Cleaner for old copper pipe

MikeAmann

Mom's house - I will be replacing some old 1/2" Solder Ends Stop & Waste Valves with ball valves. Naturally, the copper pipe is brown and dirty. Is there a product, say a spray-on or brush-on that I can use to help to get the copper clean? I would like to be able to wipe off most of the dirt and oxidation before the wire brush/sandpaper is used. I hate to have that dirt transferred to the wire brush, and then all you are doing is carrying that dirt along to the next joint.

pecmsg

Sand cloth

hot_rod

Brasso works also

Jamie Hall

Or Noxon

Mad Dog_2

If you're resoldering, I would not use any chemicals.  Open Mesh plumbers grit cloth is the best (not the sandpaper like Emery cloth).  It will even take off paint.  Clean it up to a high shine, clean Flux and away you go.  If you're going for a decorative finish, ( you could use Brasso or whatever....but not to resolder copper tubing.  Mad Dog 🐕 

EBEBRATT-Ed

Agree with Mad dog open mesh sand cloth

MikeAmann

Yes, for resoldering. Open mesh sand cloth - good idea. That shouldn't hold the dirt.

EdTheHeaterMan

didn't we have this discussion last month? https://forum.heatinghelp.com/discussion/comment/1745487#Comment_1745487

MaxMercy

Tarn-X. Rinse after you clean the pipe.

kevink1955

We were in Detroit years ago and visited 1 of Henry Fords buildingd that had a room with all polished copper and brass valves. It was a plumbing work of art. As I remember it was a manifold system but much nicer then the PEX stuff you see today Lol

Has anyone seen it and remember the name of the building, sure would like to see pictures of it.

Mad Dog_2

Wow! Kevin, I would love to see it.  Dan probably has...Mad Dog 🐕 

kevink1955

Now that I think about it it may have been all threaded brass, it was a work of art.
I am sure I took pictures but have no idea where they went.