Solderd fitting looks crack on front

[Mgrant]

Hi do you do sometimes find even though your sure the solder has run around a fitting the ring you see at the front lip of the fitting and the pipe can occasionally look cracked on one place?

 

[ShaunCorbs]

a black spot/line ? normally down to what flux you use/ impurities

 

[JCplumb]

I was getting similar when my flame was too hot, the flux burned before the solder melted, gave me some scruffy joints but still held OK.

 

[Mgrant]

Black line like the solder hasn't taken between the pipe and lip of the fitting

 

[Mgrant]

tried to upload a pic but it doesn't seem to want to let me

 

[Mgrant]

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[Mgrant]

Left hand side near the bottom looks to be a hole in the solder?

 

[REDSAW]

looks like the heat has been held on the left fitting too long drawing the solder down.
am i to presume you soldered that end last?

 

[Mgrant]

yes I soldered the end with the black line/ hole in it last, Does it need re- doing then?

 

[REDSAW]

nah, never had a joint leak yet that i soldered and that includes ones like in pic.
as long as its fluxed 100% and enough solder its done.

 

[Mgrant]

Thanks so even with the little gap were it appears to be missing solder between the pipe and the fitting it should be ok as it will have run lower down in the fitting?

 

[lame plumber]

try a bit less heat, use a propane bottle if you are using mixed gas bottle for a while.

 

[Mgrant]

Thanks could I be best cutting out and starting again?

 

[plumben]

Ive had this a few times, and have never had a leak from a fitting that looks like this, I just count it as one of my fittings I'm not happy with and usually check it first upon filling the system

 

[Mgrant]

Ive had this a few times, and have never had a leak from a fitting that looks like this, I just count it as one of my fittings I'm not happy with and usually check it first upon filling the system

And is it from too much heat?

 

[REDSAW]

prolonged heat more so, when melts, take torch off for few secs then reapply for next end heat pipe then take off again

 

[Mgrant]

Thanks, would re soldering that enf of the elbow be an option?

 

[ShaunCorbs]

you could do or just re flow the solder would be fine

 

[gpbeck]

Solder a sample joint and saw down it longways.. You will be reassured by the width of the band of solder in the joint.

 

[plumben]

And is it from too much heat?

Sometimes yes sometimes I think its dirty flux or dirt fitting on the edge, usually ill dab some extra solder on but sometimes it's still there afterwards although the rest of the fitting is perfect

 

[Mgrant]

Sometimes yes sometimes I think its dirty flux or dirt fitting on the edge, usually ill dab some extra solder on but sometimes it's still there afterwards although the rest of the fitting is perfect

So fittings like this are usually ok?

 

[Stigster]

So fittings like this are usually ok?

I see joints like this a lot at the college I work in. It happens most often with the sockets that are formed in the end of the pipe with an expanding/socket forming tool. It seems that these expanded fittings are a little bit "slacker" than a quality EF fitting. (We mainly use this type of joint when teaching the school kids who come in for a short plumbing course how to solder, to save on fittings).

They often have this little gap in the solder at the mouth just like in your picture. I have pressure tested thousands of these and they seem as reliable as any other joint as long as there is enough solder to fill the joint to the bottom.

I have seen the same with cheaper EF fittings that are a bit slacker than a better UK made one. I think it can happen even with quality fittings that are just a tiny bit out of spec.

 

[Spanner2k7]

I have had this, and have taken the fitting apart to check, most of the time it is fine. If I ever had a soldered leak, it is probably one that looks perfect.

 

[Best]

There can be different reasons for solder not taking to one side of a fitting.
One reason can be dirt, as has been said, but you shouldn't really have dirt with end feed fittings, like Yorkshire have, coming often from around the solder ring area. I clean my end feed fittings with steel wool, so they have no dirt.
Another reason can be overheating and/or burning the flux away and tarnishing the copper so solder won't stick. Solution is to not overheat if possible and also apply flux dabbed on end of solder as you do the joint. (If you do want the resolder a tarnished bit, clean it with emery cloth and apply flux to redo)
Stigster got my last reason, - if a pipe is held slightly out of line with a fitting, the the solder will not have good capillary action at the widest point at bottom of joint. This is why I am sceptical about clipping pipes to walls that can be all shapes. Also tends to happen with slack fittings that some cheaper brands are.
If you are doubtful about a joint, heat it gently and pull it apart to look at how well both surfaces are soldered

 

[SimonG]

Whenever in doubt just a touch more flux, bit more heat and a little more solder. Ten seconds there could save hours down the line. 99.9% I find there's never an issue, but every now and again I convince myself it wasn't right and just touch it up for piece of mind.

 

[Mgrant]

It tested out ok so all should be well?

 

[Best]

It is the solder inside the fitting and if it has joined to both the pipe and fitting that matters.
If the joint sucks solder in a little on one side, I don't worry always about it, although I do prefer to have the outside edge fully soldered as belt and braces

 

[Reg Man]

Basic procedure... make sure the pipe and fitting is clean before soldering, don't rely on self cleaning flux. Even heat around the fitting.