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steel to copper brazing

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3K views 9 replies 5 participants last post by  AKdaplumba  
#1 ·
Hi All,
I went to shorten a baseboard heater in a place built in the mid 70's. The pipe coming down is steel, or stainless steel. I want to move the copper 90 going into the baseboard heater into the vertical steel pipe. I have never done this type of brazing before. My list of questions:
Do I need a special coupling?
What brazing rod and flux do you suggest?
I am currently using an A2 tip, should I go bigger?
Based on the pic, do you suggest another approach that what l stated?
Was steel/ copper a common material to be used in the 70's?

Thanks for the help.
 

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#2 ·
You need to solder it, not braze. Use Silvabrite 100 or any other silver bearing solder. I would also suggest a silver bearing tinning flux such as Oatey's. The most important part is not overheating the stainless and causing the surface to rust. It's like soldering to a copper plated Holdrite bracket but even more finicky. Heat your coupling first and you'll be fine.

To be honest, if you're uncomfortable with this you may want to just rent a propress tool or use a compression fitting. I've soldered to the stuff in crawlspaces and basement ceilings, not sure I'd be okay burying it in a wall. You can always tin the end of the pipe first and then put your coupling on.

For a brief period in time copper was more expensive than stainless due to the housing boom. Look up "TuboTron" Stainless Steel pipe.
 
#7 ·
That was my thought as well. It can be difficult to tell until you sand the old stainless pipe as it will develop a patina and look real similar to old copper. But I still don't see what could be stainless in his pic. I was just taking him at his word that there's soldered stainless he has to deal with.
 
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#10 ·
I have actually ran into another issue. I filled and purged the system, I turned up the stat for heat to make sure there were no other problems.

Now the boiler won't kick on when there is a call for heat.
The stat clicks when its turned up.
The circulator is running.
Damper is open.

My 3 guesses are:
Thermocouple
Flame roll out switch
Blocked vent switch

The thermocouple I will test to see if its producing the milivolts

For the FRS&BVS, can I do a continuity test or test for 24 volts?

Its a 1 zone house so only 1 stat. The pilot is a standing pilot that is on.

Is there anything else I should check? Boiler is Burnham.

Thanks.