Master Soldering help needed for a clean solder

[Electronurd]

Hi plumbers, I am popping here today to ask how do I solder a clean join? For example I am currently in the process of creating a lamp for my living room out of copper pipe. I started to solder today and realised I'm crap :smile5:. I cleaned the pipe and the elbows and fluxed, but no matter how hard I tried the solder went everywhere and I ended up with proper messy pipe joins.

I would like to create something like the following:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/322443512149

as you can see the joins are spectacular and look very clean and nicely done. My question is how??

thought I'd ask plumbers as you may know?

 

[Electronurd]

no dont do that will make it 10 x worse

Right ok. I do think the joins look slightly better but not as good as I'd hoped because of the damned slodge... potentially a thinner solder wire like 2mm or even 1mm might help.

 

[Electronurd]

no dont do that will make it 10 x worse

Right ok. I do think the joins look slightly better but not as good as I'd hoped because of the damned slodge... potentially a thinner solder wire like 2mm or even 1mm might help.

 

[zzzjim]

Not a plumbing techinque , also un-tried as its not a skill I want to learn .
Have pondered if you made measured rings of fine electrical solder concealed within the joint ,heated and let slide the last bit , inside of joint fluxed to assist capilairy action .
( In effect emulating Yorkshire/solder-ring without unsightly bulges )
When there with quantity and heat should be able to do 90 elbow inclined 45 for each side- bottom of bend facing down !

 

[mache]

As has been mentioned try smaller diameter electrical solder, however rather than using a normal soldering technique try by cutting a length to make a solder ring that fits tight around the pipe sitting on top of the fitting. Then gently heat the bottom of the fitting until the solder flows into the joint. Just heat gently in short bursts till you get the feel of how much heat is needed. Hopefully that might help prevent your spludge.


Zzzjim beat me to it

 

[zzzjim]

Not a plumbing techinque , also un-tried as its not a skill I want to learn .
Have pondered if you made measured rings of fine electrical solder concealed within the joint ,heated and let slide the last bit , inside of joint fluxed to assist capilairy action .
( In effect emulating Yorkshire/solder-ring without unsightly bulges )
When there with quantity and heat should be able to do 90 elbow inclined 45 for each side- bottom of bend facing down !

 

[zzzjim]

Re Not a wire brush -on Hot splodges ..

Have wondered if leather (like moles skin) shammy would have similar effect.

Not a valid plumbing technique - as moving joint as it cools is a no-no .
Also likely to splash self and surroundings .

 

[Stoney Ground]

You can buy one of these for about £60, could solve all your problems.

COPPER PIPE RETRO INDUSTRIAL STYLE TABLE LAMP | eBay

 

[Best]

It hasn't been mentioned what flux you are using. The fluxes like greased based Fluxite or similar Yorkshire Traditional flux will let the flux flow very well and work very well if you constantly add a dot of flux to the joint as you heat it. Leaded solder flows better, wipes better and stays melted longer, but any lead isn't recommended to be handled as hazardous.
As the joints are not going to have to hold water, you just need to tack them together with one dab of solder.

 

[Last Plumber]

You could always solder the open fitting inside and clean and flux the tube, then shuv it into the fitting !
Whilst it's hot of course, you'll need to keep it hot with your lamp.
Stand the lamp on the bench or floor and use both hands
Like I said before, it's only to hold it together, not water tight !

 

[Radioman]

Why not wipe the joins with a damp cloth whilst still hot? Wear gloves of course. When I was a sprog we used make all sorts of nice bits and bobs from copper in metalwork class at school ( 1962 to 1969). For example I made a big 12 inch diameter planished dish with a ring as the base for my O level project. That was braised on with silver solder and the joint was invisible , that's what jewels do. So why not do that?

 

[Radioman]

Why not wipe the joins with a damp cloth whilst still hot? Wear gloves of course.
Anyway......When I was a sprog we used make all sorts of nice bits and bobs from copper in metalwork class at school ( 1962 to 1969). For example I made a big 12 inch diameter planished dish with a ring as the base for my O level project. That was braised on with silver solder and the joint was invisible , that's why jewellers use the method. So why not do that? Plenty of info on you tube on how to do it. It's much cleaner and stronger. Borax is the usual flux and silver solder comes in 3 types: easy, medium and hard, videos explain more. Bad joints are caused by ANY contamination of the joint, even a fingerprint will be a drama!

EDIT

Got me thinking and reminiscing now! Jee so Christo mr Elf and Safety would have a mare back in the day! Our little old secondary modern taught us 12 year old how to use oxyacetylene welding, lathes, braising, coke blacksmiths forge for wrought iron work. we had a full on gas alloy casting drag and set where we melted scrap alloy and pored molten aluminium into red sand hollow mould's, we used a gas furnace for melting the alloy. All the safety equipment we had was a cotton apron and swarfega hand cleaner!
Don't get me started on sports kit! I had 2 pairs of plimsoles, 1 Black for winter and 1 white for summer! It's a wonder I am still alive.

 

[zzzjim]

............ for about £60, could solve all your problems.........

In a world of industrial espionage , and cheap copies , buy one , saw it up ,
perform an autopsy !
Even solder paste exists (For SMD) -- not plumbing safe - but its not plumbing .

 

[SimonG]

Hi plumbers, I am popping here today to ask how do I solder a clean join? For example I am currently in the process of creating a lamp for my living room out of copper pipe. I started to solder today and realised I'm crap :smile5:. I cleaned the pipe and the elbows and fluxed, but no matter how hard I tried the solder went everywhere and I ended up with proper messy pipe joins.

I would like to create something like the following:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/322443512149

as you can see the joins are spectacular and look very clean and nicely done. My question is how??

thought I'd ask plumbers as you may know?

Epoxy resin.

 

[zzzjim]

Epoxy resin.

That will kick up an awfull stink if you heat it , attempting to re -work something neat by !
( and that other product ? )

 

[SimonG]

For somebody that can't solder then just glue the fittings.