Solder not appearing at joint

[gordy87]

Hi all, had to remove a radiator and fitted a cap to the end of the pipe. They were the type which contain a ring of solder and just require heating.

On one pipe it worked perfect and you could see the solder out the edges of the cap. On the other pipe I heated it for a long time but no solder appeared. But with the heating on nothing leaked.

So my question is, would you do the cap which didn't show any solder again? Or is this sometimes the case and it should be fine?

 

[ktuludays]

Was the pipe completely dry when you soldered? The yorkshire fittings you used are normally pretty good

 

[gordy87]

It was completely dry on the outside, there was water in the pipe about 3 inches down on the inside. Would this have an effect?

 

[ktuludays]

It was completely dry on the outside, there was water in the pipe about 3 inches down on the inside. Would this have an effect?

Yes more than likely. Any water will cool the joint and prevent it from soldering correctly.

If you're refitting the radiator then a simple push fit stop cap would have sufficed. They take seconds to fit and are removed just as quickly when needed.

 

[gordy87]

The radiator has been permanently removed. Any tips for getting water out the pipe? Don't have access to a wet vac sadly.

 

[dilalio]

The radiator has been permanently removed. Any tips for getting water out the pipe? Don't have access to a wet vac sadly.

Use the nozzle from a spray bottle and poke the straw down the pipe as far as you can get it. Operate the trigger and keep going until you've got all the water out. It may take a while depending on water in the system continuing to find equilibrium in the pipes.

Or use a compression stop end.

 

[gordy87]

Nice one I'll give that a try today. Cheers both

 

[durhamplumber]

The radiator has been permanently removed. Any tips for getting water out the pipe? Don't have access to a wet vac sadly.

Put rubber tube down and siphon out.

 

[mogget]

This may have been covered, but I assume the OP is using flux?

 

[gordy87]

Put rubber tube down and siphon out.

Thanks

This may have been covered, but I assume the OP is using flux?

Yeah did use flux, one fitting worked spot on just the second one didn't seem to show solder at join. It is sealed though.

 

[FiremanT]

This may have been covered, but I assume the OP is using flux?

I was going to ask that. And if he cleaned properly.

Years ago, a very clever motor bike racer, an engneer type guy, called on me. He was struggling to fit his washing machine. He was using Yorkshire, and generally thought that it exonerated him from using flux, and, IIRC, cleaning.

 

[ianmcd]

I was going to ask that. And if he cleaned properly.

Years ago, a very clever motor bike racer, an engneer type guy, called on me. He was struggling to fit his washing machine. He was using Yorkshire, and generally thought that it exonerated him from using flux, and, IIRC, cleaning.

My cousin is an RGI and everytime he solders a fitting he uses a brush with flux on it and keeps dosing it on the hot fitting till it cools, drives me absolutely nuts , he will not listen when you tell him its completely wrong, anyone reading this , when the fitting is cold wipe all flux from the pipe and fitting, it is horrible stuff if left on pipework

 

[durhamplumber]

Thanks



Yeah did use flux, one fitting worked spot on just the second one didn't seem to show solder at join. It is sealed though.

Sometimes you cannot see it. Perfect joint i suppose,you can see a very thin line allround the bottom of the joint..Less than perfect after that,,as solder runs out and down the pipe.You would be lucky/unlucky..to have yorkshire fitting where no solder was ever in joint,it did leak/blow apart as soon as you turned water on...

 

[Deleted member 221031]

Hi all, had to remove a radiator and fitted a cap to the end of the pipe. They were the type which contain a ring of solder and just require heating.

On one pipe it worked perfect and you could see the solder out the edges of the cap. On the other pipe I heated it for a long time but no solder appeared. But with the heating on nothing leaked.

So my question is, would you do the cap which didn't show any solder again? Or is this sometimes the case and it should be fine?

I’ve noticed the solder ring type don’t work as good if the heat is even a tad too high.

Leaving the heat on for ages would probably explain why you didn’t see the solder appear

 

[Deleted member 221031]

My cousin is an RGI and everytime he solders a fitting he uses a brush with flux on it and keeps dosing it on the hot fitting till it cools, drives me absolutely nuts , he will not listen when you tell him its completely wrong, anyone reading this , when the fitting is cold wipe all flux from the pipe and fitting, it is horrible stuff if left on pipework

I’m anal about cleaning flux off. I even wipe the fitting before applying any heat.

My mate wipes flux on the outside of the fitting before he heats it up! Solder all over