Installed in vertical or horizontal pipe runs, ball valves are bi-directional thus flow direction is not critical. And soldering is an essential process in the plumbing, electronic industry, and so on. Soldering a ball valve to a copper pipe connects the valve and the pipe without leakage. Soldering uses metal with a low melting point (solder) to join two or more connections. Heat is delivered to the solder, which melts and flows into the joint between the workpieces. And the solder cools in a few seconds, creating the soldered joint. A soldered connection between a ball valve and a pipe ensures a strong and reliable bond.

How to Solder a Ball Valve?

1.Inspect and clean the ball valve. Use emery cloth to clean the outer surface.

2.Fully open and fully closed  the valve.

3.To check if the copper pipe ends are square cut, clean and without burrs, foreign material, or metal shavings.

4.Use the flux paste to the inside of the valve solder sockets and the outside of the pipe ends covering the entire area.

5.Ensure the ball is in a partially open position to avoid the build up of pressure between the valve body and the ball as the heat is applied.

6.Pipe supports in alignment and bearing the weight of the fittings, valves, pipe and its contents.

7.Choose a torch nozzle with suitable size to solder. Pay attention if you are using MAPP gas or Acetylene as it is hotter than propane.

8.Use no-lead certified, soft solders with melting temperatures of less than 500°F. There are many brands of no-lead solders combining low melt temperatures of 410° F with high tensile strength. These solders decrease the heat and time of soldering.

9.Try to prevent overheating the valve, preventing causing damage from seats and seals. Wrapping the center portion of the valve with a wet rag is helpful.

10.During the soldering process, firstly concentrate the heat on the copper tube, and always keep the flame angled away from the valve body joint. After preheating, stay the heat onto the valve solder socket area not the body joint. Then move the flame around the connection to avoid concentrating the heat on the area of the connection which could damage the valves seats and seals.

11.Approach the solder to the joint and as the solder begins to melt, and apply the solder around the socket for vertical installations with moderate temperature. The solder will be drawn into the joint, and the molten filler metal will cover the entire area to which the flux was applied.

12.When the first joint is completed, cool the valve before beginning the second joint.

13.After the completion of installation, the valve has cooled down. Verify the tightness of the packing nut.

Soldering a ball valve is not difficult. It is a process that melts a filler metal by joining two metals. The solder connects tightly that is watertight and electrically conductive. 

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