Soldering commercial pipe sizes

[cr0ft]

Hi all. Just been to look at my first job working on a hotel. A leak on a 35mm hot water downpipe where it tees off to 28mm.

I have actually never soldered anything larger than 28mm before to be honest. Is 35mm and larger soldered the same way, but just running the blowtorch around the fitting slowly to move the solder round? I guess these pipes are too big to heat in just the one place a bit like 28mm.

Any other tricks for working on 35mm or larger pipes? Do you get 35mm and larger circular pipe slices? Any info on tools to work with them from the commercial bods would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Scott_D]

Solder up to 42mm normally with map gas, I usually braze / silver solder 54mm and above.

 

[Ermintrude]

I use a recip saw in pipes upto 4" including steel. My recip is actually quicker than u think. I use it on all copper over 28mm.
Soooooo much faster than a cutter. Also pipes not burred.

35mm u can get just like a 28mm just a fed seconds longer. I always use flux brushes as on a bigger pipe it's important to spread flux as it won't run the same. Clean pipe and clean fitting. I use solder ring / Yorkshire on all pipework.

Normal butane on sf2. Wipe in flux as it's heating

 

[mfgs]

Exactly the same principle as normal soldering, you just need to make sure you spread the heat around the fitting to allow to solder to flow all the way into the joint.

 

[cr0ft]

Do you guys charge the same prices for commercial work? There seems to be a lot less plumbers that do commercial work here in Lincoln hence my question.

 

[cr0ft]

I use a recip saw in pipes upto 4" including steel. My recip is actually quicker than u think. I use it on all copper over 28mm.
Soooooo much faster than a cutter. Also pipes not burred.

35mm u can get just like a 28mm just a fed seconds longer. I always use flux brushes as on a bigger pipe it's important to spread flux as it won't run the same. Clean pipe and clean fitting. I use solder ring / Yorkshire on all pipework.

Normal butane on sf2. Wipe in flux as it's heating

I imagine a Fein cutter would make a neat job of pipes up to 54mm.

 

[Ermintrude]

But you would need to hold it and rotate tube? Never really used one. We used to have a rigid one with a clamp but a subby made off with it. I just use my chord less one. Put tube against backstop and through you go

 

[IDCHAPPY]

Do you guys charge the same prices for commercial work? There seems to be a lot less plumbers that do commercial work here in Lincoln hence my question.

No freking way, commercial is 60% more expensive(e.g we work on £25 p/h for domestic £40 p/h for comercial/industrial)

 

[Linkyplumb]

Do you guys charge the same prices for commercial work? There seems to be a lot less plumbers that do commercial work here in Lincoln hence my question.

Always charge more for commercial work.

 

[hammers4spanner]

I use a recipe saw or adjustable cutters soldering 35mm will have no issues ,regarding rates upwards of 30 quid per hour . I would check your insurance tho as small print may not cover this work

 

[lame plumber]

No freking way, commercial is 60% more expensive(e.g we work on £25 p/h for domestic £40 p/h for comercial/industrial)

So by my charging £45/hr for gas work, does that make me commercial?

 

[Ermintrude]

Industrial

 

[WaterTight]

So by my charging £45/hr for gas work, does that make me commercial?

i charge more than that for plumbing. so that makes you tesco's checkout.

 

[tamz]

I would check your insurance tho as small print may not cover this work

Good point :smile: