StillSmart

I place this request under this section, not that I hope to build anything approaching the art works which often appear here, but more that I am moved to simply attempt to acquire one the the basic skills involved. Soldering.

Should I wish to attempt to learn to solder, what sort of soldering equipment (torch/iron) would be best to purchase.

Whilst I don't want anything that would prove useless, neither do I want to go overboard acquiring something which my skills might never make real use of.

Price is also a significant factor.

Understand this completely. Now watching with interest.

I cannot do such things, but looked into it a little while confirming I can't.

My understanding is that you need a self lighting torch (worth not getting the cheapest), lead free solder and flux. I'd guess that it'd take maybe £50 to get started (not counting pipe cutter).

After that 2 good hands (my downfall), semi good eyesight (oops again for me) and it's not that hard really.

I am not a professional but I can solder. I recently bought a £5 blow torch.

Look at this on eBay http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321850298727

Brilliant.

It is a easy skill to learn and is so creative.

Cut to size with a 99p pipe slice. Clean both surfaces with emery or wire wool.
Smear both with flux.
Torch in left hand.. Heat until colour changes.
With solder in right hand... Lightly touch the seam with solder. Less is more. It will run on its own when the pipe is hot enough.

Tip. Flame control is important. Get the blue tip of the flame touching the copper.

Practice on a brick outside.

Mash has convinced me to try again to learn.

The only outside space I have is my parking space which is in between a police man's bmw and a traffic warden's skoda.

I suppose I should keep to the centre of the space?

Mash wrote: Clean both surfaces with emery

Poor Dick

With all the money you saved on the torch get some of this...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222239142055

I am genuinely jesting and mean no offence but ( uhh ohh) with Brexit I think I should train as a plumber and get a spirit making licence as almost every plumber and distiller round here is Polish.

HAHAHA

I do like your thinking.

If your'e going to buy a gas torch, buy the best and buy only once is the moto.

I am fully qualified in all aspects of joining metals together so perhaps this may seem over the top for some, but this is the best.



Use lead free solder and last but not least, use water soluble flux.

Use wire wool not emery tape, it cause groves that the flux flows into. If its really badly oxidized use fine plumbers abrasive strips.

For 15 & 22 pipes use this type of brush for inside & out.



And last of all do not overheat a joint by applying heat at the point of solder, use a thinner diameter solder, 3mm is enough. Try not to quench in cold water to save time.

I still use my handheld torches even though I have the bigger Sievert hose fed torches.

I started with a couple of simple brass ones from B&Q that screw onto gas bottles. One fine tip and one general one. Then I added a Rothenberger that was on MAP gas (when it was real MAP gas)

And of course I have the Sievert. Which one I use just depends on how big the work piece is. I have brazed 54 mm fittings with 2 hand held torches but it was difficult.

Brazing 35 mm and below is a piece of cake with the hand held torches, as is soldering up to 54 mm. Its only when I start brazing above 54 mm that the Sievert comes into use.



The advantage of the Rothenberger style is the built in gas regulator that you don't have on the simple brass torches.

There are even cheaper gas torches available but some of them are of more use in the kitchen than the workshop.

Just bear in mind that each one works over a certain range of joint sizes and that the issue is not flame temperature but simple quantity of heat produced. Big joints need more heat of the same temperature than small joints.

Mash wrote:

Practice on a brick outside.

No, no, no!! You cannot solder bricks, Mash! It just won't work!

Myles wrote:
Big joints need more heat of the same temperature than small joints.

Now that takes me back to the seventies!!

Dave wrote:

Myles wrote:
Big joints need more heat of the same temperature than small joints.

Now that takes me back to the seventies!!

Sooooo true.