To quickly and reliably solder pipes and radiators, you need a high-power soldering iron. It can be made from a microwave transformer. Such a device is capable of almost instantly heating the metal red-hot.
Basic materials:
transformer from a microwave oven;
thick copper cable 25-50 sq. mm;
cable lugs – 2 pcs.;
copper tubes;
push-button switch;
clips for PP pipes – 2 pcs.;
mini door hinge – 1 pc.;
worm clamps for pipes – 2 pcs.;
cable entries – 2 pcs.;
box from an uninterruptible power supply, stabilizer or similar.
Soldering iron manufacturing process
It is necessary to remove the working transformer from the microwave and remove its secondary winding without damaging the primary. To do this, the wire is simply sawed off on both sides and knocked out of the core.
Instead of a remote winding, a thick copper cable must be wound into the core. Since there is little space in it, literally 3 turns will fit.
After this, you need to select a housing to accommodate the transformer. You can use a box from a burnt stabilizer, an uninterruptible power supply for a computer, etc.It should be cleared of the standard filling.
Next, 2 pieces of copper tube are prepared to make the holder. One of their walls must be cut lengthwise. The insulation is stretched over them.
One edge of them needs to be compressed in a vice, drilled and ground in order to twist it with cable lugs.
There are 2 cable entries and a switch embedded in the front panel of the box. Then the transformer is screwed inside. Its cable is routed out through the inputs. You also need to connect the primary winding of the transformer to the network via a push-button switch.
The previously made tubes for the holder must be connected to each other using clips for PP pipes screwed onto the door hinge. Thinner copper tubes are inserted into them and tightened with clamps.
The lugs are clamped onto the cable removed from the housing. They are then connected to the handle.
Now, when power is applied to the primary winding and conductors are placed between the probes of the handle, they will become very hot. This will allow you to very quickly solder copper pipes of air conditioners and refrigerators.
This soldering iron is also convenient for heating rusty threaded connections in order to unscrew them.
