Soldering

[Marvo]

I realise I should probably ask this on the plumbing forum but I can't remember my password and I think there may be a few closet plumbers on here as well

I'm trying to solder copper pipes and fittings together in the neatest way possible. My soldering is okay but it's not perfect, there's always a small solder imperfection visible where I apply the solder to the joint. I know in the UK you have yorkshire fittings that are pre soldered and probably much neater but I can hell find a supplier in South Africa so I must persevere with the standard copcal fittings.

Any advice appreciated

 

[shanky887614]

I realise I should probably ask this on the plumbing forum but I can't remember my password and I think there may be a few closet plumbers on here as well

I'm trying to solder copper pipes and fittings together in the neatest way possible. My soldering is okay but it's not perfect, there's always a small solder imperfection visible where I apply the solder to the joint. I know in the UK you have yorkshire fittings that are pre soldered and probably much neater but I can hell find a supplier in South Africa so I must persevere with the standard copcal fittings.

Any advice appreciated

wire wool?

just be quick after you put solder on and it is very neat.

or just tap it after heating it up a little

 

[ruston]

I realise I should probably ask this on the plumbing forum but I can't remember my password and I think there may be a few closet plumbers on here as well

I'm trying to solder copper pipes and fittings together in the neatest way possible. My soldering is okay but it's not perfect, there's always a small solder imperfection visible where I apply the solder to the joint. I know in the UK you have yorkshire fittings that are pre soldered and probably much neater but I can hell find a supplier in South Africa so I must persevere with the standard copcal fittings.

Any advice appreciated

Spotlessly clean copper and gear and good flux , and don't overheat is the only advice I can give you. You can cheat and give it a wipe lol.

Geordie will be along and all your prayers will be answered.:smile5:

 

[iamelectric]

the plumber in my work uses a small blow torch to do this , is this common practice

 

[Marvo]

Do you use the wire wool to wipe the surplus solder whilst it's still moltern or after it's cooled? Do the scratches polish out easily with Brasso or similar?

 

[onions1066]

After you've soldered it use your flux brush to wipe round and neaten it up. Also if you blow the solder back up into the fitting you get a better joint and see less solder

 

[ruston]

the plumber in my work uses a small blow torch to do this , is this common practice

Depends how small , most use the cartridge type now , but my mate swears by his old propane torch lol.

 

[onions1066]

Wire wool is ok but if you want to neaten it up you need to do it whilst its hot and you will burn he crap out of your fingers

 

[Carlosfandango]

Don't take this the wrong way but why is it when an non sparky comes on looking for advise he gets shot to pieces, but its ok to ask for a spark to ask for plumbing advice?

 

[ruston]

Do you use the wire wool to wipe the surplus solder whilst it's still moltern or after it's cooled? Do the scratches polish out easily with Brasso or similar?

No you do not want wire wool drawn into the joint , mate uses one of those fancy cloths for wiping the solder.

- - - Updated - - -

Don't take this the wrong way but why is it when an non sparky comes on looking for advise he gets shot to pieces, but its ok to ask for a spark to ask for plumbing advice?

Because old sparks had to know how to solder.

 

[Marvo]

Don't take this the wrong way but why is it when an non sparky comes on looking for advise he gets shot to pieces, but its ok to ask for a spark to ask for plumbing advice?

Lol, well I'm not really a sparky as such and the older guys on here probably learned how to do wiped lead joints in the apprenticeships so I thought it was worth a bash

 

[shanky887614]

Wire wool is ok but if you want to neaten it up you need to do it whilst its hot and you will burn he crap out of your fingers

only if your a tight ******* who wont buy a decent piece.

besides after you have put put solder while it's still hot quickly scratch across with wirewool and it will drop of.

or if your ---- like some of the members here you could use a gas soldering iron and a soldering tool to remove the excess


(had to plumbing while i was at college with electrical)

plumbing is a piece of **** really, its nearly all pushfit now

 

[Marvo]

Here's a few pictures;

This is a 54mm pipe fitting, the solder around the edge of the capilliary is uneven.
View attachment 19615


A 15mm elbow, you can see the marks where the solder was applied
View attachment 19616


Another 15mm elbow and same again on the top of the 15mm tee piece.
View attachment 19617


Same problem again on two 15mm tees.
View attachment 19618

 

[Marvo]

I'm guessing the wire wool and the desoldering tool will remove most of the surplus but there would still be a silver coloured stain on the copper where the solder was?

 

[ruston]

Your link is not working for me.