How to Solder Brass and Copper

If you’re wondering how to solder brass or copper tubing, you've come to the right place. We'll tell you what tools to use, how to apply those tools, and how to accomplish a seamless joint. Let's get started.

What is Soldering?

Soldering consists of fusing low melting point alloys together at a joint. Solder is usually made of either lead or tin and is fused most often with brass or copper because of its low melting point.

What You Need 

Be sure you have the proper tools on hand to begin the soldering process. You’ll need the following:

• Blow torch or soldering iron – Contains an iron bit and heats the copper or brass tubing

• Solder – Lining or wiring made of a low-melting point alloy, typically lead or tin or a combination of the two

• Flux – Paste applied to the joint and iron bit that helps the solder fuse properly to the metal

• Brass Tubing – 0.8 mm and 2.0 mm thick, or

• Copper bar, plate, tube or wire

• Wire brush, scrubbing pad or steel wool – Cleans the tubing, removes any coating, and helps with adhesion

• Soldering pad – Lies on a flat surface to support your soldering project and protect the surface beneath

How to Solder Copper and Brass: Step-by-Step

Once you have all your supplies, you can begin soldering. Follow the steps below.

1. Create a layout of your intended finished product using the bar or tubing.

2. Use the wire brush, scrubbing pad or steel wool to clean the entire copper or brass surface area to be soldered. Use it to clean the iron bit as well.

3. Cut metal pieces to fit your precise model. Be sure to remove any burrs. The rods will be light enough to temporarily secure each joint with masking tape.

4. Turn the soldering iron on and allow it to heat up for a few minutes.

5. Brush on or dip the tip of the brass tube and iron bit in the flux. The solder will stick better as a result, but don’t allow any globs of flux to remain, or they may cause pitting of the pipe.

6. Touch the tip of the soldering iron close to the brass joint where the two brass tubes are joined. Try to contact both metal parts. Hold the iron until you notice the flux begins to smoke.

7. Grasp the solder with your other hand and carefully line the soldering wire along the joint. The wire should melt into the brass almost immediately. 

8. Clean your completed project with a damp rag, warm running water or a toothbrush. To remove leftover flux, you may apply a baking soda paste or wipe it off using isopropyl alcohol. You can also use your cleaning pad to dry it.

Keep in mind soldering is best suited to metals with low melting points, such as brass and copper. Furthermore, restrict soldering to tubes that are no more than 2.0 mm in width.  

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