Propane vs acetylene???

[WookieWelding]

you can tig copper without rod you can also tig it with some bronze or some copper filler it also depends on what is in the copper aka bushing material does not tig due to the stuff that is in it oil/zinc

[mountain eagle]

What about just plain old copper water pipe type stuff? I've got a shop owner friend that want's an improved door handle out of copper plumbing pipe and I was thinking it would be cool if I could tig it............

[Gadget]

Copper should flow without filler but it might not be as strong as you would like.

[mountain eagle]

Copper should flow without filler but it might not be as strong as you would like.

Well right now it's 3/4" CU with 1/2" EMT inside of it just soldered......... I've fixed the solder once for him, but it seems to hold. I just thought it would be cool to make it pretty with some TIG if that would work instead of solder. That and someday I'll put one together for him that's more than just two 90's and a cross member. I was going to play with things and see if I could get some kind of three rail decco thing going.

ummm, hijack off?

[Tritium]

I believe that oxygen free copper can be used as a filler. I saw on some site, possibly this one some tig'd copper fittings and I believe that no filler was used. You can use silicon bronze tig rod too (ERCuSi-A).

Thurmond

[rustycase]

Yes, copper will flow and bond without adding filler.
With no filler an edge joint is usually best.
But why no filler?
A scrap piece of electrical wire w/insulation stripped off works well enough for me. gas or tig welding.

However ...
The problem with copper is that it oxidizes A LOT and contaminates itself when welding. and the argon don't help! (except to protect the tungsten)
It's difficult chasing the pinholes in the weld.

...It's fun welding copper... takes a bit more heat, because it conducts so well, and it doesn't puddle and flow like steel.

You'll have fun giving it a try.

Best
rc

[Gadget]

I strip off a section of 12 or 14 gauge copper wire to use as filler when I TIG copper.

[m j]

... these fuels are liquified petroleum. they arent a gas ...

for propane this isnt really true at the torch or in the lines. in the tank there is liquid but you draw vapour to burn. if you were drawing liquid your reg would quickly turn into a ball of ice.
propane torch has a few differences in use as well, the heat is further from the tip then acetylene

[rustycase]

I strip off a section of 12 or 14 gauge copper wire to use as filler when I TIG copper.

I do the same thing, Gadget... and work harder for the consequences.
Nothing I'm not accustomed to, because I'm a cheapskate skinflint...

I'm tig'ing copper tube... it falls into the category of "tough pitch' copper. As does the stripped electrical wire.

Superior results may be obtained by using de-oxidized copper rod. ...and of course, stock that is also de-oxidized... whatever that may be...

I have no clue what "tough pitch" actually means, but the term is direct from the textbook used by the union pipefitters.
What I DO know is you will get a lot of little pinholes in a weld that must be chased around to assure a leak free joint, even when using argon with pre and post flow.

Best
rc