Master Soldering help needed for a clean solder

[Electronurd]

There are some excellent tips here and will have another go using some of them. One thing that I will definitely look at is the silver solder. That sounds like a very good idea. Will post back with results

 

[Shower Engineer]

One thing that I will definitely look at is the silver solder. That sounds like a very good idea.

If my memory serves me correctly, ordinary solder requires a temperature below about 200 degrees whereas silver soldering is somewhere above 700 degrees.
Check that as if I am correct then you need to take that into account....

 

[Radioman]

Silver solder in the UK comes in 3 different types , easy medium and hard. This relates to the temp it melts at. This is for when you are constructing a complicated piece that needs different joints soldering close together. In the USA they have 6 grades. Important to use propane gas if you can, but not entirely necessary.

 

[Whn1]

You can do but soldering with plumbers solder is a good skill to have

https://www.instagram.com/unequaled_heating/

Some pics and vids to help you

Thanks for the mention Shaun

 

[Radioman]

Excellent guide to brazing ( silver soldering) http://www.richard-whitehouse.co.uk/Soldering notes.pdf

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Thanks for the mention Shaun

Wasn't sure you were still around, how you doing ?

 

[Electronurd]

Wasn't sure you were still around, how you doing ?

Im still around Shaun cheers. Yeah I'm doing alright. I've found a few things out as I've gone such as if I make a mess of a join it's because the fitting wasn't hot enough or I'd applied too much flux. Also as the pipe is for decorative reasons, actually filing down blobs and then applying flux to the excess to darken it makes the joins quite appealing.

Did some archive searching and found this little gem from this forum actually
http://www.ukplumbersforums.co.uk/plumbing-forum/39491-neat-soldering-how.html
And
http://www.ukplumbersforums.co.uk/plumbing-forum/43536-making-perfect-end-feed-solder-joint.html

That link has helped quite a bit as well as this one.

My next little dilemma now if trying to solder to end feed fittings together and have them flush... any takers on that? I'm using a small piece of copper to try and attach two end feeds together with no gap... very difficult indeed and a waste of copper fittings I've found and a great deal of swearing at the sky. Here's a picture of what I mean



Any help would be appreciated the image is the wrong way round... changed it on my computer but not happening on upload.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Solder the elbow or t first

And then solder the other through either the elbow or t hole

 

[1Steven]

Post your pictures when you have given it ago!

 

[Best]

Or just pull the two end feed fittings apart about a couple of mm, then heat and touch of solder and immediately tap the fittings tight together.
But Shaun's idea of soldering through other (open) end of fitting would do also as either method fine because it isn't plumbing

 

[Electronurd]

Or just pull the two end feed fittings apart about a couple of mm, then heat and touch of solder and immediately tap the fittings tight together.
But Shaun's idea of soldering through other (open) end of fitting would do also as either method fine because it isn't plumbing

Tried the tapping best but couch it would knock some joins out of line and then burnt fingers happen. The idea to solder through the other end though, sounds great and will try that next.

 

[Best]

Tried the tapping best but couch it would knock some joins out of line and then burnt fingers happen. The idea to solder through the other end though, sounds great and will try that next.

Just one dot of solder will hold the joint forever.
The tapping the fitting while the solder is melted is easy, but takes experience I guess.
I take your point that joints can be knocked out of angle.

 

[CP1111]

Your passion for this project is inspiring

Originally I thought you just fancied doing some soldering but the wife wouldn't let you loose on your house

 

[zzzjim]

............. the silver solder..................

If you go for more strength in the joint with Silver solder / Brazing rod
( expensive -Half-ords ) I only found 4 problems
a) So hot may melt copper !
b) Supports need to be super heat resistant (not concrete)
c) ---The burns are soo... much worst---
d) Hard work cleaning off

But the sense of achievment is worth it ,
(can use solder near by -cos this one won't melt )

 

[Electronurd]

Your passion for this project is inspiring

Originally I thought you just fancied doing some soldering but the wife wouldn't let you loose on your house

I'm a nutter... once I've got an idea in my head I run out and want to master it. We've just moved house and I'm looking at ways to create small things that are eye catching around the home. For example I created some scaffold board shelves and thought... what would look cool on their is a copper pipe lamp and then I started to think about things I could make from copper pipe around the house. Not made the lamp yet as I need to research electrics and making it safe but I'm currently creating a copper pipe spice rack as we have a ton of spices just in a box.
I'll post some pictures when I'm done.