Butane Gas Blow Torch Welding for DIY Projects

Gas blow torch is a common tool used in metal works. Many of the metal things we use, buy use this simple tool. Here is a basic guide to the required tools for butane gas welding. Copper tubing, aluminium boxes are common materials which needs soldering. In an earlier guide we talked about cutting and drilling tools. With all the hand tools and an inkjet printer, it is possible to convert a 3D design to metal work. 3D printing is limited to complex design where the common printing materials for 3D printing is practical. CAD, CAM has limitations in usage. Butane gas welding kits do not cost huge these days mostly because of mass production. Butane gas sold in cans and fittings available to sit top of them.

There is not much basic difference between soldering in electronics and soldering a small caliber copper tube with butane gas blow torch except the fact – in case of butane gas blow torch, we are working with naked flame of very high temperature. Mishandling will take few seconds to end the eyes or other. It is advisable to wear protective eye gear, gloves and work in safe place where plenty of water readily available. Do not try to examine soldering bringing eyes closer when the flame is made to fullest. Watching work of experts will give some practical idea.

What solder is used to join copper tube? Basically the common solder is same as electronics works but they usually contains less to no lead and wire is thick enough. Solder used in electronics costs higher. Solder for DIY works sold in various shops including online shops such as Ebay, Amazon. You need not to know much unless you are working with air-conditioner pipes, potable water pipes. We can also use soldering paste.

Copper tubing and plates are most often used in technical works. There are soft copper and rigid copper. Copper tubing is joined using flare connection, compression connection, or solder. Soft copper is used in air-conditioning systems and easy to bent avoiding kink. Flare connections sometime used in HVAC systems to connect with the indoor unit. It this flare connections, tubing section spread outward in a bell shape using a flare tool. A flare nut compresses this bell-shaped end onto a male fitting. Flare tools also used to join two copper tubes with solder.

Copper pipe needs to be cleaned before it can be soldered. Use sandpaper to clean the inside and outside of the pipes and fittings that will be joined. Use 2020 flaring tool set to make one tube of slightly larger bore. Then use flux on the inner and outer surfaces of both pipes. Spread the flux over the entire surface with a brush. Then, slide the two pieces together. Then solder it. You will get lot of YouTube videos for doing the thing.

Copper, aluminium sheets are sold for various works. A sheet metal brake can be fabricated quite easily and without any fancy tools. Butane gas torch going to help by making the sheet softer when hot. However, always try to find ready to use metal box, instead to trying to create a metal box from sheet. This is all about basics around how to utilize butane gas blow torch.