Why Do I Often Have Problems With E/Feed Connectors On Vertical Pipes?

Your applying to much solder to the fitting woodbine.

 

Plenty of video's on the tube, to help you.



And our own Mr Plum.

 

You cant apply too much flux......especially if you need the solder to move upwards...and make sure you have the correct flux too....lead free flux is useless if you are using leaded solder.....thats what I've found anyway, and we just renovated an old house renewing all the ground floor copper, and had no leaks on any soldered joints...

 

If you apply to much flux especially to a vertical joint the excess flux will run down the pipe clean it and that will allow the solder that does run to stick to your pipe.You never want to apply to much flux on any joint just a smear is enough, then clean your joint off once it has cooled down as any flux left on will over time eat through the pipe and you will get pin holes.

 

Flux is very corrosive.

 

Perhaps it's the flux I use, but applying too much makes it bubble, and it's horrible sometimes also seeing the lead being bubbled out - you get paranoid that there's an empty void left in the joint; swell - 'pop!'. Swell - po... oops, the lead has cooled & set - in mid bubble...

Excellent vids - I'm astonished at how little lead is used.

Another place where I've been going wrong...

 

Yes of course, but you SHOULD be cleaning any excess flux off the pipe after the solder has set anyway...thats just good practice. And once the joint is up to temperature, a quick "wipe" of the solder between 9 and 3 on the joint should be ample.....and just have confidence that capilliary action is on your side......

 

And make sure inside of fitting & pipe are clean to allow solder to run freely.

And having a good propane torch is very helpful to sucessful soldering, but you can't beat a Mapp torch for high heat & fastness of soldering.

 

You been in my toolbag Kiab.

 

You want to do any plumbing, then a Mapp torch is essential kit, puts all the diy butane-propane torches to shame.

Propane heats to around 3500f & Mapp gas to 3670f, but MAPP has a lot more BTU's compared to Propane.

 

Lol love Mr Plum's Lancastrian style

Oh F..... shoot stop this forum thread, it's gone wrong the ends come off

 

Why do you need to keep feeding in flux?
Clean fitting & pipe, brush pipe & inside of fitting with flux, don't be excessive with, it's not needed.

As for a Mapp torch it's hotter & much quicker (it's like going from a mini to porsche) to heat a fitting, than a ordinary butane or butane/propane torch.
I go as far to say, you make better joints with Mapp, because it's quicker to heat joint, so less time to burn off flux,maybe less time to over heat joint, sure others would agree.

 

10/10 for Kiab

 

I always do the bottom first mate.

 

Depends how I feel, sometime I will do top first, other time I do bottom first.

Makes no difference to the finished joint.