Connect 2 aluminum pipes. Practical and simple pipe connection without threading or welding

Sheva Niva arrived to repair the air conditioner, the fault was found in a broken tube. I had to grind out a nozzle to expand the tube. And learn how to solder aluminum. In the end, everything worked out.

Comments 13

in my youth I tried to solder by tinning with regular solder, under an oil film, I think maybe something is wrong? Now I tried to tin it, dropped some motor oil on the luminaire, scraped off the oxides with a knife, applied it with a solder... it got tinned =)

Did you go to school?

The devil is in the details...)

Soldered with flux solder. Who can tell me the technology for soldering solder separately from flux.

Dmitry, excuse me, but is Russian your native language?

I write on the phone and insert the words myself.

How about editing the words yourself?

Kastolin works wonders

What kind of miracle is “kastolin”?

One of the most famous zinc solders for aluminum, like the popular HTS-2000. In general, there are a lot of them, in “refrigeration” companies they usually have an assortment.

Last year, HTS soldered a rotten low-pressure air conditioner pipe on the bottom of the car - quite simply, even without any experience.

To learn how to connect metal pipes without welding, you need to study in detail the methods for connecting these pipe materials. The thing is that pipelines are a complex structure consisting of a series connection of rolled pipe assortment, measuring equipment, valves and other parts that are provided for in the project.

Docking can be accomplished using various methods. When choosing the optimal solution, they are guided by the purpose of the highway and the conditions of its use. The diameter of the rolled pipe assortment is also taken into account.

When laying a highway, the connection method may be different. Some of them may be permanent, but dismantling and subsequent reassembly of the structure is possible.

And there are monolithic joints that cannot be dismantled without destroying the structure. Welding has gained the most popularity among monolithic joints. But this is far from the only method that allows you to connect sections of the pipeline; there are others.

Despite the high popularity of plastic, steel products are still used. Welded fastening is used very often, but making such a joint is impossible without special knowledge and skills. Therefore, many try to use options that allow you to connect in a different way.

Welding aluminum is not an easy task

The high electrical and thermal conductivity of aluminum, very low weight, combined with the excellent mechanical properties of its alloys, have made this material simply irreplaceable in many areas of production. But for all its unique properties, this metal is very difficult to weld. The ability to weld aluminum with high quality is what distinguishes a highly qualified welder from an amateur welder.

There are two main methods of welding aluminum parts:

MIG welding of aluminum semi-automatically
Argon arc TIG welding of aluminum

Sometimes there is a need to connect aluminum parts to each other, but there is no suitable welding machine or professional welder at hand, and the strength of the connection does not play a special role. In this case, the method described in our video instructions will come to the rescue.

You will need:

Propane torch
Aluminum soldering rods
Surface degreasing liquid
Clamps for holding parts together

Where to begin?

First of all, you need to diagnose the device. According to experts, it will be difficult to do this by eye. The fact is that the tube may have microcracks through which freon leaks. Since the refrigerant is colorless, its leakage is detected using special equipment. They start with an external inspection, then measure the refrigerant pressure, and then use ultraviolet diagnostics and a leak detector to determine the location of the freon leak. If you do not want to waste your time troubleshooting, immediately use the services of specialists. For example, in the southeast of Moscow you can solder an aluminum tube in several car repair shops. For example, at Red Hot Service, in addition to soldering the pipes of the cooling device, they will also perform other work, namely, they will change the oil, refill the air conditioner, and repair electrical equipment.

Soldering aluminum at home, technologies, methods

1. The simplest and most reliable way to connect or attach something to aluminum or its alloys is, of course, a bolt and nut or rivets. All other methods require some preparation, fixtures, special solders, fluxes for soldering aluminum, etc.

As practice shows, aluminum cannot be soldered in the usual way, with tin-lead solder, the reason for this is an oxide film that forms almost instantly after cleaning the surface to be soldered.

2. Therefore, one of the ways to solder aluminum is to cover the surface, immediately after cleaning, with a layer of molten rosin. Not the best, but after repeated attempts, rubbing the soldering iron tip over the soldering area can achieve satisfactory results.

3. Next, you can use a solution of rosin in diethyl ether to solder aluminum. We clean the surface and immediately lubricate it with this flux, and then sprinkle it with copper filings, which serve as an abrasive to remove the oxide film, and tin the soldering area with ordinary solder (tin-lead). Afterwards, we solder a copper wire or something else to the tinned area.

4. The next technology for soldering aluminum is the use of special solder for soldering aluminum and flux. Most of these solders are low-temperature, but their melting point is higher than that of tin-lead, in the range of 300-600 degrees. C. The key to success is also good heating and for this they use a gas burner or a blowtorch.

High-temperature solders are used for soldering massive parts; they are used to repair and restore parts made of aluminum and its alloys of any complexity (cars, motorcycles, etc.). The soldering turns out to be very strong. In this way, tubes, for example aluminum and copper, are soldered by inserting one into the other and soldering around. But, when soldering aluminum with other metals, make sure that the solder and flux are intended for one and the other metal.

The surface is cleaned and coated with a special flux, as in previous cases, and when the solder melts, you can scrape the solder area with the tip of a stainless steel knife (or a stainless steel brush) to better remove the oxide film. Thus, we tin the aluminum surface and solder everything we need to it.

This is not the end of the methods for soldering aluminum at home. You can use the electrochemical method.

5. Clean the surface and apply a few drops of a CONCENTRATED solution of copper sulfate to the soldering area. Then, we take a power supply of 5-12V and a current of about 1 ampere (more is possible), connect a resistance of 4-5 Ohms and a powerful one to the power supply. 5-10 W, and our device is ready. We calculate the load in such a way that the power supply does not burn out during operation, i.e., at a current of approximately 1-5 Amperes.

Now we connect the aluminum blank to the negative pole of the power supply, and to the positive pole we connect a bare copper wire (you can twist it into a small flat spiral), which is then introduced into a drop of vitriol solution so that the end does not touch the surface of the part. Everything is ready, turn on the power supply and wait a few minutes. A layer of copper, as a result of electrolysis, will settle in place for soldering. And then, wash it off (but don’t try to erase the copper), tin it, and solder the wires or terminal. This method, of course, is not suitable for soldering some massive parts, but it is suitable for contacting wires.

6. Alternatively, instead of vitriol solution, you can use hydrochloric acid: drop it into the soldering area and then move the copper drive along the contact pad. Copper precipitation occurs faster than in the first case, but you must be careful with the acid. And be sure to thoroughly rinse the soldering area with water.

Attention

In fact, this is certainly not welding. This method can perhaps be called soldering. Despite this, this method is quite suitable in the case when the parts being connected will not experience strong loads, and not strong ones either. For example, for the manufacture of decorative items and souvenirs.

So, if you need to weld aluminum parts, use the services of professionals. Or buy a welding machine and become a professional yourself. Good luck!

With copper it’s clear, everything solders well, everything works fine if you use normal flux. But what about aluminum? No matter what flux I tried, it’s impossible to take it with anything(. The solder seems to stick in places, but generally the quality of work is no good(Probably some kind of special solder is needed for aluminum? Who has come across this, please share the information? I think the topic is relevant!

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Sergey N wrote: With copper it’s clear, everything is soldered well, everything works fine if you use normal flux. But what about aluminum? No matter what flux I tried, it’s impossible to take it with anything(. The solder seems to stick in places, but generally the quality of work is no good(Probably some kind of special solder is needed for aluminum? Who has come across this, please share the information? I think the topic is relevant!

There are several methods for soldering aluminum with lead-tin solders. But in ordinary home refrigerators, they often use a connection of copper tubes with aluminum evaporators. And Odessa residents solder dissimilar metals and demonstrate this process...

Connecting copper pipes: instructions and comparison of various installation technologies

To prevent the acid from corroding the excess area, it can be sealed with tape or filled with paraffin, and the desired area can be exposed. That. You can solder aluminum with copper and other metals, and the contact pads will have a beautiful, neat shape.

That's all, but if there are any other ways to solder aluminum or additions to the above, write.

Victor Donskoy www.masteru.org.ua

17330 0 7

In this article I want to talk about methods of connecting pipes, first of all - hermetically sealed ones, used in the installation of water supply and sewerage systems. The material is of a review nature and is intended only to acquaint the reader with a variety of installation methods: I will deliberately not mention the subtleties of technology and recommend this or that tool. So, let's go.

Steel

Despite the abundance of polymer pipes, black and galvanized steel still remains in demand in the housing and communal services sector and for the installation of high-pressure lines. The methods used for connecting elements of steel pipelines largely depend on the cross-section of the pipe.

Electric welding

Diameters: any, pipe wall thickness: from 0.5 mm.

When welding with high currents, it is easy to burn through the walls of a thin-walled pipe; a decrease in current leads to sticking of the electrode. Therefore, electric welding of thin metal requires a certain skill.

Advantage: arc welding is the only way to connect large-diameter pipes with significant wall thickness that provides acceptable weld strength. Automated welding is used in the production of seam pipes and in the installation of pipelines.

Disadvantage: a sealed seam is almost impossible for a beginner. Pipeline welding requires the highest qualifications.

Technology:

As usual, there are a number of nuances:

The chamfer can be removed only from the outside of the pipe or from the outside and from the inside. Thick-walled pipes of large diameters are welded on both sides;
When welding pipes of small diameters, the braids must first be grabbed at two or three points and aligned along a common axis, then begin welding the seam along the entire circumference. Due to uneven heating, the seam area leads noticeably;
Welding can be performed with a continuous supply of argon to the arc area. Inert gas completely eliminates oxidation of the seam.

Minor leaks in cold water supply lines can be eliminated by rubbing the hot seam with a piece of bitumen. Thanks to the capillary effect, it instantly fills the pores with melt. This instruction is useless in hot water: when reheated, the bitumen will melt again and be forced out of the pores.

Gas welding

Diameters: up to 100 - 150 mm.

Pipe wall thickness: up to 3-4 mm.

Advantage: undemanding welder experience. I was able to achieve a sealed seam after just a few hours of practice.

Disadvantage: inability to cook thick-walled pipes with gas. The burner is simply unable to heat their walls until the edges melt.

Technology:

The pipe is cut perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;
The outer chamfer is removed from thick-walled pipes (more than 2 mm);
The edges of the future seam are heated with an acetylene torch until they glow red and the edges melt
;
A welding wire is inserted into the torch flame, the melt of which fills the seam. The melt bath should not freeze: only in this case will the seam be airtight.

A special case

Fixed sutures are welded with a mirror or using a surgical suture. In the latter case, a window is cut in the pipe, then the seam is welded from the inside, after which the window is welded again.

coupling

Diameters: up to 50 mm.

Wall thickness: any.

Advantage: the simplest threaded connection of pipes that can be connected in series and rotate around the longitudinal axis.

Disadvantage: the coupling assembly of a long string eliminates the disassembly of a separate connection. The pipes have to be unscrewed from the couplings sequentially.

Technology:

The pipes end at right angles to the longitudinal axis;
On a lathe or with your own hands, using a die, cut a short (five threads) thread on both pipes being connected;
A threaded pipe is screwed onto one of the pipes, into which the second pipe is screwed. For sealing, plumbing flax is used (preferably impregnated with paint or sealant) or polymer sealing thread.

Couplings, in particular, were installed in houses with steel water supply connections and served to connect them with eccentrics when installing a wall-mounted mixer.

Sgon

Diameters: up to 50 mm.

Wall thickness: any.

Advantage: makes the connection of fixed pipes dismountable.

Disadvantage: long threaded threads are most vulnerable to corrosion

due to the minimum wall thickness and the absence of a protective paint coating. Once applied, it is broken upon the first disassembly.

Technology:

A short thread (5 threads) is cut on one pipe, a long thread (12-15 threads) is cut on the other;
A locknut and coupling are screwed sequentially onto a long thread;
The coupling is pushed all the way onto the wound short thread;
Following it, a lock nut is driven in, clamping the thread winding in front of the coupling.

Flanges

Diameter: 76 mm or more.

Wall thickness: from 3 mm.

Advantages:

The connection remains collapsible, including on non-rotating lashes;
The force required for installation or dismantling is not tied to the diameter of the pipe. As the diameter increases, the number of bolts holding the flanges increases;
Flanges can be used to connect to shut-off valves or to install retaining washers. In particular, it is the washers that ensure circulation in the hot water risers of most houses built in the 80s and newer.

Disadvantages: flange installation is carried out only by electric welding, which is not always convenient in field conditions.

Technology:

The pipes end perpendicular to the longitudinal axis;
The external (and, if the diameter is large, internal) chamfers are removed from them;
The flanges are welded;
After cooling and cleaning the seam, the flanges are tightened through a rubber, silicone or paronite gasket. The bolts are tightened alternately, crosswise, one turn at a time. The price of violating this simple rule is uneven compression of the gasket and a high probability of leaks during pressure surges.

Compression fittings

Diameters: up to 32 mm.

Wall thickness: any.

Advantages: extremely simple installation using available tools, possibility of installation on corroded pipes.

Disadvantage: low tensile strength of the connection.

Technology:

The edges of the pipes are cleaned of paint and rust;
They are then inserted into the fitting with the nuts loosened;
The nuts are tightened. At the same time, they compress the pipe with rubber O-rings, sealing the connection.

A special case

Compression fittings are also used for installing corrugated stainless steel pipes. However, in this case, the strength of the connection is not inferior to the strength of the pipe itself: it can withstand pressure up to 50-65 atmospheres. The secret is simple: the silicone seal of the fitting does not compress the smooth surface, but the crest of the corrugation, so it is almost impossible to tear it out of the tightened fitting.

Many fittings use additional comb fixation with a split retaining ring.

American

Diameter: up to 32 mm.

These are the exact sizes of American women I saw on sale. Perhaps they are also produced for diameters of 40 - 50 mm, but I have not seen such offers in the assortment of local construction and online stores.

Wall thickness: any.

Advantages: extremely quick disassembly of the connection

. To open the pipeline, you just need to unscrew the union nut.

Disadvantage: connecting pipes using an American method requires preliminary threading.

Technology: the halves of a disassembled American fitting are screwed onto the wound threads of adjacent pipes, and then tightened together with a union nut. Sealing is ensured by an annular rubber gasket.

Crabs

The so-called crabs are steel plates that allow you to connect round and profile pipes with bolts. They are used in assembling frames of greenhouses, shelving (commercial, for tools, etc.) and other structures that do not require special strength or tightness of connections.

Pipe sizes: diameter up to 25 mm; sections of profile pipes up to 20x40 and 25x25.

Wall thickness: any.

Advantages: allow quick assembly and disassembly using a pair of open-end or ring wrenches; allow repeated reuse of fasteners and pipes.

Disadvantage: limited strength.

Technology: the ends of the pipe are clamped between the halves of the “crab”, after which they are tightened with bolts and nuts.

A greenhouse assembled on “crabs”.

Refilling the air conditioner with freon

After repair, replacement or internal flushing of the radiator, the system must be refilled with coolant. Moreover, recharging the air conditioner is necessary, even if it is working properly. The norm is considered to be annual leakage within 15% of the total volume of freon. Therefore, the air conditioner needs to be refilled every 3 years.

Types of freon

Freon is used as a refrigerant. But there are quite a lot of varieties of this gas. Thus, in cars manufactured before 1992, R-12 freon was used. In 1992, scientists proved its harmful effects on the ozone layer of the atmosphere, and R-12 was banned. Air conditioners began to be filled with R-134a freon.

Freon is usually sold in convenient cylinders of different capacities.

Today there are both types of freon on sale

It is important to know which one is suitable for your car. If the car was manufactured in 1992–1993, that is, during the transition period, there is a sticker on the inside of the hood that indicates which freon should be used and in what quantity

When refilling the air conditioner, it is recommended to add oil to the system through the crankcase. However, determining the required amount of oil is not easy. Therefore, it is better to buy freon already diluted with oil.

Equipment for refilling air conditioner with freon

Professional car repair shops have special filling stations for air conditioners. They automatically determine the required amount of refrigerant, evacuate the system and charge it. This, however, does not mean that it is impossible to charge the air conditioner yourself.

Professional stations for refilling air conditioners are multifunctional, but not cheap

To refuel the air conditioner in a garage you will need:

Vacuum pump;
weather station or hose with pressure gauge;
hoses and adapters for connection to the air conditioner;
a cylinder with the required amount of freon.

The station (or valve with pressure gauge) can be immediately connected to hoses and adapters, assembling a refueling installation.

On one side the unit is connected to a refrigerant cylinder, on the other - to an air conditioner

Procedure for refilling the air conditioner with freon

When refilling the air conditioner, you should be extremely careful and precise, and also carefully monitor the readings of the pressure gauges.

The air conditioner can be recharged outside

Algorithms for refilling air conditioners of cars of different brands and models differ slightly. In any case, you will have to perform the following steps.

If the air conditioner has not worked for a long time, be sure to carry out vacuumization using a vacuum pump.
Remove the plastic plug located on the return line.
Connect the refrigerant cylinder to the charging unit.
Using the adapter, connect the filling unit hose to the connector.
Start the engine and raise the speed to 1500.
Turn on maximum air recirculation.
Start applying freon, maintaining the speed at the same level.
Apply freon until the pressure gauge reading reaches 280 kPa.
Check if cold air is entering the cabin. At maximum modes, its temperature should not exceed 10 degrees.

Thus, it is quite simple to repair and replace the air conditioner radiator with your own hands. You just need to be careful and carefully follow the recommendations of professionals.

Polyvinyl chloride

PVC pipes are known, first of all, as the most affordable solution for indoor and outdoor installation. However, pressure socket pipes are also used for installing water pipelines.

O-rings

Connecting PVC pipes using ring seals is practiced both in free-flow sewers and in pressure pipelines. The only difference is the thickness of the pipe walls and the force required to uncouple the socket.

Diameters: 50 - 600 mm.

Wall thickness: any.

Advantages: pipes are supplied completely ready for installation of the connection, with O-ring seals installed. When cutting to size for installation, couplings with two counter-directional sockets are used.

Disadvantages: large force required to assemble the connection with a large pipe diameter; possibility of spontaneous undocking of the connection.

Technology:

Factory pipe ends are ready for joining. On pipes cut to size, the burrs are cleared and the outer chamfer is removed;
Apply a small amount of liquid soap or silicone grease to the end of the pipe and the O-ring;
The pipe is pressed into the socket.

If significant force is required for pressing, the following can be used:

Clamp and lever systems;
Loading equipment.

Adhesive joints

They are used when installing pressure pipelines. The glue is a solution of polyvinyl chloride in an organic solvent.

Diameter: up to 110 mm.

Wall thickness: any.

Advantage: the strength of the connection is almost as good as that of a solid section.

Disadvantage: the connection is made permanent.

How to connect PVC pipes with glue?

The glue is applied to the inside of the socket and to the end of the pipe with the outer chamfer removed;
A smooth section of pipe is inserted into the socket and rotated 90 degrees
;
The connection is fixed until the glue sets (no more than 1 minute).

Cast iron

Currently, cast iron pipes are used primarily for laying sewers, and even then to a very limited extent: they have been seriously replaced by cheaper and lighter products made of PVC and polypropylene.

Pressure cast iron pipes are even less popular: they are used for laying water pipelines with a slight depth under conditions of significant load on the ground.

Socket connection with embossing

When installing a free-flow sewer system, the connection of cast iron pipes is performed as follows:

The above diagram needs a few comments:

Instead of a caulk (oil- or bitumen-impregnated organic fiber), a more durable graphite gland can be used;
Embossing is easy to make by flattening one end of a steel tube with a diameter of 10 - 12 mm and bending its end into the shape of a club;

Personally, I always used a wide, strong screwdriver to make joints. It's less convenient, but it takes up less space in your toolbox and is useful for many other plumbing jobs.

To seal the socket, you can use pure cement, diluted with water to the consistency of very thick sour cream;
The socket must be firmly fixed during operation
. Otherwise it will become loose and leak.

Flare connection with rubber ring

This type of connection is typical for ductile iron pipes (made of high-strength nodular cast iron). Thanks to the combination of corrosion resistance and the ductility characteristic of steel, the material is in demand, among other things, for the installation of water pipes.

The instructions for assembling the connection are extremely simple: the smooth end of the pipe with the chamfer removed is pressed into a socket with a rubber seal. Since, with large pipe diameters, assembling the connection requires a lot of effort, and the mass of the pipes amounts to tens and hundreds of kilograms, loading equipment is often used for installation.

Previously, gray cast iron pipes with hammered sockets were often used for the installation of water pipelines. However, they were sealed not with cement, but with lead.

Polypropylene

The only widely used method of connecting propylene pipes is socket welding

. For this purpose, a monolithic polypropylene coupling is used.

Diameters: 20-110 mm.

Wall thickness: any.

Advantage: the connection is as strong as a solid pipe.

Disadvantages: requires a special tool (low-temperature soldering iron); The connection is permanent and can only be cut.

Technology:

The pipe is cut with a pipe cutter or a regular hacksaw;
The outer chamfer is removed;

For PN25 aluminum foil reinforced pipe, stripping of aluminum foil in the welding area is required. For this purpose, a hand shaver or a drill attachment with similar functionality is used.

The pipe is inserted into a soldering iron nozzle of the appropriate diameter heated to 240 degrees. At the same time, the second side of the nozzle is used to melt the coupling;

The fitting and pipe are combined with a smooth translational movement and fixed until the polymer melt sets. The fixation, heating and cooling times are predictably determined by the pipe cross-section. For the convenience of the reader, I will collect all the recommended parameters in one table.

Diameter	Heat	Fixation	Full cooling
20 mm	7 sec	6 sec	2 minutes
25 mm	8 sec	10 sec	2 minutes
32 mm	8 sec	10 sec	4 min
40 mm	12 sec	20 sec	4 min
50 mm	18 sec	20 sec	4 min
63 mm	24 sec	30 sec	6 min
75 mm	30 sec	30 sec	6 min
90 mm	40 sec	40 sec	6 min
110 mm	50 sec	50 sec	8 min

Polyethylene

Polyethylene pipes are used:

For laying pressure sewerage;
As a material for cold water supply lines;
When organizing country water supply systems;
When installing a non-pressure sewer system.

When installing a polyethylene sewer system, the connection of HDPE pipes is no different from that for socketed PVC pipes with ring seals.

The black sewer pipe is polyethylene.

For pressure water pipes, two fundamentally different installation methods are used.

Butt welding

Diameter: from 40 to 2400 mm.

Wall thickness: from 4 to 70 mm.

Advantage: the strength of the seam reaches 80% of the strength of a monolithic pipe.

Disadvantage: when joining large diameter pipelines, expensive equipment and mechanical or hydraulic devices for centering and clamping are required.

The pipe clamping force during butt welding should reach 1.5 kgf/cm. In this case, the cross-sectional area of the pipe cut can amount to thousands of square centimeters.

Technology:

The pipe ends only at right angles to the longitudinal axis;
The ends to be welded are centered;
A heater mirror is inserted between them;
After melting, the mirror is removed, and the ends of the pipes are pressed against each other;
After the joint has completely cooled, the flash (extruded polymer melt) is mechanically cleaned off on the inside of the pipe.

Compression fittings

How to connect HDPE pipes with a small diameter and insignificant wall thickness?

In this case, the already familiar compression fittings are used.

Diameter: 16 - 32 mm.

Wall thickness: any.

Advantages: simple installation without tools, quick disassembly.

Disadvantage: relatively low tensile strength.

Technology:

A union nut, a locking ring and a rubber or polyethylene seal are sequentially put on the pipe;
Its end is inserted into the fitting;
The nut is tightened, compressing the pipe with a seal.

Metal-plastic

Metal-plastic is two layers of cross-linked (reinforced by cross-links between polymer molecules) polyethylene with a thin aluminum tube between them. During installation, three connection methods are used.

Compression fittings

Diameters: any.

Wall thickness: any.

Advantage: the use of simple hand tools. a couple of adjustable wrenches to assemble the fitting.

Disadvantage: the quality of the connection depends on the correct assembly technology. If the pipe is not calibrated, the displacement of the rubber O-rings along the fitting will lead to a leak after several heating and cooling cycles.

Technology:

We cut the pipe with pipe cutter scissors;
We calibrate it and remove the internal chamfer
;
We put a union nut and a split ring on the pipe;
Apply silicone grease to the fitting fitting;
Carefully, so as not to displace the o-rings, put the pipe onto the fitting;
We move the split ring and nut towards the fitting until it stops;

Tighten the nut until you feel resistance.

Press fittings

Their only difference from the previous solution is that instead of a union nut and a split ring, the pipe is crimped onto the fitting using a stainless steel sleeve.

Diameter: any.

Wall thickness: any.

Advantage: a correctly made connection does not leak under any temperature changes.

I suspect that press fittings do not leak only because, when installing them, professionals are not lazy in calibrating the pipes and chamfering them. According to my observations, a connection assembled according to all the rules using compression fittings is not inferior in reliability to a press fitting.
The photo shows a plastic tee with two push-couplings and an adapter for pipe threads.
Diameter: any.
Wall thickness: any.
Advantage: easy assembly without tools.
Disadvantages: high cost of fittings, moderate tensile strength of the connection.
Technology: the end of the pipe is inserted into the fitting with a previously loosened nut, after which it is tightened. The pipe is fixed with a metal ring with legs directed inward. Tightness is ensured by an o-ring rubber seal.

Due to its qualities, aluminum pipe is a fairly common building material. It can be used in the construction of various pipelines, drainage and ventilation systems, as well as for the manufacture of various structures. How to choose the right pipes, join and lay pipes, read on.

About solders

For those who do not know how to solder an aluminum air conditioner tube, we can recommend using copper-phosphorus and silver solders. For copper products, it is better to replace phosphorus with solder, which contains silver ions. The fact is that the phosphorus substance is quite brittle in alloys in which the amount of nickel exceeds 10%. If the solid solder contains cadmium, then you will have to worry about your health, since cadmium fumes can poison your body. Before soldering an aluminum tube in the refrigerator, you should determine the type of connection. For example, copper with copper, with steel and with aluminum.

In the first case, you will have to work with copper solder. The joint must be heated to 600 degrees using a burner (it will become dark cherry color). Next, the solder should be dipped in flux. For melting to occur, you need to press the rod against the heated joint. Steel-to-steel and copper-to-steel joints are treated with silver-containing solder, which is also called silver. Solder with a higher silver content will require a lower temperature to melt. In addition, it has better wettability and streamlining, unlike copper-phosphorus, which requires a higher temperature to melt.

Areas of use of aluminum pipes

Pipes made of aluminum have the following positive qualities:

resistance to corrosion. This factor significantly increases the scope of use of pipes and their service life;
light weight, which is reflected in the ease of delivery of pipes and their installation;
resistance to chemicals and aggressive environments. Thanks to this factor, pipes can be used for laying underground pipelines;
high cross-country ability. Due to the smooth internal surface, aluminum pipes can pass more liquid than pipes made from other materials of the same diameter;
processing capability. Pipes can be painted, sewn up with any materials, mounted in a wall, and so on. Any method will not have a negative impact and will not reduce the period of their use.

All presented qualities apply to pipes consisting of 95% aluminum or more.

The positive characteristics of aluminum products determine the scope of their application. Pipes made of this metal can be used:

for construction, drainage, heating, ventilation, both domestic and industrial purposes;
for the construction of drainage systems;
for the construction of a storm sewer network;
for laying pipelines for the oil production and oil processing industries;
for electrical cable insulation;
for the construction of building frames;
for the construction of gazebos, benches, greenhouses and other small architectural forms.

Repairing small cracks

For those who do not know how to solder an aluminum tube, experienced craftsmen will recommend using special compounds. If the tubes in your air conditioner have very small cracks that are barely visible to the eye, then you can do without argon-arc welding. Special patches are applied to the holes in the tubes. It is important that their thickness is at least 3 mm. To do this, aluminum tubes should be coated with the mixture in several layers. If the cracks are large, then you cannot do without argon-arc welding. Its advantage is that it eliminates contact of the surface with oxygen, and, consequently, the formation of oxides. Thus, when working with argon-arc welding, you can do without flux.

Main selection criteria

When choosing aluminum pipes for the construction of a particular facility, the following aspects should be taken into account:

pipe manufacturing method;
diameter, shape and other dimensions.

Pipe making methods

In modern production, the following methods for manufacturing aluminum pipes are used:

cold deformation. A pipe with specified parameters is made from an aluminum circle by drawing and subsequent calibration. This method makes it possible to produce pipes with precise dimensions, including minimum diameters and high quality. The main disadvantage is the high cost;

pressing. Heated aluminum billets are passed through a special press with specified parameters. Pressed pipes are characterized by increased resistance to mechanical stress;

welding An aluminum billet with specified dimensions is bent into the shape of a pipe. The ends of the workpiece are welded together. Pipes made by welding are most susceptible to cracking under high pressure or mechanical stress. Therefore, it is recommended to use them exclusively for domestic purposes and within reach for inspection and repair work.

Selection of basic parameters

Aluminum pipes can be round, square, rectangular:

round and oval pipes are mainly used in the construction of pipelines and ventilation systems;
square and rectangular (profile) pipes are used for laying cables, constructing building frames, and constructing various structures.

Before constructing any structure, you should also take into account such parameters as:

diameter of the pipe used. This parameter is of particular importance during the construction of water supply, etc., since the throughput of the system depends on the diameter;
aluminum pipe wall thickness. The size of the maximum load depends on this parameter, which is of fundamental importance when laying pipelines underground or constructing various structures.

Each type of pipe is manufactured in accordance with GOST, which also regulates the standard dimensions of manufactured products. So:

cold-deformed aluminum pipes must comply with GOST 18475 - 82;
pressed pipes are manufactured according to GOST 18482 - 79;
The welded pipe complies with GOST 23697 – 79.

GOST also regulates the methods of inspection and testing of pipes, which guarantees the high quality of the products.

Causes of breakdowns

It may be that the aluminum tubes in the car's air conditioner are simply clogged. This happens mainly in winter when the air conditioner is not working. As contaminants accumulate between the radiators in the air conditioner and engine, the entire line becomes clogged. As a result, the refrigerant will circulate and mix with moisture no longer fully. Due to the presence of reagents, disturbances in moisture levels and temperature changes, the aluminum from which the tubes are made is destroyed. Thus, their operational life depends on the climate, temperature conditions, characteristics of the road surface, participation in road accidents and general loads on the vehicle. Together, these factors will negatively affect the condition of the cooling system.

Methods for connecting aluminum pipes

Before constructing any pipelines or other types of structures, you should familiarize yourself with the possible methods of connecting aluminum pipes.

The main method of connection during pipeline construction is welding, which is performed according to the following scheme:

pipes are prepared for welding work: cutting, stripping, and so on;
preparation of the device. Welding of aluminum pipes can be done using a gas torch (argon welding) or conventional welding equipment (electric arc welding). In the latter case, it is necessary to purchase special electrodes;
joining pipes and applying a weld.

The welding process is presented in more detail in the video.

The profile pipe used in the construction of frames and other forms, in addition to welding, can be connected using bolts. To do this you need:

cut pipes in accordance with the dimensions specified by the future design diagram;
sand the edges of the pipes with sandpaper;
drill holes for installing bolts;
assemble the structure using connecting plates.

When installing various structures, you can use other methods, for example, arranging a connection with a threaded fitting, but all similar methods are labor-intensive and can lead to a violation of the system’s sealing.

To learn how to connect metal pipes without welding, you need to study in detail the methods for connecting these pipe materials. The thing is that pipelines are a complex structure consisting of a series connection of rolled pipes and measuring equipment, which are provided for in the project.

When laying a highway, the connection method may be different. Some of them may be permanent, but dismantling and subsequent reassembly of the structure is possible.

Despite the high popularity of plastic, steel products are still used. Welded fastening is used very often, but making such a joint is impossible without special knowledge and skills. Therefore, many try to use options that allow you to connect in a different way.

Hose repair

If you want to save a lot on repairing air conditioner pipes, you will have to do it yourself. I would like to note that this will still require soldering experience, albeit a small one.

It is important to stock up on specific tools: a pipe cutter, a special bending machine and welding. Please note that the pipe cutter can also be replaced with a metal file, but this will not be the quality we expect when repairing car air conditioning pipes. The pipe bender can be either universal (for different diameters) or specific (for a specific diameter)

When choosing this tool, it is worth knowing what sizes are used in your machine. Often this is a size 6, 8, 10, which corresponds to the internal diameter in millimeters. You can look at the size on the car system or in the technical documentation. This is a fundamentally important repair issue because different machines use different measurement systems.

A pipe bender can be either universal (for different diameters) or specific (for a specific diameter). When choosing this tool, it is worth knowing what sizes are used in your machine. Often this is a size 6, 8, 10, which corresponds to the internal diameter in millimeters. You can look at the size on the car system or in the technical documentation. This is a fundamentally important repair issue because different machines use different measurement systems.

Repairing car air conditioning pipes begins with the fact that you need to buy or manufacture parts. Next, we cut off the required length and bend them using a bending machine. When the tubes are ready, we cut the fittings and connect it all into a single system. Before soldering, you should wrap the parts with electrical tape and see if you did everything correctly. If everything fits, then we start soldering.

When repairing car air conditioning pipes, it is not always possible to resort to the method described above. Sometimes air conditioner pipes are replaced with hoses made of rubber. Although they are made of less resistant material, replacing them will be very quick, simple and cheap. Welding of air conditioner pipes is not used here; usually the hoses are screwed in.

Welding of air conditioner pipes is also used if they are made of copper. The copper type of connections is more durable than aluminum, but it is expensive. In this case, it is necessary to perform flaring. And this is a job for professionals with high-quality specific tools (they are only available at good service stations). Sometimes such parts are insulated, which prevents freezing in winter and provides thermal insulation for the system.

At the end of the article, I would like to note that you need to pay close attention to the cooling system: listen to the sounds of the devices, smells and general performance characteristics. All this can tell you in time about problems that are easy to fix in the first stages. Take good care of your car and it will serve you for many years!

Installation with threaded connection

How to connect iron pipes without welding will be discussed further, but in this article you can find out. To make docking, this method is very common.

The threaded connection can be located in places on the highway where conditions allow for constant monitoring of the joint. At the same time, it should be possible to carry out repair work if necessary.

Most often, threads are rolled using special equipment, but such work can be done independently.

It is performed in the following sequence:

How to connect without threading and welding

Next you will learn how to connect metal pipes without welding or threading. Speaking about connecting metal pipes, this method cannot be ignored, because it is very popular during installation work.

Installation work is carried out in the following sequence:

Metal pipes prepared for fastening are cut off at the end parts. The cut on them should be made perpendicularly and ensure that it runs smoothly.
A coupling is applied to the connection area. The center of the connecting element must be located exactly along the pipe joining area.
Markings are made on the pipes with a marker; it will indicate the position of the fitting.
The end parts of the connection are coated with silicone grease.
One pipe is inserted into the connecting part according to the mark. After which, the second one is placed in the same center line with the first one, and only after that it is attached to the coupling. The marker placed with a marker will serve as a guide when dressing.

Watch the video

Step-by-step instructions for soldering a radiator made of copper:

To remove the leak, you need to unfasten the casing and plugs. There are special fasteners right on top of the casing; pressing them with a screwdriver, you can easily remove it. There is a small container under the radiator designed to collect liquid. It must be unfastened from the latches and taken to the side

But be careful because the container is connected to a drainage hose. The container should be thoroughly cleaned and dried, and the drain hole should be emptied. Having determined the location of the leak, it is necessary to dry, clean and degrease the problem area

It is then treated with flux and tin is applied. Everything is thoroughly warmed up using a hair dryer and only after that can the actual sealing process begin. If you can’t fix the tin in any way, then you should once again treat the surface of the hole with flux. After these manipulations, you need to make sure that the radiator is working; to do this, you can perform the same actions as indicated above.