Do you use flux when brazing refrigerant lines?
When brazing copper to brass or to steel a flux is always required. A flux is also required when using high silver braze alloys like Safety Silv® 45 or 56. Brazing fluxes contain 15 – 35% water so we want to keep excess flux from inside the lines.
Can you solder refrigerant lines?
Soldering is a viable method of joining ACR tubing and components while servicing and installing refrigeration systems. However, not all types of solders can be used satisfactorily. Tin/lead and tin/antimony alloys are not normally recommended for our systems. There is one exception to the use of a tin/silver alloy.
Why are refrigerant lines brazed?
Mechanically this is the same process as soldering. It can be distinguished from soldering by temperature: in brazing the filler metal melts above 840 °F (450 °C). Because of the higher temperatures a brazed joint is stronger than a soldered joint.
Do you clean copper before brazing?
CLEANING THE METALS If the surfaces of the metals are contaminated (with oils, dirt, etc.) the brazing filler metals will not adhere to them and the joint will fail. But if for any reason those parts have become dirty or greasy, you will have to clean them to ensure a leak tight joint.
What brazing material is mainly used for connecting copper to copper?
Air-acetylene – This gas has a flame temperature of around 2700°F (1482°C). This type of brazing requires a cylinder of acetylene gas and incorporates atmosphere air to produce the torch flame. Air-acetylene is primarily used for copper-to-copper, copper-to-brass and copper-to-steel joints.
Which gas is used for brazing of copper pipes?
For most brazing jobs using oxygen-acetylene gases, a carburizing or neutral flame should be used. The neutral flame has a well-defined inner cone See diagram. Avoid an oxidizing flame. Excess acetylene removes surface oxides from the copper.