- 1). Wrap a 4 inch piece of 120-grit emery cloth around the outside end of the copper pipe, with the cloth's rough side facing the pipe surface. Twist the cloth several times until the pipe end's surface becomes shiny and free of dirt.
- 2). Roll up the emery cloth. Hold the cloth roughly at a 45-degree angle to the outside pipe end. Run the cloth around the pipe end several times at this angle, to slightly taper the pipe.
- 3). Push the rolled-up emery cloth into the end of the fitting. Twist the cloth several times to clean the fitting's inside walls. Hold the rolled-up cloth roughly at a 45-degree angle to the fitting's inside end. Run the cloth several times around the fitting's end to create a slight taper.
- 4). Brush a thin layer of soldering paste (called flux) onto both cleaned copper surfaces, as well as the both tapered areas. Push the pipe end fully into the fitting's inlet.
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