Just For Copper Solderless Bonding
Just for Copper is a solderless bonding agent that permits the bonding of copper-to-copper and copper-to-brass without the use of solder or heat. This comes in especially handy when you have a joint located where you are not comfortable using a torch. Dry-fit your pipes, mark the joints, sand inside & out, apply a proper amount of compound, press together, twist, and you are finished. Works like a charm, even on those joints you couldn't get to hold solder.
I was surprised by this product. I've plumbed several houses, a volunteer crew leader with Habitat for Humanity, and so on. You name it, I've done a little of everything. My nephew and I were running new copper for his second bath and there was a joint that wouldn't take solder. He went to the local True Value for a compression fitting and the clerk suggested he try this bond. He brought it back and it worked. We then put in a new outdoor faucet for my mother. We were concerned with using a torch in an area that was cramped and had electric lines running through it. Using this bond took care of that concern and it worked great. Of course, the product isn't fool proof (i.e. human error), so here are some tips on how to use it.
-- Al Finnical
Just For Copper Bonding Epoxy
$13
Available from Amazon
Manufactured by Jackson Industries, Inc.
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ronald hall
i would like to know if this product could be used for bonding copper leads to copper commutators in electric armatures
Don Gwinn
I'm sure Mr. Hall will never see this, but maybe it will help someone else--I bought a bottle today and it says on the label that it doesn't conduct electricity. I wouldn't trust it for any electronic or electrical connection.
Dennis
If you plan on using Just For Copper on copper water pipes, RUN THE OTHER WAY! I just got done plumbing a whole house. I followed the directions exactly, took extra amount of time to get everything just right and now after 48 hours, the leaks keep appearing. Every few hours I recheck the connections and see another leak. I've repaired and replaced a section of pipe and that is again leaking! Save yourself a big headache and avoid this product! It may be able to take 500 lbs of air pressure, but it is not able to handle 60 lbs of water pressure.
Here are my observations:
1. The shear strength of this product is TERRIBLE. Even if you are extremely careful when tightening a union or shut off valve using two wrenches, expect the closest connection to leak. Support all pipe before you make a connection because the cured product cannot even take the weight of a six foot run with a sleeve in the middle.
2. There is more than twice as much work involved in prepping the pipes and connections than soldering. You must clean every connection with 60 grit emery cloth (the piece included lasts for about five connections), dry fit all connections before applying the product (you have five to ten seconds to try to get the connections together, seated all the way and then twisted to get the product evenly coated), and mark every connection to insure that lines up the way you want it to. It almost seems impossible to get every connection in the exact position even when it is marked. If you are off just a hair at a 90 degree connection, three feet later, it will translate into an unusable run of pipe. And as I mentioned above, don't try to put the run of pipe under any kind of tension because it will eventually leak! Soldering always you to dry fit all connections in a run and then solder them while they are together in their correct positions. With JFC you need to disconnect everything and make every connection one by one.
3. The JFC in the pipes that does not react and harden foams out of your faucets every time you turn them on. Mine has done this for two days now and do not know how long it will last. Invest in cases of drinking water.
4. If you like stress, this is the product for you! You will know what I mean if you use the product. Ever successful connection made before it seizes up is like a miracle. Buy extra fittings, you'll need them. It always seems as though the last fitting on a run is the one that gives problems and does not seat properly. You then either need to cut out that entire run or cut off and patch together some hodge podge thing to replace the last fitting.
5. The ONLY thing I would recommend this for is decorative copper work. If you are making some outdoor copper tube trellis, JFC would probably work great. You would not have any silver solder around the fittings so it would probably look a whole lot better.
6. If you are looking to plumb something and afraid of flame and solder, go with PEX. There are now quick connect fittings that don't require any special tools. I wish I would have seen JFC sitting on the shelf and stuck with the PEX!
7. And yes, as Don states in his comment, it does not conduct electricity so if your ground wire from the electrical panel is hooked up to your plumbing, make sure you extend the wire and connect it to where your pipes enter your house from the street.