Soldering iron for polypropylene pipes, connection technology

When creating a water supply system, various kinds of material are used. The most popular was polypropylene. It is characterized by reliability and durability. It is quite simple to work with it, but there is an obligatory tool, without which it will not be possible to assemble a water supply system from polypropylene pipes. This device is called a soldering iron for plastic pipes or an iron, due to the similarity in the principle of operation.

The plastic pipe iron is a conventional heating device. Its main purpose is to create a permanent connection between various structural elements of the pipeline. Using such a device is easy, but working with it requires accuracy and experience. Manufacturers put on the market many different models, the principle of operation is the same for them, but they differ in their performance and quality of work.

Principle of operation

The main part in the soldering ironas in a household iron - a powerful heating element. In addition to it, the soldering iron includes:

• body with holder;

• thermostat;

• heating device (TEN);

• teflon nozzles.

The principle of operation is as follows. Power from the industrial network is supplied to the heating element installed in a metal casing. The heating device generates heat, which is transferred to the surface of the housing. They are attached to the body by the method of strong pressing of the nozzles. The heated surface heats up the nozzles.

To connect structures made of polypropylene, it is necessary to simultaneously use two types of nozzles - internal and external. The pipeline elements installed in these nozzles soften to a viscous state. This condition allows a leak-tight connection to be obtained. The required heating temperature is set and maintained using a thermostat. It prevents excessive heat, which will cause the polypropylene to melt and flow. It also protects the overheating of the nozzles, in which the protective layer can be damaged.

Types of soldering irons

There are two types of pipe soldering irons, they differ in the form of the sting:

• cylindrical;

• flat.

The difference between flat located heating structure and cylindrical, only in ease of operation and the difference in attachment attachments. The iron for soldering polypropylene pipes with a cylindrical sting is more convenient to use in hard-to-reach places, due to its compact size.

The attachments, in the case of a flat arrangement of the tip, are attached to it using a long screw. This screw secures both nozzles on both sides in such a way that it does not interfere with the soldering process. For this, several holes are structurally made on the heated surface. They allow you to attach attachments at different distances. The different location makes it possible to solder pipes at different installation depths. In this case, the larger diameter is hung closer to the handle, and the smaller one to the end.

Round shape soldering irons have attachments that resemble clamps. They are crimped around the tip using two screws. Their advantage is that they do not rotate during operation, which makes it easy to use. This design will allow you to screw the nozzle to the very edge of the heating element.

Soldering Iron Parameters

The main parameters that you should pay attention to when buying are the power of the device, and what attachments are used with it. In addition, the following characteristics are distinguished:

• type of heating;
• minimum operating temperature;
• maximum operating temperature;
• operating voltage;
• warm-up time;
• equipment;
• guarantee period.

Heating type

Heating can be continuous or intermittent. Constant heating consists of in a gradual decrease in temperature by the thermostat to maintain the required value. While the periodic type, after reaching the set value, turns off the heating. When the temperature drops by about five degrees, it turns on again and heats up to the desired value. And so on in a cycle. The type of heating depends on the thermostat used.

Working temperatures

This parameter characterizes the values ​​that can be set by the thermostat. The most popular operating temperature is 260 degrees, but it primarily depends on the diameter of the nozzles used.

The warm-up time affects only the speed at which the iron-soldering iron reaches its operating temperature. This time is influenced not only by the type of heating element used and the quality of the materials used in the manufacture of the device, but also by the environmental parameters. The average value for reaching the ready mode is up to 15 minutes.

Typical configuration

Usually all products are produced in a special case, in which, in addition to the polypropylene pipe iron itself, there is a number of objects. These are without fail nozzles of various diameters, fixing accessories, stand. Additionally, the kit may include: a screwdriver, tape measure, pipe scissors, gloves, etc.

Power selection

First of all, it determines the heating temperature provided during pipe brazing. The maximum size of the pipe to be welded and the speed of work depends on it. At the same time, you should not purchase a soldering iron with maximum power. Such a purchase may not be economically viable. There is a rule that the minimum power of the iron should correspond to the size of the diameter of the pipes to be welded, multiplied by 10, in millimeters. It follows that the higher the pipe diameter, the more powerful a soldering iron is needed. Thus, the values ​​will be:

• up to 63 mm - power is 680 W;
• up to 75 mm - power is 850 W;
• from 125 mm - the power of the soldering iron must exceed 1.2 kW.

Necessary attachments

Related material, but without which it will be impossible to carry out the soldering process, are the nozzles. They vary in diameter. The couplings are of standard sizes to match the diameters of the pipes being produced. An essential parameter of the attachments is the non-stick material with which they are coated. Good couplings are coated with durable metallized Teflon. This allows you to uniformly heat the surface of the pipes to be brazed.

In order not to damage the protective layer on the nozzles at high heat, you should clean them from dirt with a non-synthetic cloth after finishing work.

How to use

First you need to prepare the edges of the elements. The edge must be cut straight and free from burrs. If the pipe has a reinforced layer (used for hot media), then it is pre-cleaned. Cleaning involves removing the reinforcing layer along the entire diameter at a distance of 23 mm from the edge of the surface to be welded. This is necessary, since the reinforced elements have a slightly larger diameter than the nozzle. In this case, the reinforcement made along the outer edgealso will not damage the Teflon coating of the coupling. For ease of use, it is recommended to mark the welding depth on the pipe before soldering. The following stages of work can be distinguished:

1. The nozzles of the required diameter are screwed onto the heated plate with good effort. This will ensure good thermal contact. When installing on a cold appliance, do not overtighten the bolts in order not to damage the threads during subsequent heating.
2. The iron for polypropylene pipes is installed on a stand and connected to a 220 volt network. Direct voltage supply to the heating element occurs after pressing the switch on.
3. The knob of the adjustable thermostat sets the required heating temperature. The heating temperature depends on the diameter of the connected elements.
4. The iron for brazing polypropylene pipes is usually equipped with an LED signaling that allows you to determine the moment when it is possible to start working on the connection. A red light indicates that the device is heating up. Green, that the required temperature has been reached. As soon as the green light turns on, or the red goes out, one end of the pipe is inserted into one side, and the fitting is inserted into the other.
5. After four, maximum eight, seconds, the pipeline elements are removed from the nozzles. At the same time, exactly, in the horizontal plane, they are joined to each other by the heated sides. The fitting is immersed in the pipe to the marked line and held there for a few seconds. The heating time is related to the diameter of the connected elements and is given in the instructions for the device.
6. The soldering point cools down quite quickly, literally in a minute the one-piece connection will be ready.

It should be noted that very often the welding operation is recommended to be carried out with an assistant. One person holds the iron, and the second performs the necessary manipulations for soldering. It is also important to remember that when working with the tool, you must adhere to safety rules, as it is possible to easily get burned.

Choice of tool and manufacturer

For household needs, powerful irons are usually not required, it will be enough to purchase an instrument with a value of 700-800 watts. Devices with a power of more than 1.5 kW are professional. The scope of their application is narrower, for example, the laying of an autonomous sewage system.

For housework, 2-3 attachments are enough, but they must be of high quality. The most common diameters faced by the layman are 16 mm, 24 mm, 32 mm. It should be remembered that attachments are sold separately, so you can always purchase a new product if the old one is damaged.

When choosing, you should pay attention to weight. The lighter the soldering iron, the more convenient it will be for soldering by weight, but if used on a stand, it will turn over. At the same time, indirectly, the severity of the iron can indicate the parameters of thermal conductivity, the heavier, the longer it will hold the required temperature. This means that it can be briefly disconnected from the 220 V network and welded in a hard-to-reach place.

When choosing manufacturers, one should take into account the popularity and specialization of a particular brand. The leading positions are occupied by the following companies:

• Valtek.
• Wellner.
• REMS.
• Dytron.
• Prorab.
• Sturm.
• Brima.
• Resant.
• Bosch.
• ENCOR.

The most durable soldering irons are produced by firms in Germany and the Czech Republic. They have good functionality and workmanship. Usually, a tool from these countries is considered professional, which means it is expensive. For home infrequent use, devices manufactured in Turkey, Russia, China are quite suitable. If you need to do the work once, you can take a tool and rent.

The warranty period is usually one or two years. But this does not mean that the device will fail so quickly. The weak points are the heating element and the thermostat. The probability of a heater burnout is extremely small, since the protection used in the device simply will not allow this to happen. And damage to the thermostat is mainly associated with mechanical failures, which are caused by inaccurate handling of the instrument.