Just For Copper Professional Group

Frequently Asked Questions

The following Q & A are divided into categories. JUST-FOR-COPPER PRO will be abbreviated as “JFC PRO”.

APPLICATION

Q.  Why is the bottle only 1/3 full?

Q.  How many bonds will a bottle of JFC PRO make?

Q.  Can JFC PRO be used to bond materials or metals other than copper and brass?

Q.  Can JFC PRO be used with copper alloy rigid pipe?

Q.  Can JFC PRO be used for soft copper?

Q.  Can JFC PRO be used to bond copper pipes in private homes?

Q.  Can JFC PRO be used on copper pipes that carry hot water?

Q.  Will JFC PRO leave a taste in the water?

Q.  Can JFC PRO be used on copper and brass threads?

Q.  What is the working time for JFC PRO?

Q.  Is 10-seconds adequate time to permit alignment?

Q.  Can JFC PRO be used to repair a leak or hole in copper pipe or brass fittings?

Q.  Can JFC PRO be encased in concrete?

Q.  Can JFC PRO be used on HVAC systems?

Q.  What are the storage temperatures for JUST-FOR-COPPER PRO?

Q.  If a hot solder weld fails, does all the solder have to be removed before using JFC PRO?

Q.  If a JFC PRO bond is installed incorrectly, can it be removed?

Q.  What is the shelf life of JFC PRO?

Q.  Is JFC PRO safe to use on natural gas and liquid petroleum gas lines?

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Q.   Is JFC PRO dangerous to your health if ingested?

Q.   Will JFC PRO catch fire if used around a heat source?

Q.   When using a torch to take apart a JFC Pro bond, is there any toxic gases emitted?

TECHNICAL

Q.  What is the failure rate of JFC PRO?

Q.  How much water or air pressure will JFC PRO withstand?

Q.  What is the mechanical strength of JFC PRO?

Q.  What is the temperature range of JFC PRO?

Q.  Will JFC PRO continue to bond when the copper pipe is installed in environments that change temperatures drastically?

Q.  Can JFC PRO be used to bond both white and red brass fittings?

Q.  Can JFC PRO be used to bond a connection that was previously heat soldered?

Q.  What is the chemical resistance of JFC PRO?

Q.  Will JFC PRO conduct electricity?

Q.  Can JFC PRO be used on copper lines that carry pure oxygen?  

Q.  How does JFC PRO work?

Q.  What is the rotational strength of JFC Pro?

Q.  Can you use a wrench to turn the pipe at the JFC PRO Bond?

CERTIFICATION

Q.  Does JFC PRO meet plumbing codes?

MOST COMMON REASONS FOR LEAKS

Q. What are the most common causes for JFC PRO leaks?



APPLICATION

Q.  Why is the bottle only 1/3 full?

A.  JFC PRO is an anaerobic and must be housed in a special plastic bottle that breathes and has 2/3 air in the bottle in order not to harden.  The bottle is filled by weight and every bottle has 50g minimum.


Q.  How many bonds will a bottle of JFC PRO make?

A.  The number of bonds depends on the size of the copper pipe. On ½-inch copper pipe, one bottle will make approximately 200 bonds.


Q.  Can JFC PRO be used to bond materials or metals other than copper and brass?

 

A.   No! JFC PRO is formulated for copper and brass, rigid pipe and connectors only.


Q.  Can JFC PRO be used with copper alloy rigid pipe?

A.   Yes! JFC PRO can be used with copper alloy rigid pipe.


Q.   Can JFC PRO be used for soft copper?

A.   JFC PRO is not recommended for soft copper. JFC PRO bonds soft copper, just as it does on rigid copper, but soft copper comes in rolls and the copper is not perfectly round. Often the gap left by the flat spot on the soft copper is to large for JFC PRO to seal.


Q.   Can JFC PRO be used to bond copper pipes in private homes?

A.   Yes! JFC PRO is ideal for use in private residences, apartment complexes, high-rise condominiums, office complexes, shopping malls, farms, agriculture applications, and numerous other types of buildings.


Q.   Can JFC PRO be used on copper pipes that carry hot water?

A.  Yes! JFC PRO is good for continuous operation from -600F (-510C) to 2450F (1180C). Hot water in a residential home is usually 1400F. Hot water in a commercial application is usually 1900F. JFC PRO will work in all residential and commercial applications.


Q.   Will JFC PRO leave a taste in the water?

A.   No! JFC PRO is odorless and tasteless when cured, and it has passed the smell and taste tests in Japan, Australia, and the United Kingdom.


Q.    Can JFC PRO be used on copper and brass threads?

A.   No!  JFC PRO would bond the threads before you could even start the connection. Use JUST-FOR-COPPER and BRASS Thread Sealant for copper and brass threads.


Q.   What is the working time for JFC PRO?

A.   JFC PRO can be left on the copper pipe and connector for several minutes, but when the pipe is inserted into the connector, JFC PRO sets in 10-seconds.


Q.   Is 10-seconds adequate time to permit alignment?

A.   Yes! The ideal way to assemble copper pipe and connectors  using JFC PRO is to make an alignment mark on the pipe and connector. Apply JFC PRO, insert the pipe into the connector and rotate 360 degrees stopping at the alignment mark. This takes less than 3 to 4 seconds.


Q.  Can JFC PRO be used to repair a leak or hole in copper pipe or brass fittings?

 

A.  NO! JFC PRO cannot be used to repair leaks or holes. If there is a leak in the connector or fitting, the fitting should be removed, properly prepared, then bonded with JFC PRO. If there is a hole in the copper pipe, the section with the hole should be cut away and replaced. The other option is to use JUST-FOR-COPPER AMINE EPOXY PUTTY to make the repair.


Q.  Can JFC PRO be encased in concrete?

A.  Yes! JFC PRO can be buried in earth as well as encased in concrete, polyurethane, and other types of building walls.


Q.  Can JFC PRO be used on HVAC systems?

A.  Yes! JFC PRO is compatible with all PEG oils and refrigerants except oils formulated with methacrylate to support temperatures down to -540C. JFC PRO can be used in the installation and repair of all home and office HVAC that does not use oils formulated with methacrylate.


Q.   What are the storage temperatures for JUST-FOR-COPPER PRO?

A.   JFC PRO will freeze at temperatures below -600F.  However, when thawed, just shake the bottle and JFC PRO is ready to use. The best temperature to store JFC PRO is under 900F. Storing at temperatures above 1200F can reduce the storage life of the product.


Q.  If a hot solder weld fails, does all the solder have to be removed before using JFC PRO?

 

A.  Yes! JFC PRO bonds only to copper and brass. All solder must be sanded away before using JFC PRO. JFC PRO will not bond solder to solder.


Q.   If a JFC PRO bond is installed incorrectly, can it be removed?

A.   Yes! You can remove a JFC PRO bond by heating the bond to 4000F. To re-bond, just sand away the old JFC PRO and apply new JFC PRO.


Q.   What is the shelf life of JFC PRO?

A.   Prior to opening the bottle, 3 years. After opening the bottle, 12-months minimum.


Q.  Is JFC PRO safe to use on natural gas and liquid petroleum gas lines?

 

A.  NO! You should not use JFC PRO (JFC), or solder or any other bonding material that melts at a lower temperature than copper, on any natural gas or LPG lines.  JFC PRO (JFC) will bond the copper and is compatible with natural gas and LPG; however, JFC PRO (JFC) will un-bond at approximately 400 degrees F and would allow gas to feed the fire.  This is also true with any solder.  Gas lines should be constructed according to local, state, and federal guidelines.  Copper melts at 1984 degrees F (1085 degrees C).



HEALTH AND SAFETY

Q.   Is JFC PRO dangerous to your health if ingested?

A.  No! JFC PRO is non-toxic, and will not harm children or pets if accidentally ingested.           


Q.   Will JFC PRO catch fire if used around a heat source?

A.   No! JFC PRO will not burn or support combustion.


Q.  When using a torch to take apart a JFC Pro bond, is there any toxic gases emitted?

A.  JFC Pro components are non-toxic, and they do not emit toxic fumes when heated or burned.


TECHNICAL

Q. What is the failure rate of JFC PRO?

A.  If bonded correctly, JFC PRO will not fail at all and the bond will outlast the copper pipe. Failure is always caused by application  error. JFC PRO has been in use since 1998 in hotels, underground natural gas distribution systems, apartments, private residences, offices, and many other applications without a recorded failure.


Q.  How much water or air pressure will JFC PRO withstand?

A.   JFC PRO, when fully cured, is rated at 500psi for liquids or air. JFC PRO has been tested to 2,000psi. The 500psi rating provides a four-time safety factor. JFC PRO will withstand 200psi seven-minutes after bonding which permits pressure tests to be conducted, or water to be turned on, in only seven minutes.


Q.  What is the mechanical strength of JFC PRO?

A.  There are two mechanical strength areas. The pull-apart strength is 1380psi. The rotational strength is 380psi.           


Q.  What is the temperature range of JFC PRO?

A.  JFC PRO is rated for continuous operation from -600F (-510C) to 2450F (1180C).


Q.  Will JFC PRO continue to bond when the copper pipe is installed in environments that change temperatures drastically?

 

A.  Yes! JFC PRO bonds have been cycled thousands of times from    -600F to 2450F without a single failure. JFC PRO behaves like a monoelement in the joint. When cured, JFC PRO elasticity is the same as the copper pipes and connectors as the environment changes.


Q.  Can JFC PRO be used to bond both white and red brass fittings?

A.  Yes! JFC PRO will bond all types of brass fittings as well as copper alloy pipe.

 


Q.  Can JFC PRO be used to bond a connection that was previously heat soldered?

 

A.  Yes!  However, JFC PRO will bond only to copper and brass. All of the solder must be removed from the pipe and fitting with emery cloth before bonding with JFC PRO.


Q.   What is the chemical resistance of JFC PRO?

A.   When cured, JFC PRO is a durable polymer with outstanding chemical and environmental resistance. JFC PRO is not affected by bases up to pH12 and most industrial and automotive solvents. Acids that do not affect the copper probably will not affect JFC PRO.


Q.   Will JFC PRO conduct electricity?

A.   No! JFC PRO is an insulator.


Q.   Can JFC PRO be used on copper lines that carry pure oxygen?  

A.   NO! DO NOT USE JFC PRO on any medical oxygen systems. JFC PRO has not been tested for medical oxygen applications.


Q.  How does JFC PRO work?

A.  JFC PRO bonding is accomplished by modifying polymer resins to generate a chemical reaction with copper that provides a hermetic weld that is water and air-tight, without heat and solder.


Q.  What is the rotational strength of JFC Pro?

A.  The rotational strength varies by the size of the pipe.  For 1/2-inch rigid copper pipe, the rotational pressure required to break the bond is approximately 300 pounds.  For a 2-inch pipe, the rotational pressure required to break the bond is approximately 500 pounds.  This is why wrenches and plyers should never be used on the pipe. It is also advisable not to hold on to the pipe when screwing a connection together. When joining a screw connection, be sure that all torque is on the connector.


Q.  Can you use a wrench to turn the pipe at the JFC PRO Bond?

A.  No. Do not put a wrench on a JFC PRO Bond.  A rotation of 380 psi will break the bond.

 

 



CERTIFICATION

Q.  Does JFC PRO meet plumbing codes?

A.  Yes! JFC PRO EXCEEDS ALL PLUMBING CODE REQUIREMENTS. However, JFC PRO is new technology, and all plumbing codes specifically call for “hot soldering”. Demonstrate JFC PRO to plumbing inspectors and request a variance to cover the new technology that does not include hot soldering.”



MOST COMMON REASONS FOR LEAKS

Q. What are the most common causes for JFC PRO leaks?

A.  THE 8 MOST COMMON REASONS WHY A JFC PRO BOND FAILS

 

1.   The pipe or the fitting was cleaned with something other than 60-grit emery cloth. DO NOT use a wire brush or any sanding material with a finer grit than 60. (The reason that 60-grit is necessary is that it cuts a deep groove into the copper which provides for up to 50% more bonding area. The increased bonding area increases the strength of the bond.)

 

2.   The area to be bonded was not completely cleaned (sanded). (For example, when cleaning a pipe or fitting that was previously soldered, 100% of the solder must be removed as JFC PRO will not bond to solder.)

 

3.   The sanded area is wiped off with the hand or a cloth. (Wiping the sanded area leaves oil and film on the surface of the copper. JFC PRO will not bond to oil or film.)

 

4.   The sanded area is blown clean. (Two things happen when the sanded area is blown clean. (a) The copper dust, which is beneficial to the strength of the bond, is removed; and, (b) oil from the air compressor contaminates the pipe.)

 

5.   JFC was not applied around the entire outer circumference of the pipe or the inner circumference of the fitting.

 

6.   The fitting was not rotated 360 to properly spread JFC PRO over the entire bonding area.
 

7.   The bonded joint was moved after the 10 second period. Any movement, rotational or otherwise, after the 10 second period actually breaks the bond.
 

8.   The fittings or the pipe is not round. Pipes that are cut with too much pressure develop a flat spot. Some fittings are not round.

When all bonding instructions are properly followed, a JFC PRO bond will not leak and will last as long as the copper pipe and fitting.
 













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