Sweating Fustration

nailed_it

I am working on a basement doing some minor repairs i pulled toilet to fix leaking pipe and ad shut off valve i do little pluming work so my sweating is not the best i have problem getting soider to stick its just rolling off the joint why is this From now on im gonna sub out to the pros and stick to what i do best carpentry

MALCO.New.York

Improper cleaning. Improper heating. Improper fluxing. These are the reasons that pipes will not sweat. So which is it?

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Ultimate Wisdom---------
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OW-cnizLDEE

nailed_it

it could be any one of those things im gonna try one last time if i cant get it ill call pro i cant wast time on this i have other things i need to work on to finish job

Bill

make sure there is no moisture at all in the pipes. If there is then using a piece of white bread insert the white portion (No crust) into both ends of the pipe as far as you can using a pencil. You want to insert enough to absorb the moisture. Next sand the pipe so that when you install the fitting you can see at least 1/4" of the sanded portion sticking out above the fitting. Sand inside the fitting. Next apply a small amount of flux to the outsude of the pipe and inside the fitting. Place together and if you can twist the ffitting around on the pipe (Not really needed, but helps to spread the flux). Next heat the joint at where you want the solder to go (Back of the fitting) as the solder will travel towards the heat. Heat it untill you can just lay the solder on top of the joint and the heat from the pipe melts the solder. This is important as the pipe must melt the solder, not the torch. let the solder run around the fitting applying more heat to the fitting if the solder stops running. Good tip is you only need a lenth of solder compatable to the pipe size you are soldering (1/2 inch long piece of solder for 1/2" pipe, 3/4" lenth of solder for 3/4" pipe, and so on) Too much solder will puddle up inside the fitting. After you are done place a wet rag over the soldered joint, this water will set the solder. Next remove the supply line from the fixture you just repaired and turn on the water making sure the end of the supply line is in a container to catch the water. This will blow out the bread. Re connect and you should be fine.

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Is it beer thirty yet
Virginia Department of Licensing
Virginia Plumbing Codes

MALCO.New.York

On a smaller joint (1/2 - 3/4) apply heat once you have cleaned, fluxed and joined the parts. The flame will usually change color a bit when you have reached the proper metal temperature. REMOVE the flame and touch the solder to the metal. It should flow (sweat) and fill the joint.

The temp of the metal is what is used to melt the solder. NOT the flame.

__________________
Something to One may be Nothing to another!

Ultimate Wisdom---------
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OW-cnizLDEE

Tin Cup

a couple years ago i had a heck of a time getting solder to flow, turned out to be the brand/type of flux i was using. switched to another brand and all fixed. something to consider.

Tin Cup

MALCO.New.York

Oatey. And the other brand I will use is Oatey.

__________________
Something to One may be Nothing to another!

Ultimate Wisdom---------
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OW-cnizLDEE

andeeznuts

This will make it work trust me. Shut off the water to the house. Open the hose bib valve and open a couplen upstairs this will release all water from pipes. Then clean copper make sure you clean the fittings as well. Heat it up an finish it out. You can do it its not that difficult.

Norrrrrrrrrrrrm

Also be careful not to touch the cleaned parts with your fingers. The oils can cause problems. Also make sure you are not heating it to long so you will not burn the flux out.

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Norman Sharp
http://www.sharpimprovements.com