How to choose a soldering iron for polypropylene pipes: advice from professional plumbers

Polypropylene pipes have firmly occupied the niche of materials for home plumbing and heating.Their installation is simple and easy when compared with the assembly of steel wiring. To weld plastic joints, you need a special soldering iron for polypropylene pipes.

But how to choose it correctly and what you should look at before buying - such nuances are not known to every average person. It is these issues that we will consider in detail in the article, paying attention to the device, operating principle and existing equipment designs.

We also present a number of important criteria that are important when choosing a soldering iron. After all, before purchasing it, you need to familiarize yourself not only with the types, but also with the key characteristics, which will allow you to purchase a device that matches the planned work.

Types of welding of polypropylene pipes

You can connect elements of plastic wiring from polypropylene pipes using threaded fittings or three welding methods:

• electrofusion;
• butt;
• bell-shaped

There is a fundamental difference between soldering polypropylene pipes up to 63 mm and larger than this size.

Pipes with a small diameter (up to 63 mm) are connected using the socket method, that is, by inserting the cut edge of one pipe into the expanded edge (socket) of the fitting.The socket connection method provides a high degree of tightness due to the large contact area of ​​the two soldered products and the absolute coincidence of their diameters.

Large pressure pipelines with a diameter of 63 mm or more are welded end-to-end. This method is practically not used for domestic purposes, therefore equipment for butt welding will not be considered in detail. The cost of such a welding machine starts from several thousand dollars, and it is purchased mainly by construction companies.

Electrofusion welding is used to connect polyethylene pipes. It is produced using couplings with built-in heating elements. It does not require processing of the soldered ends and is possible in places with limited working space.

The disadvantages of electrofusion welding include the high cost of the soldering machine, the price of which starts at $1,500. With electrofusion welding, polymer parts are joined evenly and without sagging, so this method is the best, but also the most expensive.

When connecting large-diameter PP pipes, butt welding technology and a corresponding welding machine are used:

Next, we will consider the choice of equipment for socket welding of polypropylene pipes, the cost of which can be recouped with a large volume of work performed.

Read the article: TOP 12 best soldering irons for pipes: review, photos, pros, cons, price.

Existing soldering iron designs

In appearance, the equipment for socket welding of plastic pipes is of the same type and differs only in the shape of the heater.

It can be of two types:

• flat;
• cylindrical.

A flat heater (installers also call it an iron for polypropylene pipes) has the appearance of a thick conical metal plate. The greater the mass of the heater, the better its ability to maintain a stable temperature when melting plastic. We talked in more detail about using an iron for welding polypropylene In this article.

Nozzles for melting the parts to be joined are fixed to the heater using bolts threaded through holes in the plate.

Soldering irons with a flat heater are bulky and can tip over, so it is necessary to place heat-resistant material on the floor in the workspace in advance

Soldering irons with a cylindrical heater are more compact and easy to use in hard-to-reach places. The attachments are fixed to them using a detachable clamp secured with clamping screws.

Soldering irons with a cylindrical heater are compact, but working with them alone is inconvenient. They need a stable stand

Due to the simplicity of the heater design and the absence of expensive elements in it, the cost of soldering irons ranges from 100-200 dollars, depending on their manufacturer, power and configuration.

Soldering equipment design

The designs of soldering irons for polypropylene pipes may differ in detail, but their main elements are the same.

The equipment includes:

• frame;
• heater;
• thermostat;
• nozzles;
• stand.

The body of the device is usually made of metal, because plastic parts can become brittle due to constant exposure to high temperatures, although models with rubberized handles are also available.

Heating and readiness indicators in different models of soldering irons may have different colors, so you should read the instructions about their purpose

An electric heater (TEH) has the form of a cone-shaped metal plate or a thick cylindrical rod. The dimensions of the heating element depend on the power consumption and the number of attachments placed on it at the same time.

The plate-shaped electric heater has one or more holes for attaching nozzles. With an increase in their number, the power of the soldering iron and its cost increase. The standard heater temperature for pipe welding is 260 °C, but it can be adjusted.

The thermostat has the shape of a round knob, with which you adjust the required operating temperature. To monitor the readiness of the soldering iron for operation, indicators are used (usually red and green lights). When heating, the red indicator lights up, and when the heater reaches operating temperature, the green indicator also lights up.

The nozzles for a flat heating element are cylindrical in shape and are called mandrel and sleeve.The mandrel serves to heat the inner polypropylene surface of the socket, and the sleeve is used to soften the outer layer of the pipe being connected.

Nozzles for the welding machine must have a perfectly flat and smooth base - the rate of their heating and the stability of the temperature of the melted polypropylene depend on this

The nozzles have a non-stick coating on top so that the softened polypropylene does not stick to them. There are nozzles for each pipe diameter. Usually they come complete with a soldering iron in the amount of 3-5 pairs.

For cylindrical heaters, clamp-type attachments are used. Their maximum number on the soldering iron rod depends on the length of the heater.

Stands for welding machines are universal and individual.

In form they can be:

• crusades;
• U-shaped;
• rectangular.

Universal stands can be purchased separately and are suitable for most soldering irons, while individual stands have a special mount designed for a specific model or a whole series of equipment. All stands are relatively compact, but differ in weight.

The design and appearance of the stands can be different, the main thing is that they have the quality necessary for work - stability

The best stand has a rectangular metal sheet at the base. This design is the most stable, but weighs a lot and is rarely used in portable devices

Occasionally you come across soldering irons with heaters and stands of unusual shapes, but they have not become widespread.

Operating principle of an electrical appliance

The operation of a soldering iron for polypropylene pipes is based on thermal softening of the surfaces of the parts being soldered and their subsequent connection.

The product with a socket is put on the mandrel, and the cut pipe is inserted into the hole of the heated sleeve. The parts are heated within the standard time specified in the instructions for each soldering iron separately. Then the parts are removed from the nozzles and connected.

If you have never done such work, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with self-welding technology polypropylene pipes.

In the process of welding pipes, it is important to maintain uniform heating of both parts being joined, which can only be achieved with high-quality nozzles

Criteria for selecting socket models

Choosing a soldering iron for polypropylene pipes should begin with studying the configuration and characteristics of the equipment.

The main factors that ensure the durability and functionality of this device are:

• heating element power;
• set of nozzles;
• equipment manufacturer;
• soldering iron cost.

The welding machine almost always comes complete with auxiliary tools: gloves, screwdriver, tape measure and others. Therefore, when choosing a device, especially via the Internet, it is necessary to take this nuance into account.

Criterion #1 - equipment power consumption

Most advice on choosing the power of a soldering iron on the Internet is based on the statement that it should be at least ten times the size of the pipe in millimeters. The maximum diameter of pressure pipes in home systems rarely exceeds 63 mm, so the recommended soldering iron power should theoretically be 500-600 W. However, this approach does not take into account the actual characteristics of the equipment.

To manufacture higher power heaters, no additional costs are required, so most soldering irons consume over 1 kW

The minimum power of most bell-type soldering irons on the market is 800 W, the maximum is 2 kW, so any of these devices will be sufficient for installing home heating or water supply systems.

More powerful soldering irons increase temperature faster after heating the next pair of plastic products, but taking into account the time for their subsequent connection, this advantage is not particularly significant.

The cost of the equipment practically does not depend on the power of the heater, so you can focus on this characteristic only taking into account electrical safety. Apartment wiring is designed for a maximum load of 3.5-4 kW, therefore, when operating two-kilowatt soldering irons, the use of other equipment with similar power will be limited.

If you don’t want to buy a soldering iron with minimal power, it’s best to buy a device with an electricity consumption of 1.2-1.4 kW.

Criterion #2 - types of heating nozzles

Pipe attachments are always included with the soldering iron. They are made of two types, depending on the shape of the heating element. For flat heaters, the nozzles are made in the form of a cylinder closed on one side. They are fixed to each other with a bolt on both sides of the metal plate of the soldering iron.

Mandrels and sleeves for cylindrical heating rods have a semicircular base. A pair of such attachments covers the heating element in the form of a clamp and is secured with two bolts.

This design of the soldering iron is considered more effective because the large contact area between the surface of the heater and the nozzles speeds up their heating and stabilizes the temperature when melting polypropylene.

The number of nozzles on the heating rod affects the time required to soften polypropylene when simultaneously heating pipes with different diameters

The mandrels and sleeves are made of metal and covered with a non-stick coating made of regular or metallized Teflon. It prevents molten polypropylene from sticking to the surface.

Despite their simple design, nozzles are equipment that can quickly fail. A thin layer of Teflon tends to wear off quickly, after which the attachments become unusable.

Therefore, it is better to buy products from trusted manufacturers, the quality of which can be vouched for by store sellers. It is impossible to check the thickness and quality of Teflon visually.

The basic configuration of a soldering iron usually includes nozzles with a diameter of 20.25 and 32 mm. Some equipment models are supplied with a mandrel and sleeve with diameters of 40, 50 and 63 mm.

Nozzles are not cheap, so their cost affects the overall price of the equipment set. If you are not planning to weld large-diameter pipes, then it is better to buy a soldering iron with a minimum set of nozzles, and then buy more if necessary. And if you have enough money, you can immediately purchase a welding machine model with the maximum configuration.

Criterion #3 - manufacturing companies

It is almost impossible to assess the quality of a soldering iron in a store by its appearance.The only exception is the low-grade Chinese models, which have a tin body, a thin electrical cord and minimal equipment.

The quality of welding machines largely depends on the country of manufacture. Only large factories can enter export markets on a large scale, so there are few well-known companies in this area.

Domestic stores sell soldering irons produced in the following countries:

1. Germany: Rothenberger, Kern.
2. Czech Republic: Dytron
3. Türkiye: Candan, Valtec, Cobra.
4. Ukraine: Temp, Dnipro.
5. Russia: Uralmash, Splav.
6. China: Fora, Sturm, Anchor.

There are dozens of other manufacturers, but the above brands are the most tested in practice, and their quality can be judged by real reviews. We reviewed the best and most popular models among users in the next article.

In the delivery set of high-quality European soldering irons you can rarely find many related tools that other manufacturers use to lure buyers

German and Czech equipment is considered the most reliable, which will last for several years without breakdowns. Its cost can be 10-12 times higher than Russian and Ukrainian analogues with the same configuration.

Such a large difference in price is due not only to the excellent quality of products from European manufacturers, but also to the difference in cost.

The main advantage of reliable models is the accuracy of temperature conditions throughout the entire service life. Rothenberger, Dytron and Kern are the best manufacturers of welding equipment on the European market.

Turkish companies are trying to copy welding equipment for polypropylene pipes from their German competitors, but using cheaper components. The quality of their soldering irons is not much inferior to their European counterparts, but they are much cheaper.

Ukrainian and Russian manufacturers of welding equipment under their own brands usually sell models assembled to order in China. Because of this, the quality of domestic and Chinese devices is not much different. When purchasing soldering irons from these countries, you can only focus on the cost, which is directly proportional to the quality and equipment of the devices.

Criterion #4 - comsoldering iron kit

The box with the bell soldering machine may contain various auxiliary tools, the cost of which can greatly influence the final price of the kit.

The soldering iron may additionally come with:

1. Bevel remover.
2. Pipe cutter
3. Gloves.
4. Roulette.
5. Key for fixing attachments.
6. Screwdriver.
7. Level.

The most expensive device in the kit, after the pad itself and attachments, is pipe cutter. Without it, a high-quality pipe soldering process is simply impossible. The presence of this tool is highly desirable when purchasing welding equipment.

The welding machine is sold in a suitcase, which has separate cells for each part. The build quality of this case is often similar to the quality of the equipment itself

It should be noted that pipe cutters in cheap kits become dull quite quickly, and you have to buy a higher quality tool.

We recommend that you read rules of use scissors for cutting pipes.

Tips for purchasing and using

Based on an analysis of the quality and durability of welding equipment, we can give the following advice on its purchase:

1. For one-time household work, you can purchase a soldering iron from a well-known domestic manufacturer with a guarantee.
2. When welding a small number of plastic pipes, it is more advisable to rent welding equipment.
3. Turkish soldering machines can be purchased if you independently install numerous home pipes and have the appropriate amount of money.
4. It is recommended to purchase a high-quality European soldering iron if you want to do installation work professionally.

Purchasing a reliable, expensive soldering iron does not guarantee its long service life.

To maintain equipment performance, operating rules must be followed.

1. When working with a soldering iron, you must wear gloves that protect against burns.
2. Soldering irons usually have a metal body, so to avoid the possibility of electric shock, you must connect it to a grounded outlet.
3. Make sure that the heater does not come into contact with a wooden floor or flammable objects. It is advisable to use a special stand when working.
4. It is advisable to carry out test welding of parts on unnecessary pipe scraps.
5. The nozzles should be cleaned after performing a complex of welding work.

Following these tips will allow you to purchase reliable equipment, as well as operate it safely and for a long time. After all, the welding process has many nuances that need to be studied before using it yourself. And the parameters of this process depend on the type of polypropylene, pipe diameter, soldering iron power and other factors.

Do you want to learn how to solder polypropylene pipes with your own hands? In this case, we recommend that you read our other articles, where we examined in detail welding technology, temperature, and analyzed the main mistakes made by beginners:

• Soldering temperature of polypropylene pipes: main stages of self-welding + table of values
• Soldering polypropylene pipes: welding rules and analysis of possible errors
• Polypropylene pipes and fittings: types of PP products for pipeline assembly and connection methods

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Inexpensive models of soldering irons can last a long time, but when purchasing equipment, you should not take into account the isolated opinions of non-professionals who were lucky in choosing a device. The videos offer expert advice from specialists on the characteristics of soldering irons for PP pipes and the features of their selection.

Review of the VALTEC pipe welding machine:

Rules for choosing welding machines:

Comparison of a cheap and expensive soldering iron:

The choice of welding equipment for polypropylene pipelines largely depends on the financial capabilities of the buyer. But when buying a soldering iron, you must also take into account their technical characteristics in order to purchase exactly the equipment that is necessary to complete the installation tasks.

Are you also choosing a machine for welding propylene and want to clarify a couple of controversial points we raised in the article? Ask your questions in the comments - our experts will try to help you.

Or have you been the owner of a soldering iron for a long time (or maybe more than one) and have good experience in soldering pipes? Please share your recommendations with beginners, tell us about the pros and cons of your equipment, show a photo of your soldering iron, add operating tips.