly become clogged with these small particles. The flow will stop. You can substitute a container so that the water does not flow to the floor and wait a week. The leak must stop. In an autonomous heating system, it is even easier to eliminate a leak, more on that at the link.

Unfortunately, errors occur periodically in articles, they are corrected, articles are supplemented, developed, new ones are being prepared.

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Press-B tee bronze Sanpress VIEGA 54x1/2"x54 - fitting-adapter from a threaded to a press connection if it is necessary to branch in the installation of copper pipes in cold and hot water supply systems, heating systems, sanitary equipment. The material of the press-B tee is bronze Sanpress VIEGA 54x1 /2"x54 - bronze. The scope of the tee press-B bronze Sanpress VIEGA 54x1 / 2 "x54 - water, air, glycols, fuel oil and other non-aggressive liquids. Operating conditions of the tee press-B bronze Sanpress VIEGA 54x1 / 2"x54: maximum temperature 110 degrees Celsius, maximum allowable pressure - 10 bar. Only a single compression of the tee press-B bronze Sanpress VIEGA 54x1/2"x54 with pressing tongs is allowed. Complete set of the tee press-B bronze Sanpress VIEGA 54x1/2"x54 - HNBR sealing elements. Sanpress press fittings are equipped with the SC-Contur (micro-groove on the fitting) safety loop, which allows you to visually identify unpressed joints during pressure testing, and the resulting

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Tee press-N bronze Sanpress VIEGA 54x3/4 "x54 - fitting-adapter from a threaded to a press connection if it is necessary to branch in the installation of copper pipes in cold and hot water supply systems, heating systems, sanitary equipment. The material of the press-N tee is bronze Sanpress VIEGA 54x3 /4"x54 - bronze. The scope of the tee press-N bronze Sanpress VIEGA 54x3 / 4 "x54 - water, air, glycols, fuel oil and other non-aggressive liquids. Operating conditions of the tee press-N bronze Sanpress VIEGA 54x3 / 4"x54: maximum temperature 110 degrees Celsius, maximum allowable pressure - 10 bar. It is allowed only a single compression of the press-N tee bronze Sanpress VIEGA 54x3 / 4 "x54 with pressing tongs. The complete set of the press-N tee bronze Sanpress VIEGA 54x3 / 4"x54 - HNBR sealing elements. Sanpress press fittings are equipped with the SC-Contur (micro-groove on the fitting) safety loop, which allows you to visually identify unpressed joints during pressure testing, and the resulting

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Press-N tee bronze Sanpress VIEGA 35x3/4 "x35 - fitting-adapter from a threaded to a press connection if it is necessary to branch in the installation of copper pipes in cold and hot water supply systems, heating systems, sanitary equipment. The material of the press-N tee is bronze Sanpress VIEGA 35x3 /4"x35 - bronze. The scope of the tee press-N bronze Sanpress VIEGA 35x3 / 4 "x35 - water, air, glycols, fuel oil and other non-aggressive liquids. Operating conditions of the tee press-N bronze Sanpress VIEGA 35x3 / 4"x35: maximum temperature 110 degrees Celsius, maximum allowable pressure - 10 bar. It is allowed only a single compression of the tee press-N bronze Sanpress VIEGA 35x3/4"x35 with pressing tongs. Complete set of the tee press-N bronze Sanpress VIEGA 35x3/4"x35 - HNBR sealing elements. Sanpress press fittings are equipped with the SC-Contur (micro-groove on the fitting) safety loop, which allows you to visually identify unpressed joints during pressure testing, and the resulting

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Press-N tee bronze Sanpress VIEGA 22x3/4"x22 - fitting-adapter from a threaded to a press connection if it is necessary to branch in the installation of copper pipes in cold and hot water supply systems, heating systems, sanitary equipment. The material of the press-N tee is bronze Sanpress VIEGA 22x3 /4"x22 - bronze. The scope of the tee press-N bronze Sanpress VIEGA 22x3 / 4 "x22 - water, air, glycols, fuel oil and other non-aggressive liquids. Operating conditions of the tee press-N bronze Sanpress VIEGA 22x3 / 4"x22: maximum temperature 110 degrees Celsius, maximum allowable pressure - 10 bar. It is allowed only a single compression of the tee press-N bronze Sanpress VIEGA 22x3/4"x22 with pressing tongs. Complete set of the tee press-N bronze Sanpress VIEGA 22x3/4"x22 - HNBR sealing elements. Sanpress press fittings are equipped with the SC-Contur (micro-groove on the fitting) safety loop, which allows you to visually identify unpressed joints during pressure testing, and the resulting

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Tee press-B bronze Sanpress VIEGA 15x1 / 2 "x15 - a fitting-adapter from a threaded to a press connection if it is necessary to branch in the installation of copper pipes in cold and hot water supply systems, heating systems, sanitary equipment. The material of the press-B tee is bronze Sanpress VIEGA 15x1 / 2 "x15 - bronze. The scope of the tee press-B bronze Sanpress VIEGA 15x1 / 2 "x15 - water, air, glycols, fuel oil and other non-aggressive liquids. Operating conditions of the tee press-B bronze Sanpress VIEGA 15x1 / 2"x15: maximum temperature 110 degrees Celsius, maximum allowable pressure - 10 bar. Only a single compression of the tee press-B bronze Sanpress VIEGA 15x1 / 2 "x15 with press tongs is allowed. Complete set of the tee press-B bronze Sanpress VIEGA 15x1 / 2"x15 - HNBR sealing elements. Sanpress press fittings are equipped with the SC-Contur (micro-groove on the fitting) safety loop, which allows you to visually identify unpressed joints during pressure testing, and the resulting

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Tee press-B bronze Sanpress VIEGA 22x1 / 2 "x22 - a fitting-adapter from a threaded to a press connection if it is necessary to branch in the installation of copper pipes in cold and hot water supply systems, heating systems, sanitary equipment. The material of the press-B tee is bronze Sanpress VIEGA 22x1 / 2 "x22 - bronze. The scope of the tee press-B bronze Sanpress VIEGA 22x1 / 2 "x22 - water, air, glycols, fuel oil and other non-aggressive liquids. Operating conditions of the tee press-B bronze Sanpress VIEGA 22x1 / 2" x22: maximum temperature 110 degrees Celsius, maximum allowable pressure - 10 bar. Only a single compression of the tee press-B bronze Sanpress VIEGA 22x1 / 2 "x22 with press tongs is allowed. Complete set of the tee press-B bronze Sanpress VIEGA 22x1 / 2" x22 - HNBR sealing elements. Sanpress press fittings are equipped with the SC-Contur (micro-groove on the fitting) safety loop, which allows you to visually identify unpressed joints during pressure testing, and the resulting

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Tee press-B bronze Sanpress VIEGA 28x1 / 2 "x28 - a fitting-adapter from a threaded to a press connection if it is necessary to branch in the installation of copper pipes in cold and hot water supply systems, heating systems, sanitary equipment. The material of the press-B tee is bronze Sanpress VIEGA 28x1 / 2 "x28 - bronze. The scope of the tee press-B bronze Sanpress VIEGA 28x1 / 2 "x28 - water, air, glycols, fuel oil and other non-aggressive liquids. Operating conditions of the press-B tee bronze Sanpress VIEGA 28x1 / 2"x28: maximum temperature 110 degrees Celsius, maximum allowable pressure - 10 bar. Only a single compression of the tee press-B bronze Sanpress VIEGA 28x1/2"x28 with press tongs is allowed. Complete set of the tee press-B bronze Sanpress VIEGA 28x1/2"x28 - HNBR sealing elements. Sanpress press fittings are equipped with the SC-Contur (micro-groove on the fitting) safety loop, which allows you to visually identify unpressed joints during pressure testing, and the resulting

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The water socket crimp-B with a plastic ring TIEMME 10x1/2" is designed to connect copper and steel pipes with taps in the water supply system, heating and plumbing equipment. The material of the water socket crimp-B TIEMME 10x1/2" is CW617N brass with a plastic ring (P.T.F.E.) . The scope of the water socket is water, glycols, non-aggressive liquids, oil and compressed air. The norms for the pipe limit the operating conditions of the crimp-B water socket with a TIEMME 10x1 / 2 "plastic ring to the following data: the maximum operating temperature is 120 degrees Celsius, the maximum allowable pressure is 30 bar. The thread of the crimp-B water socket with a TIEMME 10x1 / 2" plastic ring is - ISO 228 (GOST 6357-81), connection type - crimp and internal thread.

Pipe products made of copper, as well as fittings for connecting copper pipes, allow you to create reliable and durable communications that have a number of unique properties. The advantages and quality characteristics that distinguish such pipelines largely explain their rather high cost.

Communications from copper pipes and fittings

High-quality copper pipes and fittings, the technical and operational characteristics of which comply with the international standards ISO 9002, BS2 and DIN, are now produced by both foreign and domestic companies. Such pipes, as well as connecting elements for them, successfully withstand the high pressure of the media transported through them, high and low temperatures, and mechanical stresses that they may be subjected to during operation, transportation and storage.

Unlike the polymer pipes that are popular in our time, copper pipe products do not deteriorate from exposure to sunlight, they are not afraid of corrosion, which is a real scourge for products made from ferrous metals. In terms of the service life that copper pipes and fittings differ in, no similar product made from another material can be compared with them. It is noteworthy that copper products are practically eternal, the service life of communications from them is at least 100 years.

Pipe products, as well as fittings made of copper, are used for arranging engineering networks for various purposes:

• heating systems;
• air conditioning;
• cold and hot water supply;
• gas communications.

Those consumers who decide to use copper pipe products and copper fittings mainly use them to equip reliable and durable water supply networks. Fittings made from copper are more compact and look much cleaner than those made from ferrous metals. This is explained by the fact that when designing and manufacturing copper fittings, there is no need to make their walls thicker, taking into account their further corrosion, since they are simply not subject to it.

There are several reasons explaining the high popularity of pipes and fittings for them made of copper:

• copper, as you know, has antiseptic properties, therefore, pathogens do not develop in water pipes made from this metal, and the quality of the water transported through them even improves;
• installation of pipelines for which pipes and fittings made of copper are used is much easier than communications from black pipes;
• due to the high ductility of copper, pipes made of this metal, when water freezes in them, do not burst, but simply deform; to destroy a copper pipe, it is necessary to apply an internal pressure of 200 atm to it, and such pressures simply do not exist in household communications.

Elements for copper pipe connections

Copper fittings, which are used to connect copper pipes, are presented on the modern market in a wide variety of sizes and designs. The most well-known types of such connecting elements are:

• threaded fittings for copper pipes;
• self-locking connecting elements;
• compression or crimp type fittings;
• so-called press fittings;
• connecting fittings of capillary type.

Of all the listed types of connecting elements, press fittings for copper pipes are the least commonly used in our time, which is explained by the following reasons: their installation requires the use of complex and expensive equipment: special presses. The design of press fittings was originally developed in order to connect plastic and metal-plastic pipes with their help, so their use for mounting copper products is not always advisable.

In order for the pipeline, in the arrangement of which copper parts are used, to serve as long as possible and be highly reliable, it is advisable to use elements of homogeneous materials during its installation. Connecting copper pipes with fittings that are made from other raw materials should be done only in rare exceptions.

If it is not possible to avoid the use of fittings made of dissimilar materials during the installation of pipelines, then such a process must be carried out, adhering to the following simple rules:

• copper pipes in communications, for the creation of which elements from different materials are used, are always installed after ferrous metal products: in the direction of the liquid;
• copper parts of pipelines cannot be connected to galvanized fittings and, failure to comply with this requirement will cause electrochemical reactions to operate in such systems, which will significantly accelerate the corrosion process of steel parts;
• copper elements of pipe structures can be connected to parts made of acid-resistant steels, but if possible, it is better to replace such parts with fittings made of polyvinyl chloride.

Threaded fittings

Copper fittings belonging to the category of threaded group connecting elements are recommended to be used if the engineering communication being created is planned to be periodically disassembled in order to perform its maintenance. To carry out such technological operations as disassembly and assembly of the pipeline, allows the presence of external and internal threads on its structural elements.

Fittings connected to copper pipes with threads are significantly inferior to capillary and compression products in terms of their reliability. For this reason, such connecting elements must be checked regularly and, if necessary, replaced with new ones. In addition, it is best to use such fittings in those places in the pipeline that are easily accessible.

There are several most common types of threaded fittings for connecting copper pipes, which include:

• couplings are fittings with which you can connect pipes made of different materials, as well as create straight sections of pipelines formed from segments of the same or different diameters;
• corners - these include fittings with which you can change the direction of movement of the pipeline by 45 or 90 degrees;
• fittings - fittings that allow you to divert the transported medium from the main pipeline;
  crosses, tees, which are also called manifolds - these are fittings with which they create branches from the main pipeline, while maintaining its main direction;
• fittings used to close the end of a copper pipeline; as they can be used special plugs or caps.

When installing a new copper pipeline, specialists most often use crimp-type connecting elements, and when repairing or upgrading such communications, threaded-type fittings are used.

Connectors of compression and self-locking type

Fittings for connecting copper pipes, belonging to the category of compression or self-locking, are also called collet or crimp. Such connectors are a good alternative to fittings that are connected to copper parts by soldering. A collet-type fitting is an element whose design consists of sealing rings and gaskets, as well as a crimp ring, which, when tightened, contributes to the tightness of the connection being created. The material for the manufacture of compression or collet fittings can be not only copper, but also brass or metal-plastic.

Crimp type collet fittings are the best option for heating and plumbing systems, for the installation of which copper pipes of different diameters or tubular products made of various materials are used. Recently, self-locking fittings have become increasingly popular, which are distinguished by more preferable performance characteristics.

Self-locking fittings, in terms of the speed of making the connection and in terms of its reliability, can completely replace soldering. The design of such fittings includes a whole set of rings, one of which is equipped with special teeth. The principle of operation of such connecting elements is based on the fact that when exposed to a ring with teeth using a special mounting key, it is fixed in an adjacent element, thereby creating a reliable and durable connection of copper pipe sections. Unlike soldering, dismantling a connection obtained with such a fitting is as simple as obtaining it, using the same installation key.

It should be borne in mind that compression type fittings are always made of copper, while they can be used to connect elements made of ferrous metal and polymer materials.

Capillary method of connecting copper pipes

Which is rightfully considered the most reliable and durable method of connecting copper parts, is performed based on the principles of capillary technology. In accordance with this effect, which is based on the laws of physics, a liquid can rise through a capillary, overcoming gravity, if there is a certain distance between the lower and upper points of its rise.

This physical effect allows you to solder copper pipes in such a way that the solder melted by a gas burner is evenly distributed over the entire area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe connection being created. In order to effectively perform such soldering, pipes can be placed in any spatial position, the main thing is that the molten solder is supplied from the bottom of the joint being formed.

In more detail, the process of performing capillary soldering is as follows:

• using a gas burner, the place of the future connection is thoroughly heated;
• molten solder is supplied into the gap between the ends of the pipes to be connected or between the pipe and the fitting used, which completely fills it due to the capillary effect;
• the resulting compound is allowed to cool completely;
• after the complete cooling of the formed joint, its elements are carefully cleaned using a special cleaning compound.

With the help of soldering, based on the capillary effect, pipeline elements are connected not only from copper, but also from ferrous metals. In the event that a steel fitting is used as a connecting element for copper pipes, then a layer of a special flux is applied to the place of the future connection. As a solder, when performing soldering using capillary technology, a very current wire is used, which can be made of tin, copper, and in some cases even silver.

The connection of elements of copper pipelines using collet-type fittings is performed without preliminary preparation of the connection points. But in order to perform high-quality soldering of such pipes and fittings, it is necessary not only to thoroughly clean the place of the future connection from dirt and dust, but also to degrease it.

Copper pipe rolling process

When arranging heating and plumbing systems, the parts of which are made of copper, such technological operations as flaring or disassembling copper pipes are often performed. With the help of this operation, for which various tools can be used, the geometric parameters of the ends of the pipes to be connected are changed without changing the performance of the product.

The simplest tool with which to perform this operation is a rod with a conical tip, which is inserted into the end of a copper pipe and rotated in it until it acquires the desired geometric shape. This device, although quite simple to use, does not allow for high-quality flaring, providing uniform pressure on the walls.

Many, in my opinion, erroneously, believe that copper pipes for installing plumbing or heating a house are quite expensive, and some that the age of copper for these purposes is a thing of the past. In this entry, we will try to prove to you that this is not so, precisely because copper is a fairly convenient material for mounting any structures, and if we take its durability into account, then it is indispensable in many cases and it is she who will be chosen by a zealous owner for his own home.

If we compare copper with other materials from which water pipes and other communication pipes are made (for example, with plastic or), then its advantages are obvious. First of all, it is an unusually long service life: copper pipes and fittings often last as long as the building itself exists.

Copper is very ductile, which increases the safety of the water supply and retains its properties over a wide temperature range (from -200 to +250 ° C), which makes the pipes resistant to freezing when filled with water.

Copper pipes are resistant to ultraviolet radiation (unlike plastic), have a low roughness coefficient, which allows them to be used in similar conditions

The copper pipeline is practically not affected by various types of viruses and bacteria, it is not afraid of oils, fats and various harmful substances. Even chlorine, which is inevitable for our water pipes, is not able to destroy a copper pipe, but, on the contrary, due to the formation of an oxide layer on its inner walls, chlorine helps to extend the life of the pipe.

Pipes

Water supply copper pipes of circular cross section are produced both in coils (25 and 50 m long) and in segments (rods of various lengths). The most commonly used pipes have diameters from 8 to 28 mm with a wall thickness of 1 mm. It is worth emphasizing that copper pipes due to thin walls are much lighter than steel pipes. They may be insulated.

Installation of copper pipes does not cause any particular difficulties, mainly due to the fact that they are well cut and bent. Copper pipes can be connected in two ways: detachable and one-piece. The second includes soldering, welding, crimping.

To connect pipes, connect to fittings, various fittings are used to existing water supply.

Fitting

There are a large number of varieties of connecting and transitional fittings. Examples of some are shown in photos 1-12. So, for soldering, not only ordinary and adapter couplings are used, but also various elbows, tees, crosses, contours, rolls and plugs. There are fittings with the transition of a soldered connection to a threaded one, for example, an “American” with a cone seal (15 × 1/2 ″). Threaded press fittings often use a ferrule, which, when the union nut is tightened, compresses the pipe, thereby sealing the connection.

Soldering copper pipes

Soldering is carried out due to adhesion between molten copper-phosphorus or silver solders and heated pipes to be joined. The solder is distributed at the junction under the action of capillary forces, "wetting" the base metal. To improve the quality of soldering and increase the adhesion coefficient, special fluxes are used, and the soldering surfaces are pre-cleaned. When soldering, you need to evenly heat the parts to be joined to the required temperature.

Therefore, when soldering, the type of burner flame is important, which indicates the balance of the gas mixture. A decreasing burner flame indicates an excess amount of fuel in the mixture that exceeds the oxygen content. A supersaturated gas mixture, due to an excess of oxygen, forms a flame that oxidizes the surface of the metal. A sign of this phenomenon is a black coating on the metal. A balanced gas mixture, when burned, forms a flame that heats the metal without any other effect.

When working on soldering copper pipes, also note that:

• The application of flux promotes adhesion of the solder to the metal.
• The place of soldering is preliminarily serviced.
• For high-quality soldering, the necessary heating of the soldered parts is required.
• For soldering copper pipes, cleaning of the joint is required.

Copper soldering tools

For soldering copper, special soldering irons and gas burners are used.

When working with copper pipes, in addition to soldering and crimping, they have to be cut, bent, expanded, beaded. Pipe bending to avoid wrinkling and flattening is performed using a lever pipe bender. Moreover, for pipes with a diameter of up to 15 mm, the bending radius must be at least 3.5 diameters. For pipes of large diameters, the bending radius must be at least 4 diameters. You can also cut pipes with a hacksaw, but it is best with a pipe cutter, which allows you to do this exactly at the mark and without distortions. After each revolution, it is necessary to tighten the cutting roller by tightening the set screw. Burrs appearing during the cutting process must be removed.

To ensure the insertion of the pipe into the pipe, special expander pliers and mandrels are used.

How to bend copper pipes

In the photo above, the numbers indicate

1. The pipe is inserted and fixed in the grip of the pipe bender at the start of the bend.
2. Applying force, gradually turn the movable handle of the lever pipe bender, bending the pipe around the mandrel.
3. You can also bend the pipe using a spring with a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the pipe.

Pipe expansion

In the photo below, the numbers indicate

To connect pipes with fittings with union nuts (especially when repairing connections), it is necessary to do flaring.

1. If necessary, remove the union nut by cutting off the flared end of the pipe.
2. You can cut off the flaring with a roller pipe cutter by sliding the nut along the pipe.
3. To restore the flaring, the pipe is clamped in the matrix so that the end of the pipe protrudes above the surface of the matrix by about 1 mm.
4. By screwing the fixture screw, the end of the pipe is deformed with the formation of a conical expansion.
5. After removing the screw clamp, check the funnel flare, which must have the correct shape.
6. The end of the pipe can be flattened with light blows of a hammer, again clamping the pipe in the matrix.
7. A smooth and even flare surface can be obtained with a velvet file.
8. It remains to put the sealing gasket, and the pipe can be connected.
9. If necessary, flaring can also be done on fittings, for example, couplings, squares.

How to expand a copper tube

To connect pipes by soldering without the use of connecting fittings, the end of one pipe can be expanded using special pliers.

Having inserted the pipe into the tongs with a head of the required diameter, apply force to the handles of the tongs, expanding the end of the pipe.

After the expansion of the pipe, a mandrel-caliber is inserted into the pipe and with light hammer blows on the mandrel, the expansion diameter is adjusted to the required expansion using special pliers.

How to cut copper pipes with a pipe cutter:

The pipe is placed between the jaws of the pipe cutter and the cutting roller is pressed with a set screw.

Having made one or two turns around the pipe with a pipe cutter, the roller is tightened with a screw and the pipe cutter is turned again.

With a folding knife, burrs are removed from the inside of the pipe.

Continue cutting the pipe until the part of the pipe to be cut can be separated by hand.

Typical types of copper pipe connections

When performing installation work, for example, a water supply system using copper pipes, it is necessary to provide connections, make bends, bypasses, and install plumbing fittings.

In the photo, types of “copper” connections

1. Flexible hose connection.
2. Connection of pipes of different diameters by soldering with a straight coupling.
3. The outlet is made using a tee and a single-pipe bypass.
4. Elbow with wall bracket and valve for flexible connection.
5. Outline with extended sockets.
6. Insertion of a ball valve connected with union nuts.

A variant of the plumbing system using copper components

In order to optimize the plumbing system, equalize the pressure in the system, reduce additional loads on the pump and reduce the cost of the system, the diameters of copper pipes are selected depending on the water flow at each point of consumption. Usually, at a flow rate of up to 50 l / min, pipes with a diameter of 10 mm are used, at a flow rate of up to 160 l / min - pipes with a cross section of 16 mm, at a flow rate of 250 l / min - pipes with a cross section of 20 mm. The variant of the plumbing system and the diameters of the copper pipes are shown in the figure.

For pipes of different diameters, threaded fittings of the appropriate sizes are usually used. For example, turnkey fittings 15 × 22 mm can be used for solder joints with pipes with a cross section of 10-18 mm (table).

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Copper components for the installation of pipelines are not inferior to analogues from other materials, and even outperform in terms of durability and resistance to temperatures. However, the reliability and functionality of copper communications depends entirely on the quality of the connection nodes.

Fittings and pipes made of high-quality copper are not inferior in technical qualities to components for pipelines made from other popular materials. Unlike iron-based alloys, copper does not rust at all. In addition, it is not afraid of ultraviolet radiation, extremely low and high temperatures, while sunlight, frost and intense heat are equally destructive for polymer compounds. Copper pipes weigh little, are easy to transport, store and install.

All these positive qualities allow copper pipe products to remain popular as components for the installation of systems:

• hot and cold water supply,
• air conditioning,
• gas distribution,
• heating.

Features of connecting elements for copper pipes

Since copper components are used in areas where even the slightest leakage is unacceptable, high requirements are placed on copper pipeline assemblies. When connecting pipes, it is important to ensure not only maximum reliability and tightness, but also to prevent chemical processes that will adversely affect the composition of the working medium and the condition of the pipeline.

For the installation of the pipeline, you can use shaped elements from different materials:

Note! Black steel fittings cannot be used to mate copper pipes, even if it is chrome-plated or galvanized. Copper reacts with unalloyed steel, which can result in the shaped element being destroyed.

Types of fittings

All connecting fittings are divided into several types according to their functions:

• Straight - for direct connection of two pipes of the same diameter. Such fittings are called couplings, the body is usually in the form of a cylinder.
• Transitional - for direct connection of two pipes of different diameters. Adapters, or reducers, have a complex shape: two short cylinders of different sizes are connected by a truncated cone.
• Angled, or rotary, - for connecting identical pipes at an angle. Such fittings are called bends or corners, the body bending angle is from 15 to 90 degrees.
• Branching - to combine two or more streams or split one stream into several. Tee bodies have three branch pipes, the diameters of which may vary. Cross body housings consist of four or more nozzles connected at right angles.
• Sealing - for blocking free branch pipes. These shaped elements, called plugs, are a lid or stopper.