radiant ceiling leak repair

John McArthur_2

need advise on copper to steel joints. the leak has been stopped for the time being with a compression fitting.I fear repeated expansion and contraction will take its toll and the leak will come back.Any advise on the art of copper to steel brazing,solderingor whatever its gonna take to get a decent fix on this old system.
thanks
Mike

Ray Landry

use a dialetric union and use a copper by male or female adapter onto the threaded end of the dialetcric fitting, the other onto the steel fitting. if you don't have good threads to attatch to on the steel then find some! what you probably have on there right now is what's called a dressler coupling and it's a temporary repair at best. if theres room to fit a cutter/hand threader u can always try threading the pipe in place.

jim murtaugh

steel to copper

a steel to copper joint can be made using a silver brazing alloy, flux ,a good hot tourche, and some skill. Thanks Jim Murtaugh

Jon_2

copper to steel soldering

Should not be a problem. I use "Stay-Brite" solder with it's companion flux, "Stay-Clean". The trick is to clean the copper untill it is bright and the same with the steel pipe. No crud, no dirt and don't touch it with your dirty hands where you cleaned it. Put them together with a copper coupling, cleaned of course, flux them and solder them just like you would copper tubing. You might want to use "Stay-Brite 8" instead of regular "Stay-Brite" for it will work better with sloppy loose joints. After soldering them and it has cooled wipe the residual flux off the joint with a dripping wet rag. The flux contains Zinc Chloride and Hydrocloric acid and if not removed after soldering will continue to work on the copper and steel and may cause the joint to fail a few years in the future. "Stay-Brite 8" is 7% silver and 93% tin, "Stay-Brite" is 4% silver and 96% tin. Other Solder manufacturers make and market silver bearing solders in the same percentages. I buy it ar a refrigeration supply house.

hr

check out the

www.jwharris website for some help finding the best solder. The Harris "Blockade" product may be a good choice. The demos at trade show have the guys soldering steel to brass.

I'd stay away from threaded or compression fittings.

hot rod

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Jon_2

\"Stat-Brite\"

Is a product of J.W. Harris.