Used Staybrite 8 installing Replacement 2 1/2 ton heat pump in 2019. .Far superrior to burning copper with sil fos. Finess vs Gorilla line jointing. I watch all your videos. Still running oil, learn a lot from you. I am a retired Licensed aircraft technican. HVAC at this point is a hobby for me but I truely respect you for your hard work as a HVAC Master tech.

Greetings from SoCal. I’ve never used Stay Brite. But it appears to be pretty excellent. Great video as always Steve. You definitely packed a lot of information in it. Have a great Sunday. God bless.

@douglasmccaffrey4979

2 жыл бұрын

I know t i to it ii

Great video Steve! I use to pull shraders until one day the wings that the removal tool grabs broke off the shrader core. I'll never mess with them again unless I have to.

@tonydibiaso35

4 жыл бұрын

They make a scrader extraction bit..comes on a 11/1 Klein mad works awesome.

I Learned a lot from you..... my man 👍👍 I did installed a Goodman unit and evaporator coil 5 years ago by using this Staybrite 8 and flux. Everything works fine.

I've been using that staybrite for about three years now and i haven't had one problem. It's easier than lugging around my torches for a simple little install.

@MD-cd7em

3 жыл бұрын

CAN YOU USE MAP GAS ON WITH THE ..STAYBRITE 8?

@nathancarney3373

3 жыл бұрын

@@MD-cd7em yes, mapp gas or propane. Stay Brite 8 starts flowing at 450 degrees Fahrenheit and has a rating of 10,600 psi on copper joints. Try it out, save your oxyacetylene torch for coil repairs and ugly shit.

@OnePointLander

2 жыл бұрын

@@nathancarney3373 LOL @ "ugly shit". What tip/torch do you use ?

@diyhvacguy

Жыл бұрын

This is awesome! I might just be moving over to soldering. Steve has me sold!

@diyhvacguy

Жыл бұрын

@@nathancarney3373 so for repairs this method can’t be used? Just curious if you could expound on that. Thanks! Dave

Yeah, those hoses are fine. The HUGE hoses out now are too expensive, rather spend the money on beer. Only thing I do different with staybrite is, I put the male into the swaged just a little bit, 1/8 inch or so, then flux it and shove it home. That way no flux gets into the system. I think i will try leaving the shraders in on my next one too.

Thanks for Sharing Steve. Just starting to get into AC season in Edmonton Alberta Canada. Always Enjoy your vids. Always learn new tricks from them. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

Staybrite is where its at! No more cooking pipes and seals trying to braze joints. Btw nice micron gauge, i have the same one

I started using Staybrite 8 about 35 years ago when I worked for a large Lennox Dealer and Lennox recommended that we use Staybrite so we would not create scale In the refrigerant lines and restrict the Inlet screen at TXV valves or TXV valves. I still use 15% brazing rods on some jobs when I feel like running nitrogen through the lines. I should just switched back to Stay Brite 8 all together so I can stop lugging my b tank around. Just need my small propane torch set up that is easier on the old back lol. Great video Steve and keep up the awesome work man.

@dangda-ww7de

5 жыл бұрын

you need to drag the b tank because sometime u need to unsolder the fitting or other stuff without cutting it.

@markbaker1969

5 жыл бұрын

What kind of flux do you use?

@garyglanz403

5 жыл бұрын

Stopped using staybright years ago. My father loved the staybright stiff. I feel you need to spend to much time filling gaps with staybright. Btw: never had a problem with slag in silver soldier as we ran new typing for r410a.

@sampantiliano

4 жыл бұрын

Installed 1000’s of 410 systems all SB8. Only use the silfos-15 on compressor change outs

@carlosgraft7386

3 жыл бұрын

I still think brazing 15% it is better... at least you can fill gaps. No sanding or cleaning still works in most cases

Just put in new Carrier 2 ton split unit. Used staybright 8.pulled down to 280 microns with Chinese vacuum pump. Went back up to 600 microns after 15 minutes , well within specks. Pulled it back down to 300 microns after test and charged system . No problem so far. Just put Flux on pipe so it didn't shove alot in system . Pulled solder in fitting no problem. Everything works great. Going to check pressures tomorrow . First one I've ever done. Thanks for all your info , tips and tricks . Your the man . 👨

@lordhelpus164

2 жыл бұрын

P.S. , saved me about 2500 dollars minus about 350 dollars for the tools and materials . Next one I have to do , I will have every thing I need . Thanks again.

@dorianscale3084

Жыл бұрын

DIY?

@2bnax

2 ай бұрын

DID YOUR WORK HOLD???

@lordhelpus164

2 ай бұрын

@2bnax Yes . Going on 2 years . No leaks. Pulled system down to 320 microns . Only went back up to 475 after 15 minutes. System heats and cools fine . No issues so far. Very happy with it.

I'm glad I watch enough of your chanel to recognize your voice lol. I was looking into staybrite that the hvac tech was using to fix my ac. I never heard of it before and didn't know if it was as good as brazing. Thanks for the chanel Steve and merry xmas and a happy new year!

@edcicione

3 жыл бұрын

Same here

Nice demo using stay brite 8 in hvac. Product has been around for 40 years and simply works. Numerous benefits over brazing with sil fos which I used for decades prior and haven't looked back.

@electrolatif

11 ай бұрын

How many year you use it?

@jak83948

11 ай бұрын

@@electrolatif I switched to it about 5 years ago. No problems. Surfaces need to be clean, sanded and fluxed.

@electrolatif

11 ай бұрын

@@jak83948 greet 👌 i will do also. Thank you for your reply

Steve, I use Staybrite 8 all the time, however, I only apply flux to the male side. Never had an issue. I use the hydraulic swaging tool to gently expand any loose tubing.

@La2venida

3 жыл бұрын

Is staybrite 8 better than sil-fos 15

@fpskiller1235

3 жыл бұрын

even in plumbing that is the correct way, but i use the liquid acid flux

@craigmarshall40

Жыл бұрын

Have you had any problems with staybrite 8 after using it for 3 years? And are you still using it? I am thinking about making the switch thx for any info

@MrDeviousdom

Жыл бұрын

@@craigmarshall40 if you know how to solder properly and make sure the joints are tight and clean it works amazingly well! I have never had a leak. If you have one of these guys that keeps the fittings loose and doesn't clean things properly, stick to brazing and purging.

Good install Steve can’t wait to see you finish hooking everything up

Love how Steve never has to think about what to do. He just does it.

been using staybrite for 35years and never any issues or leak problems, and it will usually fill small gaps

Good heads up on where the best place is for the drier.

Silver-bearing soft solder is different. Not better, not worse. One key advantage is lower heat input, but still high enough to decompose refrigerant into acid, blow TXVs, and fry rubber o-rings (which you won't see until someone down the road operates the service valves). Several key disadvantages are that flux *will* enter the system, although the amount can be minimized by careful prep. The biggest disadvantage is that, *especially on vertical pipes* if you don't stop adding solder the second the joint wicks full from capillary action, it will drip, and if the joint is arranged with the swage up and male down (as in the video) *then the solder will drip into little round balls inside the line* and there is no way to see that. They may stick to the walls of the line or they may be loose. If they are sucked into the compressor, you may get lucky and they might just drop into the oil sump and never cause a problem. 15% silver has a slow transition into a viscous fluidous state as it melts and doesn't drip into tubing. If done properly, this joint is as strong as the base material under static conditions but weaker under fatigue due to cracking. It won't "blow apart" if done right, but it will contaminate the system ranging from miniscule amounts of flux to loose moving balls of solder that will find their way to the refrigerant control or compressor. For that reason, I will not soft solder unless all joints can be made in a horizontal position.

@ldlink3935

4 жыл бұрын

Thank you for explaining the difference between the two.

@priceless409

2 жыл бұрын

Ran into one of your potential outcomes a few years ago. Have a friend who has a uncle in A/C. They used him over me, but called me when their unit wasn’t working and he wasn’t coming up with any repairs. Long story short…they soldered the joints, compressor was toast!!! I found small balls of solder in the lineset at the metering device, guessing some of those balls also killed the compressor.

@jimhoover6535

Жыл бұрын

fantastic response!! silfos and nitrogen for hvac, stay brite and flux for water. Always pull the schraders, wet rag on the valves and sensing bulb, re-inventing the wheel is asking for trouble

On expanded pipe or thin female/male fittings that get out of round during fitment don't use pliers to make round. Use heavy wall pipe samples that fit inside and use high end hose clamps to make sure it's concentric. You won't damage the pipe. Use snug hose clamp around fitting first and it won't deform.

Steve your videos are shown to the kids at North Western Tech Institute in Michigan. You made the big time MOMMA

@leathercheerio1

2 жыл бұрын

Professor Steve lav has a nice ring to it. Lol

Lol, that vacuum standing test at 16:28. Good video, gives me confidence to install my own system

What kind of torch were you using with the StayBrite #8?

I just read the installation manual for Heil. It says to use solder with a higher melting temp of 800 degrees. At that temp, we have other problems to worry about. °°

Hey steve, I usually use the Hillmor to open end a little to get a tight fit. It works pretty good. Nice job, like the sheet metal to protect house.

Steve...I learned with stay Brite 45 years ago .still my preference and try BRIDGIT for gaps. We cap over the stay Brite joint with Bridgit. My preference on vertical joints is to heat the male portion first till it flows,,,nice shoulder for strength. FYI stay Brite specs...good to 10,000psi my good man

Good video. I still sometimes vaccum with cores in. I use my 4 port fieldpiece for that. Most of the time ill remove just 1 core and vaccum through the suction side with an appion hose. Depends on the system, length of copper ect. I think they are both ok as long as you pressure test and use a micron gauge.

Nice job, Steve.

I used Bridgit Solder on my central AC system 21 year ago, and today no leaks. work perfect. I would think staybrite 8 is or should be better.

@davidcarpenter9234

14 күн бұрын

Bridgett is plumbing solder, silver Solder is better,

Would you use SB on mini splits, or do you think that the flare fittings are ok?

great work as always

So Steve you can use the regular H20 water soluble paste flux with that?

I do a lot of solder joints repairs because I do refrigeration, but what’s the point of doing it on a new system where it takes twice as long to do the pipe fitting and where you can possibly get flux in a new system?

Steve where's your slim duct it looks better then having the line sets showing

Top-notch job Steve!!

Great video. It's very helpful. Can Stay Brite 8 be applied with a propane torch? How often do you need Nitrogen for pressure testing with Stay Brite 8?

What about a wet system Steve? For service I would imagine the larger hoses would pull a faster deeper vacuum. On a new install yah 1/4 would still get the job done. All methods get it done but some are better I would say.

nice job, ithought all the while we can only use brazing to weld it, i did not know that we can solder it this way, let me know your thoughts

Hi Steven ! When you done vacuum Is it matter which line … open first release preon Low line ( big line ) or high side ( small line) I am new to this….. waiting for your response ------- Thanks

Years ago some guys used to make fun of flex When on all actuality those flex jobs where the quietest and best ! Good job I’ll bet that house cools awesome ‘

With this Brazing Use Stay brite 8 Do we Need Use Nitrogen ..?

Nice Job Steve 👍

nice job man!! like the videos...

Just got back from AHRI convention Atlanta Georgia Spoke with Harris technical reps directly at the show even if you do your line kits with stay brite 8 nitrogen flow is the recommended method with the Stav-Silv 15 % and nitrogen flow as still being the best the industry standard.

Looked like there was 2 gable vents to vent the attic. Were you going to do a powered vent or some turtle vents? I was just wondering what the idea behind that bit was?

Thank you brother for ur videos i learn a lot

Excellent tutorial Steve! You taught me about Staybrite 8 from earlier videos, but appreciate the refresher :) I even bought the same vacuum pump...LOL Like your vacuum setup.

I am under the impression the condensing unit was pre-charged when you soldered the discharge and suction line at the valves. Is that correct?

Is it AC season all ready??? You were just fixing boilers and furnaces last week.

Excellent video ....step by step....

Excellent video and install.

hello steven ty for taking the time to do this vid , i had some schooling but was recalled to serve uncle sam and came home jacked up but not to bad where i cant run my own system ,.. this is my first vid i came across trying to talk myself into this adventure to replace the old 22 system built in 1994"cumberland 1.5 ton... approx 30ft line set and upflow unit just off the living room in a closet . im going to buy a new system online and a pump gaudges and other tools like a torch cleaning stuff. any recomendations on a unit brand ? or pump brand ? or anything else?

Hi Steve I was just wondering are your thoughts on stay brite 8 still postive after 2 more years later ? Any new thoughts over time since you used on these systems ?

Great install " One Man Wrecking Crew "... Educational , Entertaining and worthy of a shot or 3 of my favorite Vodka ... Lol ...

@AsG_4_

5 жыл бұрын

Go with the 3 😂😎

@Eddy63

5 жыл бұрын

@@AsG_4_ Lol ... I shall

So now we all going back to soldering or what. Is there an extensive study of this method on refrigeration join?

Hi, do you do this soft soldering or hard soldering?

That’s old school right there. Don’t see many guys do it that way anymore.

@davidcarpenter9234

14 күн бұрын

I do

I have never used that so I am not for sure when it actually came out onto the market, the only issue I have is I have ran across HVAC hackers in my area that have used plumbing soldier, so when I run across a situation like that I can’t tell which is which

@hvactechpr7872

5 жыл бұрын

I've used it on txv for a walk in.freezer once but on the long run well prepped it cracks to temp changes

Do you use staybrite 8 on the compressor connection?

Great video. Techs usually put too much heat on the joints. You didn’t. Wondering where is the dryer? Didn’t see one. Thanks Steve.

I started using stay bright back in the late 70s did some big jobs with it 3 inch suction lines

Can staybrite and flux be used for sealed system on household appliance refrigerators? Anything different to be aware of?

@daveychaz

4 жыл бұрын

@Rodeo Clown Obama oh okay thanks for the reply just curious though why not on the high side is it because of the hot temperatures?

Two Questions: What about the oxidation of the pipe as you are not using Nitrogen? and secondly, will solder stand the pressures associated with the A/C system? I though all joints had to be Brazed and not Soldered for this reason. Slightest contamination of the TEV, and problems coming your way.

@r777v

2 жыл бұрын

You are mis informed, stay rite is not your normal solder read up on Harris specs for their alloys and silver bearing solder! Nitrogen only is necessary at brazing temps due to scaling, the brazing process anneals the copper and weakens it, this is the advantage of using low temp solder like staybrite, I have been using both methods for years, so far staybrite is a much better and stronger method of joining.

@saltvpn671

Жыл бұрын

Brazing with nitrogen is widely considered to be the best industry practice.

@eastsidepyro2685

5 ай бұрын

🐑​@@saltvpn671

How does the Staybrite work if refrigerant oil is in joint?

Probably mentioned in comments elsewhere, but you could easily fill in for the Cartalk guys, voice and accent. I liked when you scavenged that little piece of solder "clingon"...that crap IS expensive, isn't it? Looked like good solder joints, I watched another where it looked like chicken droppings when he got finished. It didn't look like he was getting much of any capillary action flow INTO the joint, at all. I would be a lot happier if mine "went" and looked like yours. I'll take the tip on hand fitting the joints to heart, too. Smart loading up the kitchen a bit with flow, wish they'd thought to do that in my house.

Oh yeah momma it's cooling season! next level stuff!!

@garycox1459

5 жыл бұрын

Yeah mama strokemmm

When trying to make the copper smaller if you use a flaring tool crimp, it will work awesome to reduce the pipe size

Steven will that hold on. R410 system . We usually silver braze it with a tubro tourch . That's new too me.ive been silver brazing for years

@JR-ws9qq

5 жыл бұрын

That sucks

@JR-ws9qq

5 жыл бұрын

Not in my state

@davidtillwach5542

5 жыл бұрын

@@JR-ws9qq why not in your state

@saltvpn671

Жыл бұрын

Brazing with nitrogen is widely considered to be the best industry practice.

good vid, only you can create a 24 min video and keep people interested :)

Can I solder a refrigerator compressor with Stay brite 8 ? Can I use Map pro? Thank you

Good stuff. I used staybrite installing my 410A system a couple of years ago. It was handy in the attic when the suction line kinked while running it. Just a propane torch and no tanks to carry up to put a swage joint to fix it.

@MD-cd7em

3 жыл бұрын

GOT IT..SO MAP GAS WILL WORK?

@arodandjeter1

3 жыл бұрын

@@MD-cd7em yes

@MD-cd7em

3 жыл бұрын

@@arodandjeter1 THANKS BROTHER

@arodandjeter1

3 жыл бұрын

@@MD-cd7em yeah man. It'll take a lil longer but it will work.

@rpsmith

Жыл бұрын

@@MD-cd7em -- They quit making MAP gas years ago! The new MAP-Pro crap is not even close to real MAP gas!

Yea when i started using stay brite they said to only flux the Male side to avoid contaminating the system. I think as long as you dont goop it up a bunch you should be good though. A lot easier to bring a bottle of map, stay brite and flux than to pull the oxy/acetylene Up in the attic

@MD-cd7em

3 жыл бұрын

WILL THE MAP GAS DO THE JOB ..USING STAYBRITE 8?

@barberhvac3438

3 жыл бұрын

@@MD-cd7em 100% map is what I use when using stay Brite cause it doesn't get as hot

@MD-cd7em

3 жыл бұрын

@@barberhvac3438 THANKS BRO..I'M GOING IN!... LOL

@barberhvac3438

3 жыл бұрын

@@MD-cd7em you'll get it. Super easy

At 4:25, are you putting additional flux on the joint?

Not here to hate, i agree if your confident in your joints you could skip pressure but how do you know your microns are accurate without valving it off with the micron gauge on the system side?

First video I’ve seen with someone using Staybrite 8. The amount of solder seems a bit much. You only need the diameter of the copper. The solder will follow the heat and if you heat the joint all the way around before applying the solder you can feed solder from one side and actually see the capillary action. Never skip Nitrogen test!

@hangngoaigiare

4 жыл бұрын

All4ChristNone4me totally agree on too much

@OnePointLander

3 жыл бұрын

Can you further elaborate on "you only need the diameter of the copper?"

@eddiecalder5436

3 жыл бұрын

Johnny N. rule of thumb is 1/2” fitting need 1/2” solder. Little more for a tee.

Take your Hilmore expander and expand the inserted end a little for a better fit.

Great Job 😉👍🏽

What tip, and are you using turbo torch

Love that Staybright #8, Used it on my unit and the local guys at the supply shop said they would blow. It's been in for 15 years and never added a drop of refrigerant

@AsG_4_

5 жыл бұрын

Some people are stuck in their ways...

@Fireship1

5 жыл бұрын

L&L Service yep, that’s old school mentality. Guys that were taught to braze with sil phos think that nothing else can hold system pressure.

@jamesmclaughlinprimitivele4587

5 жыл бұрын

Gas pressure on the solder joint is nothing considering it's less than one thousandth of a square inch.

@gor312

Жыл бұрын

@@jamesmclaughlinprimitivele4587 There is a shear force on the solder joint, which is basically equal to the pressure in PSI times the cross-sectional area of the tubing. For a typical 3/8" tube, this is roughly 66 lbs at 600 psi. So unless your solder joint is so crappy that you can pull it apart with your bare hands, it will hold pressure. Stay-brite is rated for 11000 psi shear, so even with only 1/8" of overlap the shear strength should be at least 2000 lbs, which likely exceeds that of the copper tube itself.

I don't like say brite 8 so far. It gets on everything. Did you even use a flame on that torch?

what did you use as a torch?

Should you be running nitrogen gas through the lines while you solder them?

@dwarden3

4 жыл бұрын

Propane doesn't get the copper too hot. Brazing does.

WHAT TYPE BRUSH USED TO WIPE JOINT?????? ALSO, WHERE WERE YOU GOING TO USE GASKET SEALANT , ? THANK YOU!

I really learned a lot in this video. I used StayBrite 8 to solder lines from the wall to a new Goodman condenser. I applied flux to both male and female side. I used an air compressor (I don't have nitrogen setup) to pressurize the lines at 100 PSI and verified it held pressure overnight and there were no bubbles on joints I made. I used 3/4" hard copper pipe (type K) and long radius elbows for the vacuum line. Then I vacuumed the lines from vacuum line service port down to 300 micron and verified it held the vacuum overnight. I used 1/4 inch hose to pull the vacuum and put the micron gauge on liquid line service port. I didn't pull out the schrader valves. I used vacuum oil instead of Nylog to seal the hose connections.

Good work

I'm so glad I don't work in hvac anymore especially after seeing this method. Brazing and tanks are such a pain in the ass!

Thanks for information you are doing great 👍, i had two questions 1) why you didn’t use nitrogen in line 2) why didn’t remove schrader valves? Thanks big time

@garyomglol

4 жыл бұрын

1. soldering is lower temperature than brazing. There is not enough heat to cause oxidation which require nitrogen gas to prevent. 2. much lower temperature in soldering, so valve core doesn't need to be removed, although still good idea to do so.

@taba9221

3 жыл бұрын

@@garyomglol Thank you for answering my questions as well

@user-bj4lp3fr1o

3 жыл бұрын

@@garyomglol I attempted soldering using MAAP gas and it cause oxidation.

@garyomglol

3 жыл бұрын

@@user-bj4lp3fr1o Oxidation can only result from brazing temperature (if the soldering metal melts above 840 degrees, the process is called brazing). You thought you were soldering, but the insides of your pipe reached brazing temp resulting in oxidation as nitrogen wasn't flowed to prevent it. Try practicing using propane gas+torch for soldering like you would sweating copper water pipe so you get used to soldering temps.

Hi Steven, What Kind Of Torch Are You Using ??? Brand And Model ? Thank You.

do you do pressure test or vacuum test good enough? always nice to see your work

@deseremere

Жыл бұрын

Unless you have Appion or similar vacuum rated ball valves the vacuum standing test will fail. But not doing a pressure test had no excuse in his case without doing vacuum standing.

FYI: Staybrite 8 solder w/flux you should use Mapp gas to heat joints. Reasons: Mapp gas produces 2300 degrees F vs acetylene gas produce 4600 degrees F. The higher temperature of acetylene gas will heat up all inside tube's oxygen turn to flakes (oxygenation) very quickly unless you use nitrogen as an inert gas to stop that happen. No difference as using brazing rods with acetylene gas. Cut it open if you don't believe that can happens.

I found Silvabrite S solder fills gaps nicely. For bigger gaps i'll break out the channel locks. BTW, is it just me or does Rheem/Weatherking crank the hell out of those service valve caps. My god they are tight from the factory.

Excellent work Steve, you get it done right. I’m sure the residents in that home are enjoying their AC :) Yes a good healthy vacuum pump and double line pull will get you done pretty quick while you tend to the other tasks for a few mins. SB8 been a staple around here and my brother’s business loves the stuff. Saves time dicking around with wet rags and letting nitrogen blow through lines. The naysayers, well that’s their job I guess.

Steve. Installed my own line set to using Stay Brite 8 adding Flux to both male and female sides. Now I learned Goodman says it will clog ports, it should be brazed with no Flux. What can I do. Can I remove the sections I soldered? Thanks.

@barberhvac3438

5 жыл бұрын

Been using stay brite for years only flexing the Male side....NEVER had an issue with it clogging anything. With less heat on the line you dont create as much scale on the inside of the pipe

Steve Your awesome with oil application not too sure about air condition tho

Converted bunches from r12 to 134 a when it became mandatory in vehicles

Steve what flux do you use t j.g e Harris red label or blue label

@manfredman5075

3 жыл бұрын

Use stay clean paste type and only apply thin layer on male joint side

Won't that shift acidize the refrigerant

Did he solder at the air handler without installing the lower cover to the evaporator.

Stay brite 8 is stronger than braze in every way except burst psi I think it’s like 3k psi and sil-Fos 15 is like 3.5k.

@r777v

2 жыл бұрын

You need to check Harris specs on their site, you are wrong

Is it not necessary to wrap the service valves in wet rags while soldering?

@AsG_4_

5 жыл бұрын

I don't wrap em when soldering

@AsG_4_

5 жыл бұрын

@@AnX8765 do the research on the rating... I did ... Look at comments in the section... 410a for over a decade... On my 4th year not a single leaker

@AsG_4_

5 жыл бұрын

@@AnX8765 ah, i took it out of context.. Steve could have had that no heat gel also

@AsG_4_

5 жыл бұрын

@@AnX8765 but ¾ and under I'm not wrapping .. I'm going to town

@Affliction8573

5 жыл бұрын

I'd wrap and remove the valve caps... I've seen them blow off if they are leaking a little and that heat builds up a ton of pressure because some refrigerant is inside.

I’ve use Staybright 8 before. Usually on commercial jobs that spec it.....Suppose to be the same tinsel strength as 15% but, I guess after 31 years I’m just getting lazy.😂 Just too much sugar for a dime. I’ll stick with 15%. I do like the bigger hoses for vacuuming a system. Good video!