Swaging copper is one of the most common practices in our trade when it comes to brazing pipes. Yes, it sometimes makes more sense to slap on a coupling or street ell fitting, but most of the time, cutting your braze joints in half is much easier and faster during an install or repair.  So, […]

I was watching this video on the HVACR Videos channel by my friend Chris Stephens, and I was impressed by how completely he diagnoses the system both visually and with his tools. Take a look. I say this all the time, but a good, efficient technician is one who sees everything and can also quickly […]

I got in one of these tiny torches the other day to experiment with brazing aluminum in tight spots, and one of the techs walked in and asked, “What type of torch is that?” I answered, “It's oxy/acetylene.” He picked it up and looked at it a bit, then asked, “Does that get hot enough […]