Soldering vertical copper pipe

[bcarwell]

I have a vertical 3/4" copper pipe I just cut a section out of which froze and cracked. Now I'm replacing it with a new piece of pipe and two standard slip joints- one on either end. My question is how do you sweat solder when the joints are vertical ? I know how to solder and I know about capillary action sucking in the solder even vertically, and that you make the part hottest in the direction you want the solder to flow. But: once you've soldered in one side of the slip joint when soldering the other side won't it heat up the side you just soldered to cause the solder to flow out ? What order should I solder the joints in or does it matter ? Should I first solder on the slip joints onto the piece of replacement pipe at my workbench so I only have two joints left to solder when I put the replacement pipe in place ? Still seems like in doing so I'd be heating other side of the slip joint that I had soldered at my bench. And how long should the spliced-in piece of pipe be or does it matter ? Just a few inches long to replace all the bulged pipe where the crack was ?
Thanks for any tips (or reassurances if it will work just fine)...

Bob

 

[s78wingrider]

Not an expert but think I found out a few years ago that there are fittings for bulged pipe I know I have soldered vertical pipe with no problem. Easy as horizontal

 

[BillBeyer]

I would solder them all in place starting at bottom and working up. Make sure pipe and fittings are dry of water, clean, sanded and fluxed properly. You did not state what type of solder or flux you were using. I prefer a few inches between the couplings to keep one from overheating the next.

 

[Train]

I had to do this last winter. I did the bottom joint first, heating the middle of the coupling and then applying solder to both sides real quick. Next the top joint in the same way. Remember heat rises so doing the bottom will send a little heat up to the next joint. My joints were about a foot apart. You can also use a wet rag on the first joint once it's done to keep any additional heat off it while you do the second one.

 

[tulenutn2o]

I am a HVAC/R - plumber and there are really no issues vertical or horizontal that practice doesn't take care of. I generally go bottom up. I heat side closest to me and start solder on backside and let it draw around joint and then onto next joint. Couplings are really no issue, key is to not overheat. When solder starts to flow you can take heat away for a moment. It does take practice, but in my 25+ years of exp. most people have problems because they overheat the joint.

 

[kevinj]

It does take practice, but in my 25+ years of exp. most people have problems because they overheat the joint.

Or they do not properly heat the fitting to draw the solder in

 

[mmurphy]

Some over heat because they do not get joint cleaned and fluxed right also.

 

[FastPauly]

Never do your joints too close together....space them out over time. :confused2:

Sorry.....I just couldn't resist that one....

 

[bcarwell]

Many thanks guys for the quick, informative, confidence building replies, just in time for the weekend ! It's guest house for mother-in-law, so can't wait to get her back in it

 

[tulenutn2o]

Some over heat because they do not get joint cleaned and fluxed right also.

Very true.