Soldered pipe under floorboards

[Hoovie]

Two comments ...

1) Did you use end feed there? you ARE a pro plumber

2) Are those pipes touching? If so, will they start to rattle against each other as they started to expand and contract at different rates? I'm guessing about that, but wihile you still have access, may be worth putting something in between to stop them touching?
looking at pic again, It may be the angle the photo taken at (just ignore me )

[tim'll fix it]

Two comments ...

1) Did you use end feed there? you ARE a pro plumber

a pro wouldnt leave that ammount of solder all over the pipes

[Jaeger_S2k]

Two comments ...

1) Did you use end feed there? you ARE a pro plumber

a pro wouldnt leave that ammount of solder all over the pipes

Glad you got it sorted! Good on you for getting in there.

Tim has made a valid observation though. There's a lot there but that's just practice don't be put off by it, the proof is, do they leak, no they don't!

The shape and appearance of some of the joints are a little 'ropey' and I'm not wanting to have a go but if you want to continue making solder joints collect all your off-cuts/tails buy a load of fittings from maybe ebay (so they don't cost you too much) and get soldering, you'll see the difference as you put more fittings together. The solder when done should look round and bulbous not flakey as in a couple of your joints.
As I say I don't want you to be put off, if I did I'd just laugh and that wouldn't be nice.

I've done some soldering (see transplant of CH Boiler) here's one of the pics.


Now that's not a perfect joint (I'm sure there maybe some comment coming) but I hope you can see the roundness of the solder. I didn't have my head stuck down a hole under the bath either, but it wasn't exactly comfy in the trusses! Also check out Hinton Heatings post in the showcase, some soldering in there.

Again well done and keep us up to date with how you get on.

For Tim and bathstyle - I've been trying to workout what would cause that flaking and I can only suggest lack of heat, it looks like the solders panic cooled. Any ideas? Suggestions that will help?

[tim'll fix it]

the joints look like they have been heated too much imo

but at the end of the day if it doesnt leak then well done and no ones going to see them under a bath

[Stoday]

Back in the '60s when I learnt to plumb we used 'plumber's black' which you could paint on the lead or copper. When it had dried, it stopped any excess solder sticking to the pipe & after wiping you got a perfect looking joint.

I never see plumber's black anymore. Anyone still use it or remember it? Or even know what it's made of?

[marfulee]

<excuse>I need a better blow torch</excuse> :)

Seriously though, my soldering isn't all that bad, but reaching under the bath with the blow torch at a funny angle and heating up the wrong bits is what caused it to look quite that bad. Need a bit of practice with that! I also haven't quite sussed out soldering an 'upward' joint where the solder needs to flow against gravity... (Without splattering it everywhere)

Will photograph some of my better soldering!