propane solder iron

[ldj]

I just bought a old propane torch. It has what I think must be a solder iron to connect to the end of the torch. I never saw or heard of such a thing. Brand name is Cleanweld. I have made fast search and don't find that brand. In the box is a order form to fill out and mail. No 800 # or www address so must be old, but the torch works good. Anyone know about a solder iron for propane torch?

 

[wore out]

I just bought a old propane torch. It has what I think must be a solder iron to connect to the end of the torch. I never saw or heard of such a thing. Brand name is Cleanweld. I have made fast search and don't find that brand. In the box is a order form to fill out and mail. No 800 # or www address so must be old, but the torch works good. Anyone know about a solder iron for propane torch?

I have a couple of old Bernz-O-Matic propane torch kits that have a soldering "copper" attachment that slips onto the smaller "pencil" burner.

Here's a photo of a couple of Bernz tips, found on the 'net. The RH tip looks like what I have, the LH tip looks to fit the larger torch tip.

Does your "Cleanweld" tip look at all like these?

 

[MM-TX]

My old propane torch had that tip also. I think they were common.

 

[gears]

So, have any of you guys used that tip? Do you use it to sweat plumbing or electrical?

 

[rrlund]

I can remember, probably close to 60 years ago, Dad had a propane torch kit that had one of those tips in it.

 

[wore out]

So, have any of you guys used that tip? Do you use it to sweat plumbing or electrical?

I have soldered field coil leads to the "belly studs" in starters with mine.

 

[joeysmith]

So, have any of you guys used that tip? Do you use it to sweat plumbing or electrical?

Sheetmetal

 

[da.bees]

So, have any of you guys used that tip? Do you use it to sweat plumbing or electrical?

I can't think of any plumbing application so I'd say large electrical and not very practical.

 

[caterpillar guy]

For copper pipe you would just let the flame lick it to solder them. I think it would want to be a pretty big wire more like a cable or large solid wire to use that on.

 

[ldj]

I have a couple of old Bernz-O-Matic propane torch kits that have a soldering "copper" attachment that slips onto the smaller "pencil" burner.

Here's a photo of a couple of Bernz tips, found on the 'net. The RH tip looks like what I have, the LH tip looks to fit the larger torch tip.

Does your "Cleanweld" tip look at all like these?

similar looking, and it attaches that way.

 

[Sean Feeney]

I have a couple of old Bernz-O-Matic propane torch kits that have a soldering "copper" attachment that slips onto the smaller "pencil" burner.

Here's a photo of a couple of Bernz tips, found on the 'net. The RH tip looks like what I have, the LH tip looks to fit the larger torch tip.

Does your "Cleanweld" tip look at all like these?

 

[Sean Feeney]

have seen people doing copper roofs

 

[Dusty MI]

I have a sheet-metal shop for making furnace duct. I used to make radiator grill screens for Massey Harris Tractors.

 

[Ray,IN]

So, have any of you guys used that tip? Do you use it to sweat plumbing or electrical?

Won't work to sweat-fit copper plumbing, can't keep the joint hot enough. You have to use a direct torch flame. These old tips IMO were unwieldy. The propane flames came out the 4 side holes on this tip and burned anything close-by.
Using one was better than nothing else at the time, or having to solder something on the tractor or equipment a mile from the garage. I never did like to do that, there's something about an open flame and farm equipment that makes me uneasy.

 

[Ray,IN]

For copper pipe you would just let the flame lick it to solder them. I think it would want to be a pretty big wire more like a cable or large solid wire to use that on.

I don't use solder wire or bar when I sweat-fit copper plumbing. I clean the areas well first, then use fine emory cloth to polish it. Then use an acid brush to paint both inside and outside of the plumbing with SOLDER PASTE. Then assemble the joint to be soldered and heat with a oxy/acet torch (you want a lot of concentrated heat-quickly). When you see the solder paste turn silver around the circumference remove heat.
When I plumbed my house with all copper pipe I only had 2 leaks when I pressurized the plumbing system, which I promptly corrected.
When you have to add solder the joint is too loose, due to poor fittings, but it happens.
I was taught how to sweat-fit copper pipe by my uncle, a retired union pipefitter. That was in 1968.
About 10 years ago DW had kitchen and both bathrooms completely remodeled. I had to teach their plumber how to sweat-fit copper pipe, as I refused to allow them to transition to PVC.
The key to a strong leak-free joint is clean-clean-clean before soldering.