My bad attempt and end feed soldering

Slugster · Post by **Slugster** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 8:42 am

If you are squeamish or a good plumber look away now...

1st go

2nd go

But at least they don't leak..!

bstyle · Post by **bstyle** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 9:20 am

Try flux and use a bigger candle next time

Hitch · Post by **Hitch** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 9:21 am

I am no plumber, but id say use more flux and get it a bit hotter before introducing the solder to the joint.

Practice makes perfect

sparkydude · Post by **sparkydude** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 9:24 am

Definiteley more heat required, as in the first one you can see the solder has not melted properly and flowed, use a self cleaning flux like LACO and dont worry about too much solder, you can always wipe it off with a damp cloth after you remove the heat .

Nick

bstyle · Post by **bstyle** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 9:28 am

A rule with solder is to use no more than the diameter of the pipe, OK, it's a rough guide but you get the idea of how much you need.

When I sweat a joint up I heat the joint until it starts to smoke slightly, then touch the solder against the joint and it should melt instantly, it takes seconds on 15mm pipe.

Slugster · Post by **Slugster** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 10:11 am

All true...

I did use flux, but wiped it off before soldering - doh

And I thought I hadn't used enough heat, that's why the 2nd one was slightly less offensive than the first

panlid · Post by **panlid** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 10:16 am

ive been using the mapp gas and have noticed that i do get the joint heated faster. is it just my imagination or is this right?

owen · Post by **owen** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 10:50 am

i have just bought a mapp torch and i think it is loads faster.

is it possible to use too much solder? i tend to chuck loads in as most of my joints are hidden so don't need to be neat, and i don't want to risk not there not being enough in the joint.

Slugster · Post by **Slugster** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 10:51 am

Panlid,

You are not imagining it - I was reading the blurb about blow torches and MAPP is 5/5 for heat and DIY Butane is only 3/5.

Hinton Heating · Post by **Hinton Heating** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 11:11 am

no harm with using too much solder, it just drops off, of runs down the pipe.

Looking at those pics, it looks to me that you overheated the pipes by the colours on them.

apply plenty of flux to the outside of the pipes before pushing the fitting on.

The new blow lamp jets are so much quicker than the old ones, so easy to over heat!

I've never used mapp gass, still on the old refillable primus bottles!

Slugster · Post by **Slugster** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 11:45 am

you overheated the pipes

I wondered about that - is it possible to burn off the flux?

Hinton Heating · Post by **Hinton Heating** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 12:01 pm

yes, you certainly can... which will result in the solder melting, but not sticking or running into the joint.

I reckon a 10mm joint would solder in between 5-15seconds

Slugster · Post by **Slugster** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 12:30 pm

Bingo - we have the problem then.

panlid · Post by **panlid** » Sun Apr 01, 2007 12:45 pm

or if there is water still in the pipe can make it look like a dogs dinner

Jules · Post by **Jules** » Tue Apr 03, 2007 5:33 pm

Better get some solder ring fittings lol

They are much easier to use