Welding Tips and Tricks

I have an idea for a project made out of copper, and I probably can't tig it together as I imagine none of it is de-oxidized. The project involves : 16 oz. copper roofing sheet (.0216 thick)
1/4 inch bendable copper tube (refrigeration tube)
12 gauge copper wire (stripped Romex hard wire)

Can all of these be soldered together successfully? What flux would be best?, what kind of heat and solder?

Thanks!!
Other Steve

Steve,
I've soldered all of these at one time or another but never to each other, so yes they can be soldered. I'm sure that regular plumbing solder and flux would be fine, most now clean up with water. The amount of area that they come in contact with each other is as important as the solder since it's the capillary action that gives it strength.

As to the heat, I would use a Mapp gas Bernz-o-matic.

Len

Awesome!

Thanks Len!

Steve,
Sorry, I edited that and added the heat sorce while you were posting.

Len

I see it, thanks again!!

Mapp gas needs a different torch than propane, doesn't it? I don't use Mapp very much.

I used silver-bearing solder in places and regular rosin core electronics solder everywhere else and plumbers solder paste for flux. Most soldering was done with a large gun but some parts needed the extra muscle of a small propane torch. I cleaned the whole thing in an ultrasonic parts cleaner to remove the flux. Copper is a neat medium for art projects. Be sure to share pics.
Cheers.
-Eldon

Steve,
You can use Mapp gas with a regular propane torch, just burns hotter, that's all. Now that I think about it, you could use regular propane as none of these parts seem all that thick. I use the bottles made for camping, much cheaper than the tall skinny ones, and propane's propane no matter how it's bottled.

Len

I'm still learning all the time so I was wondering if anyone can explain why you wouldn't be able to tig this?

I have never done it but I imagine you could TIG braze it with silicon bronze.

dsmabe wrote:I'm still learning all the time so I was wondering if anyone can explain why you wouldn't be able to tig this?

Copper need to be of de-oxidized quality to be tig'ed. You could probably tig others too but its not clean or porous free.

Of the materials listed in first post I would expect them to be de-oxidized.
In Europe roofing copper is de-oxidized, you might not in the states.
Pipes I would have hard to think not being de-oxidized due to quality requirements.