Soldering for the First Time | Ask This Old House

WEB EXCLUSIVE: In a recent episode of Ask This Old House, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey helped landscape designer Jenn Nawada hook up a fridge with an icemaker. While he was there, he offered Jenn a crash course on soldering.
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Time: 1 hour
Cost: $50
Skill Level: Moderate
Tools List for Soldering:
Measuring tape
Pipe cutter
Blow torch
Bucket
Shopping List:
Pipe cleaner
Solder
Flux
Pipes
Fittings
Rags
Steps:
1. Shut the water off to the pipes being soldered.
2. Measure and cut the pipes to length using the pipe cutter. Have a bucket ready to catch any water left over in the pipe.
3. Let the pipes dry before soldering or the connection won’t take.
4. Use a pipe cleaner to clean the outside of the pipes and the insides of the fittings.
5. Generously apply flux to the cleaned ends of the pipes and fittings and fit the pieces together.
6. Hold the blow torch on the opposite side of where you plan to apply to solder. Wait a few minutes to allow the pipe to heat up, and then gently touch the pipe with the solder. If it quickly wraps around the entire connection, then it took properly. If it did not, continue to heat the pipe up and try again.
7. Wipe down the excess solder on the pipe with a rag.
8. Turn the water back on.
Resources:
All the materials required for soldering - solder, flux, blow torch, pipes, and fittings - are available at home centers and plumbing supply houses.
About Ask This Old House TV:
Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we're ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers-and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook.
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Soldering for the First Time | Ask This Old House
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[@rawbacon]

TOH taught me to solder over 30 years ago and I'm glad to report the 1" copper I soldered as a kid all those years ago in my Mom's house is still working fine.

[@c430]

That's awesome

[@eliascruz9757]

Let teach you how to plumbing deep plumbing lol

[@WisKrisKar]

Taking a class, any class, from This Old House would be a dream come true!! I love these guys

[@WisKrisKar]

I have to comment again; I am loving this gal with her torch and enthusiasm. So great!

[@johnmack1185]

They both did great. My old boss would say " Soldering is not something I can teach you, its something you have to learn". He was right. I learned more by my mistakes and watching others than anything instruction. Good first attempt though.

[@nickaschenbecker9882]

Your old boss obviously didn't understand the difference between tacit and explicit knowledge. You can teach anyone the theory and practice of anything. No dumb questions; only dumb teachers. Hopefully you didn't cause any structure fires learning what NOT to do the hard way.

[@michaelfisher7835]

You forgot to deburr the inside of the cut pipe. Very important.

[@youngrav2311]

A d forgot to start soldering from the bottom up

[@danielmarquardt4341]

ream inside and out

[@michaelfisher7835]

@@danielmarquardt4341 I just thought that was a given.

[@alexscott730]

3:52...The tool he's using deburs and brushes the inside and edge of the cut.

[@michaelfisher7835]

@@alexscott730 I reviewed the video and saw no such tool. Using a brush does nothing to debur the tubing.

[@bdr420i]

great student with great teacher 👏😁 this is awesome

[@bjornjoseph]

I learned plumbing and electrical thanks to this old house. Moved my washer: new water lines and electrical including a 220

[@donb5794]

These are great videos loving this channel

[@aznibas]

Thank you for wonderful demonstration.

[@indycustommade3568]

These are so helpful. Starting a library of useful info. These videos help keep up to speed on everything home stuff. Easy to follow and explains in detail. Great stuff. Oh by the way say hello to the best "Mr. Yankee" Norm. Great guy.

[@ammisudipto]

You guys are like an uncle teaching me stuff around the house. Thank you.

[@polamomo7109]

Keep going guys you awesome!

[@dariuszzyskowski2765]

Thank you! Very helpful.

[@fiscalwarrior7002]

Great video!

[@guzman9011]

Best how to video! So clear and concise!

[@danielmiller2977]

I love this channel!

[@grigorharutyunyan9934]

This is the best KZbin Chanel ever keep on coming guys!!

[@lichub]

Chanel #5

[@nickg1307]

My first time soldering I was surprised how easy it was. I'm sure larger pipe 1 1/2" and above is a different story

[@dallasmandy]

Thank you for this

[@xXAnchormonXx]

She did quite well, it only gets better with time.

[@Bill.L.Carroll]

That's one Crème Brûlée I wouldn't want for desert. Good job on the solder 👍

[@lichub]

Gobi or Mojave?

[@damannoa]

I've learned how to solder thanks to these types of videos on youtube. She did a pretty good job for her first time. It's far from perfect but we all start somewhere. The best thing to do is to buy a couple of 1", 3/4" and 3/8" pipes and fitting, flux, wire, blowtorch and practice at home. The more you practice the better you get. I practice in my garage on my vice. The hardest part is getting the proper heat on the pipes and knowing when to lay down the solder. It gets messy but after letting it cool and sanding down the solder it comes out decent. This was a very helpful and informative video. Keep em coming TOH!

[@nunyabusiness1790]

damannoa solder from the bottom up to reduce dripping

[@japan5865]

Good job

[@johnsmith-qe2fd]

Finally something I can learn from

[@texasflood1295]

Great video! Unfortunately, every time I have needed to solder copper pipe, I have been on my back under the house with all kinds of obstructions preventing me from getting in a good position.

[@Ilyana2015]

Wow amazing

[@codythelee573]

I love these videos...many are so easy and explanatory even if its something I already know..

[@portaadonai]

I would appreciate seeing the pro demonstrate as well, instead of only seeing the amature lady's attempt

[@urban9659]

Much better video

[@papercut1987]

4:48 "this is awesome!" "focus lady, stop talking, focus!"

[@stevennolin5871]

It bothers me that didn't ream the inside of the pipe

[@VCGConstruction]

Very awesome!!

[@anthonymonah7116]

Its amazing that he is a licensed plumber. First heat the pipe then move the flame to the fitting.

[@HaloGTMaster94]

Nice 👍

[@gabrielgonzales8163]

buenos videos plomeria work#1

[@charleswilson4598]

This lady has some muscles!

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

I know. Nothing like a physically-fit woman.

[@alexbailey256]

How about ask this TX master plumber... It's best to apply a bit of heat to the pipe right next to the fitting first. And don't leave the heat in one spot like that again! For one, you'll burn up the fitting and make it weak. For 2, move the heat around the fitting, the solder follows the heat. For 3, if you're only soldering 2 sides of a tee, put a dummy piece in the side you aren't sweating, otherwise, you might have a hard time getting the pipe to fit correctly once you are ready to sweat it.

[@forresttaylor2757]

Tips like this are extremely helpful especially to a beginner like myself. Thanks for the insight.

[@N3VADAN]

Stay in the groove baby

[@cfwproductions]

Toh is awesome

[@minnesotanice4490]

omg I been using this tool to clean battery terminals

[@brianszanyi5538]

All you guys are great confidence makers rich is great I always use the shark bites I wish I knew if he used them ever on a job

[@michael1275toby]

Would be nice to see it up close

[@tonymanero5544]

Also to debur the pipe wall at the cut area.

[@construction-productscemen4935]

Get more information from the video. Thank you for sharing.

[@alemgas]

Not

[@alemgas]

Why do you pronounce solder without the L and why do you not use loaded Solder fittings, cheers from Scotland

[@alemgas]

You never put flux on the inside of the fitting this can cause internal pipe corrosion even after flushing, amateurs ,soLder has a L

[@stacktier8257]

Ty. Curious about that prep table and solder on the floor?

[@achag9273]

Great education. Please zoom in when working so we get a better view of work. Thanks

[@ericzigler9295]

Where is the drop cloth? Nothing like having molten solder or flux on nice wood floors.

[@axtra92]

Eric Zigler its on the floor?

[@bmx4158]

@Mike M if you over solder it can cause leaks, if you use a tin and copper alloy atleast

[@angelvega3892]

TheOtherWhiteBread0 it’s her first time bro!!

[@RileyNA]

I actually use molten solder as grout when I'm doing tile floors

[@lovera3878]

Does the solder go all the way around or do you have to bring the wire around. I want to tackle my bathroom and I do not want to use pex or shakrbite behind the wall. I suppose practice makes perfect.

[@wholeNwon]

Looks very easy but takes a little practice. Lots of people comment on deburring. I'd suggest MAP gas and moving the flame over one side of the fitting. Tinning flux is probably a better choice for most. It usually takes a length of solder about equal to the pipe diameter, so I bend the rod at 1/2" for 1/2" pipe as a guide. Apply the solder opposite the heat source and lower on the fitting so that, when you see the solder on the heated side, you know that capillary action has filled the joint rather than gravity moving it over flux. Then wipe it down. Where permitted, use 50-50 lead solder since it has a lower melting point and is therefore easier to use. Obviously must not be used on pipes for potable water. Pex, compression fittings, etc. are very popular for good reasons.

[@TomsLife9]

That jar of flux looks like it’s from the Eisenhower administration, probably time for a new one lol

[@dust09100]

Richard looks like he's teaching her while sleeping... he's a pro

[@keithbettencourt7569]

How do we search all your videos for a specific topic?

[@haroldmccarthy8382]

generation next! looks like some of our old guys are retiring soon

[@oldtwinsna8347]

Richard is an expert in soldering copper pipes.

[@edwardvotel9793]

And this old ask never had that segment again lol

[@acman0926]

No flux after the solder? Man it cleans up nicely

[@elnicadrums]

You forgot to ream the pipe. next time put a drop cloth or something so you wont mess up that nice floor.. and one more thing the pipe was too hot to wipe down making your joint weak. other than that good video👍

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

Wiping with dry cloth is fine.

[@kleung347]

i think he should of placed the open end of thhe tee facing upwards in case she added too much solder it doesnt risk being spilled over to that area. you can see that there was already a pool of flux in that area.

[@KenpachiZarakiX]

Like creme broooleeee!

[@mitchellkappler9724]

Don’t you need to debur the inside?

[@ncooty]

Debur!

[@Soxruleyanksdrool]

I would like to learn how to sodder (sotter?).

[@theblogofsingh]

Shouldn't you preheat the fittings first? Just asking

[@azizbah555]

عملكم متقن اتمنى لكم الحياة السعيدة

[@GaryYoung-eq1ph]

How to unsolder flex hose attached to a gate valve without destroying rubber gasket?

[@06ssingh]

In the UK we have pipe slices which cut the pipe in half the time.

[@gregsplace.greecenewyork2744]

Sukh Singh This kind of pipe cutter is best.

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

Well good for you.

[@06ssingh]

@@scottslotterbeck3796 it is

[@pavelnesterov5554]

Fail , what about deburring copper pipe after cutting.

[@tempesttube]

1:42

[@streamsniperrty]

He used the steel brush to clean the inside.

[@ekaterinas.1330]

So, what's brazing if this is soldering?

[@joshcowart2446]

No reaming plus I was taught to always solder every side of a fitting at the same time. It’s so you don’t draw the solder out of another joint when heating up the cold side. This only really matters on smaller sizes. At least 1” and smaller

[@he-got-a-new-mommy]

You did not deburr the inside of the pipe once it was cut, that is an important step you missed

[@neosmith80]

what about deburring?

[@EclecticBuddha]

I've never seen copper tube that needed deburred. Cutting small stainless lines for compression fittings I have but never residential copper.

[@Brian-Burke]

I do that as well. Also, did it seem like an eternity for that first connection to bubble? Did she have the heat on the most optimal spot?

[@nickrutter6875]

It needs to be deburred for sure. If you don’t the tiniest little burr will catch deposits in the water and they will spin around in a vortex while water is flowing and erode the pipe until it is spraying out a little

[@2aminitials]

The inside of the copper needs to be deburred. There is a tool with a hook end that makes deburring easy. She should of had the flame closer, and MAPP gas would have worked better than propane.

[@nickrutter6875]

2 AM totally agree. Needs to be deburred. Mapp gas works way better than propane

[@mrp8488]

The brush won't remove burrs, so doesn't the cut pipe have to be deburred first?

[@tonymanero5544]

Agreed. Although the inside pipe cleaner brush could do done deburring.

[@Guardducks]

Aww Richard the great. She must have sent Rich an E mail . Ha ha

[@axtra92]

guardduck25 ?

[@Guardducks]

axtra92 axtra92?

[@TheOtherBill]

Too bad we can't get MAPP (methylacetylene/propadiene) gas anymore. The MAPP Pro gas now available is hotter than propane but not as hot as the real MAPP was. I wish I'd stocked up in 2008!

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

Damned do-gooders.

[@robertsteich7362]

Here's a short lesson for you plumbing teachers out there... Put the practice pipe in a vise so the student can't turn the pipe, but rather the pipe cutter. This will give the student an idea of the real world of pipe cutting. It will teach them how to turn the cutter around the pipe, rather than "stepping it" down the pipe.

[@illinoisismycity166]

Wow, that's a great explanation. Makes sense since in the real world you cannot turn the so called pipe around the pipe cutter.

[@AStanton1966]

A better way, if you have the room, is to use those new self-cutting tube cutters. You just snap it around the pipe and turn in the direction of the arrow. Easy peasy.

[@zaheerjabbar5304]

" Now make a groove." " I have my groove on!" " Now stay in your groove. Eh, eh, eh, eh." " keep twisting!"

[@adamfpv8294]

Nice but you don’t mention to use lead free solder, which is very important am I right?

[@acman0926]

Adam FPV I dont think you can buy leaded solder on a foll anymore

[@caribbeaninthehouse5620]

Adam FPV I have never seen Lead solder for plumbing on only on Electronics

[@kylem8066]

@@acman0926rolls of 50/50 lead solder are still sold for non-potable and DWV applications

[@RBsLikeArbys]

1:23 "Here is your 6" piece"

[@microphonixvirtualstudio1634]

Flux is designed to prevent oxidatin.

[@PatrickSteil]

I had a really hard time today getting my solder to melt. Please make sure there is no water in your pipes when you try to do this soldering! :-) It should only take between 30 seconds and one minute to get the copper to the right temperature before the solder melts. I sat there for 10 minutes heating up the pipe and it never melted because I had some water in the pipe.

[@mae2759]

My dad has an old soldering "gun" - is that too weak for this application in lieu of the blowtorch?

[@alexandergusho8342]

That's only good for soldering electric work

[@mae2759]

Thanks guys.

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

Yes.

[@king49334]

Move the torch around for even heat distribution

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

No. He's doing it right.

[@clenclen]

no deburring ?????

[@Odin029]

I just came to see if her first solder joint is as bad as mine was. I had dabs of solder and burnt flux all over the place

[@mvnorsel6354]

No matter how long I leave the heat on the join, can't melt the solder. How many gas bottles for 1 join ?

[@LatinMaximus]

It's important to remember two things: (1) always turn your torch to the max. It can't be on the low end. (2) for bigger diameter pipes you can't use small torch head.

[@EitriBrokkr]

you forgot to deburr it

[@jasonweir1444]

Why does he never use a pipe slice

[@YoureASquidYoureAKid]

Anyone else dances for the intro music?

[@cristianmunoz2480]

Better to put heat all around the fitting so that the solder goes in all the way around other than that it's ok

[@EclecticBuddha]

Cristian Munoz he showed the right way. Heating on one side and feeding solder on the other guarantees thorough heating. Copper is an excellent heat conductor.

[@cristianmunoz2480]

EclecticBuddha not really because if you put heat on just one side you can burn the flux and risk the solder not going in the whole fitting.

[@axtra92]

Cristian Munoz and you have never done this.. just watched videos about it

[@cristianmunoz2480]

axtra92 lol well since im a plumber I do it a lot

[@axtra92]

Cristian Munoz dont think so

[@basildraws]

Flux is not a catalyst. Soldering doesn’t require a catalyst. Flux is an acid which improves on the mechanical cleaning by ‘eating’ any remaining oxides.

[@billnye5600]

Great now you have solder on the floor

[@abenzuoo]

Dont touch it!

[@prpunk187]

For real looked like he was about to grab the pipe

[@Homepros888]

Turn the cutter around the pipe! you don't turn the pipe in the cutter.

[@DXSUCKIT1990]

Homepros NYC it is her first time

[@acman0926]

Id bett a hundred bucks it cuts the same

[@Homepros888]

He is teaching her, so he should have told her how to cut the pipe correctly

[@Felisargyle]

The pipe is short so it’s easier to turn the pipe

[@Brian17177]

Why does it matter

[@dillonphillips313]

Gotta ream the cut pipe, Richard! You know better.

[@zino6661]

deburring steps???

[@MrGatoka]

Did I miss the part where they debur the pipe?

[@juliosilva1671]

Please teach me 😃

[@revampgarage8341]

When soldering you want to do all 3 sides of the tee. In this case when soldering the 3rd side the solder might let loose on the other side and leak, please check out the vids i made on plumbing

[@801D012]

LimitzHd Solder all 3 sides of the tee at the same time. Of course you do. But it wouldn't be any fun watching a "This Old House" video if they did.

[@hassanbazzi3545]

I was hoping the cameraman would have zoomed in at the project. Good video though

[@ashrafkarjiker6888]

Should use latex gloves when applying flux

[@therealteal620]

No ventilator or fan. GJ inhaling all those fumes.

[@itoburrito9151]

I turn the pipe cutter but she turned the copper lol