Flux inside or outside capillary end feed?

[John_]

I know this is prob personal habit but when soldering which is better - flux inside or outside, i.e female end or male end?

 

[gavinwilson]

on the pipe

 

[mikegas]

The correct way is to apply the flux to the pipe not the fitting

 

[Hardy1]

flux goes onto the pipe not the fitting..

 

[PlumbBobBob]

on the pipe so male end

 

[Best]

Yes, - on the pipe, & then you won't fill inside of joint with flux, but you can put a light film of flux inside fitting if you want. Turn the fitting or pipe when pushing together, if you can, to aid even spread of flux.

 

[Gray0689]

I'm on pipe and fitting

 

[Best]

I'm on pipe and fitting

Me also, to be honest. Flux will melt & go inside pipe anyhow, no matter what you do.

 

[John_]

Thx guys, had a debate with an engineer who flux inside which I thought a bit unusual but now I know who's right. Initially I thought personal taste but now I know which side I am on. Thx.

 

[Roger Welton]

Outside pipe on smaller pipe, 28 and above both. Not quite sure why but have always done this.

 

[cdodds2004]

i was taught by a old school guy who made me clean both pipe and fitting with wirewool and flux both pipe and fitting also. very very rare i get a poor joint or even a untidy joint, i use "no korode" flux i think its the same as the old uni flux, very sticky but good and doesnt rott pipe like the other stuff can, takes a little longer to clean fittings but its the way i was taught and im swear by it! but its all personal really people have there own methods for everything, i always give a system a good flush though due to fluxing inside the fittings

 

[Guest123]

Flux should go inside the fitting and on the pipe. Twist the pipe as it's inserted into the fitting to distribute the flux evenly and use flux sparingly.

Pegler Yorkshire recommend this for Endex and Yorkshire soldered capillary fittings.

 

[SafeGasInstall]

which end of the flux brush do you all use to apply the flux ?

the hairy end or the round handle ?

 

[Guest123]

which end of the flux brush do you all use to apply the flux ?

the hairy end or the round handle ?

The middle bit.

 

[tamz]

Pipe and fitting for me. Always have done but "they" say you should just do the pipe to prevent flux getting into the pipe. This is fine in theory but as said it gets in anyway. Just don't spread it on with a trowel.
Your choice of flux may be more important than where you put it.

 

[Roger Welton]

which end of the flux brush do you all use to apply the flux ?

the hairy end or the round handle ?

Brush? i use my tounge

 

[SafeGasInstall]

there is not mid position available on this make "flux brush" , its two way tool

 

[tamz]

which end of the flux brush do you all use to apply the flux ?

the hairy end or the round handle ?

Never used a flux brush ....... well i have and binned it/them. They apply far to much for my liking. Fingers (not really recommended) or the end of the solder for half inch and smaller. Never even as much as a nip in a cut but i'm probably immune to laco.

 

[Best]

And don't forget to keep adding a little flux, as you solder, by dipping end of solder wire in flux.

 

[tamz]

I do that too :lol:

 

[SafeGasInstall]

solder which end of the pipe/fitting you apply it , on the side where your flame is or opposite ?

 

[SafeGasInstall]

I do that too :lol:

i do only when there is water in the pipe

 

[Guest123]

And never solder a JG Speedfit straight as the fumes will kill ya.

 

[tamz]

I usually start swearing if i've got some water there.

 

[SafeGasInstall]

me toooooooooooooooooooo and sent steve to the van for the wet vac , even i know it will not take i still end up waisting 5 min trying before i sent him for wet vac

 

[Best]

solder which end of the pipe/fitting you apply it , on the side where your flame is or opposite ?

Close to flame, but if hot enough, opposite side also, but as I am sure you know well, not necessary to solder all round, as heat & flux will do the job in a caplilary fitting.

 

[Guest123]

I usually start swearing if i've got some water there.

Me too. Stuck half my piece (sandwich to non Jocks) down a inch main today. The whole of Alloa could here me shouting and screaming not nice things at a bit of pipe. The joys of plumbing.

 

[SafeGasInstall]

i apply opposite site and it does matter as to make sure that fitting/pipe is up to temp as otherwise if fitting/pipe is not fully visible it might not go all the way round

 

[John_]

Also, is it correct to solder with the flame or take the flame away when the pipe is hot enough then apply the solder and let it do the business?

 

[Best]

i apply opposite site and it does matter as to make sure that fitting/pipe is up to temp as otherwise if fitting/pipe is not fully visible it might not go all the way round

Yes, agree, if solder flows at back of fitting, opposite side to flame, then you know fitting is heated & thus soldered fully.

 

[PlumbBobBob]

Me too. Stuck half my piece (sandwich to non Jocks) down a inch main today. The whole of Alloa could here me shouting and screaming not nice things at a bit of pipe. The joys of plumbing.

i'm glad you clarified that for us non jocks lol

 

[SafeGasInstall]

Also, is it correct to solder with the flame or take the flame away when the pipe is hot enough then apply the solder and let it do the business?

I dont do , but others may have

 

[Best]

Also, is it correct to solder with the flame or take the flame away when the pipe is hot enough then apply the solder and let it do the business?

You can do this, but usually better IMO to reapply heat again. I love it when the solder forms & stays a nice high solder ring on top of fitting. Great when it is somewhere on show. How sad am I? :smile:

 

[tamz]

Me too. Stuck half my piece (sandwich to non Jocks) down a inch main today. The whole of Alloa could here me shouting and screaming not nice things at a bit of pipe. The joys of plumbing.

I never heard you in Kent Road. Probably drowned you out at the time shouting at the boy for getting on my wick.

I was too stressed out to give you a shout btw.

 

[Guest123]

Was in Castle Street Tam installing a storage tank. Pity we never met up. Next time.

 

[dontknowitall]

Once you've had a session of soldering around 30 fittings you soon learn what method(s) suit you.

Anyone else brush their fittings and nearby pipework with flux (then a wipe with a cloth) after applying the solder? Solder goes grey (or occasionally black) but pipe comes out lovely and clean.

No?

Thought it might just be me ...

 

[Nostrum]

I flux the fitting only, using the end of the solder to apply the flux. I know you should apply to pipe, but if its already clipped to the wall its a right carry on, plus I always flush after and never had a problem. So middle finger up to the rule book.... Last time I used a brush I went through a phase of getting leaks which i'm convinced was dirt on the brush getting into the fitting. As soon as I binned the brush and went back to my old ways, no leaks!

Also If I think an old bit of pipe is going to give me grief, I tin the end first then wipe, then make up joint and crack on, always works.

 

[tamz]

I once had a guy work with me who cooled his fittings with flux. That one really annoyed me. I wondered why he wanted a new lb of flux after 3 days. I thought he had lost it. Next day i saw him using it to cool the fittings so i sacked him just for that the next day :lol:

 

[Nostrum]

plus it stinks the house out and sets off all the smoke alarms!

 

[ecowarm]

which end of the flux brush do you all use to apply the flux ?

the hairy end or the round handle ?

Hold the brush with one hand and apply with tongue

 

[Guest123]

Lol, You and Dancin got a wee thing going, that we don't know about!

 

[Mike Jackson]

Have a look at http://www.ukcopperboard.co.uk/literature/pdfs/Installation-Tips/Jointing-capillary.pdf

And take note of

Once cleaned the tube should be
fluxed immediately

No mention of fluxing fitting.

A few years back I saw a lad pulled up on his CCN1 for fluxing a fitting.

When I was at college we were taught to flux the pipe only as any excess will be pushed out. If you flux the fitting excess will be pushed into the pipe and can cause corrosion (I take not of the flushing comment above but that doesn't hold for gas) and can draw excess solder into the pipework which reduces the bore and can create those irritating little balls of solder that you hear rattling around in systems.

I also worked with someone who used flux to cool joints but he didn't even wipe it off so a week later you were faced with a green mess.

 

[John_]

The college way kind of make sense. Thx.

 

[Nostrum]

Most of the new type flux is heat activated though, so i presume when it cools down it is neutral again? To be honest I don't use much flux anyway. I know my way is the wrong way but there are worse acts in the plumbing world going on so i'm not going to feel guilty about fluxing my fitting rather than the pipe. The old chestnut about drawing solder into the fitting is balls as well, at least for me, as I use very small amount of solder, normally tabbed on the back of the fitting, you have to look closely to see if its even been soldered sometimes.

 

[Best]

I would rather waste some solder - have it dropping on to floor, than risk not using enough, tbh.

 

[Guest123]

As I said earlier, the manufacturers of the fittings that we use for soldering, recommend in both their installation manual and their online training manual that flux is to be used in the fitting and on the pipe. Use it sparingly and wipe off the excess. Despite what certain tutors in a college say, I for one would rather follow the manufacturer's recommendations as they thoroughly test their products under stringent and often extreme conditions, while some college tutor does not.

Whether it's Yorkshire or Speedfit or whatever, if you do not follow the manufacturers installation instructions and you have a catastrophic failure, any manufacturers warranty implied is void.

Here is a link I posted earlier to Pegler Yorkshire's online training videos:
Pegler Yorkshire

 

[Nostrum]

I would rather waste some solder - have it dropping on to floor, than risk not using enough, tbh.

Can't remember the last time I had a leak to be honest, it's the solder inside the fitting that counts, not the stuff smeared all over the pipe or collar without blowing my own trumpet, I always get good comments about neatness of soldering too, so my opinion is that it is worth a little extra care, and very very rarely get drips or runs from upside down fittings collars. Horses for courses though, not saying it is the best way, just my way that i'm happy and confident with.

Also I had a drip of solder go straight through a cotton dust sheet and weld itself into a carpet once, so prefer no drips!

To be honest, we are all experienced at soldering, and if your getting leaks, then you have to ask yourself why, if you don't then who cares what anyone else thinks, your doing it the right way in my book. If your bothered about where to put your flux, inside, outside, upside down or inside out, try it on a couple of test pieces and take a hacksaw to it, then you can make your own mind up.

 

[Nostrum]

As I said earlier, the manufacturers of the fittings that we use for soldering, recommend in both their installation manual and their online training manual that flux is to be used in the fitting and on the pipe. Use it sparingly and wipe off the excess. Despite what certain tutors in a college say, I for one would rather follow the manufacturer's recommendations as they thoroughly test their products under stringent and often extreme conditions, while some college tutor does not.

Whether it's Yorkshire or Speedfit or whatever, if you do not follow the manufacturers installation instructions and you have a catastrophic failure, any manufacturers warranty implied is void.

Here is a link I posted earlier to Pegler Yorkshire's online training videos:
Pegler Yorkshire

With all due respect, Stevie Wonder could have made a better job than the bloke on that tutorial!

 

[cdodds2004]

i always have a damp towel with me and wipe the pipe of a minute or so after soldering, a pet hate of mine is green pipe or dirty pipe, i also use wire wool to wipe off the odd snot that runs down the pipe to keep things all tidy..

on occasions i have been known to cool pipe with flux but tend not to do it, its a waste of flux and flux brushes. lol

 

[John_]

I flux on the pipe and like Sam tried to keep my soldering as neat as possible. I normally heat the pipe until when I dab the solder it runs, then move the flame away and dab the solder until I see the silver line around the joint - though quite often can't see due to awkward angle. I should be confident that the joint is good but the devil in me tell me (more likely being paranoid) to add an extra dab of solder to be safe and end up ruin something that would have been perfect. Then resort to use the brush and flux to tidy things up. I know this is prob due to lack of confidence but couldn't resist that extra dab for safety. Is this quite common?