I found a small whole on the water pipe in the basement. I am trying to fix it by welding myself. What type of alloy I should use on copper pipe, or it doesn‘t matter?
If the hole is very small, you can put a dab of solder on it, and it should hold. In order to do that, first of all, shut off the water to the pipe. Open a low spigot in your house for a drain, and a hight spigot for a vent. You must clean the copper off in the area to be soldered. Dab a bit of flux in the area you want to solder. Heat the pipe with a torch, and then touch the solder to the hot pipe. Solder melts about 700F, so if there is any water in the pipe, it won't melt (because the pipe won't get much over 200F until all the water is boiled off.) This will only work for a small pinhole leak. One other consideration is, since you have one pin hole leak, the pipe is probably near it's end of life. In other words, there is probably another leak right near this one. It really would be best to change the pipe out if that's an option. You're really not welding the pipe. Welding is a process where to metals become one by adding a filler metal and intense heat. What you're doing is actually gluing the metal. The solder never actually becomes part of the copper, but sticks to it with a lot of strength.
This may sound rigged, but a hose clamp and piece of rubber, like a inter tube and a hose clamp like for a car, Tiny leaks have been fixed like that for years and you don't have to spend a bunch on the equipment to soider. clean area and place rubber then clamp not to tight just snug so it can't move and the leak stops. don't want to crush the pipe in any way.
This may sound rigged, but a hose clamp and piece of rubber, like a inter tube and a hose clamp like for a car, Tiny leaks have been fixed like that for years and you don't have to spend a bunch on the equipment to soider. clean area and place rubber then clamp not to tight just snug so it can't move and the leak stops. don't want to crush the pipe in any way.
make sure all the water is out of the pipe. or u will not get a good solider joint.u need 95/5 soilder,sand cloth and soilder paste.cut out the bad spot and clean the pipe with the sand cloth,than the fitting next apply the soilder using a acid brush.make sure u don't touch the paste after it is applied.put the joints together and heat with a tourch.forces your heat at the middle of the fitting heat it all around.when it is hot enough the soilder will flow into the joint let cool and turn water back on good luck
make sure all the water is out of the pipe. or u will not get a good solider joint.u need 95/5 soilder,sand cloth and soilder paste.cut out the bad spot and clean the pipe with the sand cloth,than the fitting next apply the soilder using a acid brush.make sure u don't touch the paste after it is applied.put the joints together and heat with a tourch.forces your heat at the middle of the fitting heat it all around.when it is hot enough the soilder will flow into the joint let cool and turn water back on good luck
