How to Disconnect Soldered Copper Pipe Fittings

In this video I demonstrate how to disconnect soldered copper pipes by desoldering. This is a useful technique when cutting a pipe is undesirable or difficult.

[tonymanero]

If there is a soldered joint near the joint you want to remove, use a cloth, towel, any rag, soaked with water and wrap that joint. Heat that gets to the joint will be expended heating the water or steaming it. Of course, use caution in not torching the rag. It’s like having water in a pipe which you can’t solder because the heat is steaming the water and the joint can get hot enough for solder to melt.

[PJ-HTSouth]

Will it hurt to use the same cap if i remove....can i solder it again

[ObeyyJayy]

I’ve had no luck in removing mine. The solder just won’t melt . Am I doing something wrong ? Or maybe there’s another way to remove it ?

[vicO]

You should use a torch that uses a hotter flame than common propane, like a MAPP (methylacetylene-propadiene propane) gas torches. MAPP comes in a yellow cannister.

[SK-mqql]

It's not so easy in out door faucet, where usually the 1/2" copper pipe broke at the soldering point and needs cutting and replumbing!?

[drellcopeland]

Why not heat up the solder on the pipe and wipe it off to get to bare copper instead of sanding

[btp]

Anymore, mapp and propane gas are virtually the same as true mapp gas was banned in 2008

[AndreaCuchetto]

That pipe looks horrible. You would trust that for your drinking water?