Hints, tips & secrets of plumbing - No Banter please!

[carpstu]

re: Hints, tips & secrets of plumbing - No Banter please!

those rubber smothing off shapeing silicone tools are pretty fool proof

 

[GQuigley67]

re: Hints, tips & secrets of plumbing - No Banter please!

can get industrial wipes for about £4, had mine for ages now

 

[Ian10261]

re: Hints, tips & secrets of plumbing - No Banter please!

If you cut the nozzle at about 45 degrees with a little practice you dont really need to smooth it off much but those industrial wipes really are the business.

 

[Guest123]

re: Hints, tips & secrets of plumbing - No Banter please!

Just put a length of masking tape top and bottom of the joint, apply the silicone, smooth it off with a wipe wrapped round the end of your finger and then remove the masking tape. Perfect neat joints every time.

 

[Ian10261]

re: Hints, tips & secrets of plumbing - No Banter please!

Yeh used to do that until i got fed up of applying the masking tape. When it gets to the point of sealing everything up i've usually had enough of bathrooms and swear i'll never do another.................... til one comes along.

 

[helpsy]

re: Hints, tips & secrets of plumbing - No Banter please!

I use the 3 piece smoothing tools available from Plumbfix....quick,easy and effortless.....and a spot on finish!!!!

 

[cdodds2004]

re: Hints, tips & secrets of plumbing - No Banter please!

when diagnosing faults but dont have the parts and need to book a re-call dont tell the custard the exact problem or you end up with some have a go hero saying he can fix it for cheaper or they try to order the part them selves off the net, remember they are paying for your knowledge its not free

 

[shorticus]

re: Hints, tips & secrets of plumbing - No Banter please!

Thought I'd read the whole thread before posting my tip just to make sure no-one else had posted it and found GQuigley67's question...

anyone any tips for filing chrome for soldered joints ?? takes to long using the old jeremy kyle

now before you all shout 'Shorty you don't know diddly-squat' I suggest you try this in your garage, I didn't believe it myself when I was told some 15 years ago, then we did it and tested to 10 bar and it absolutely works!!!

YOU DO NOT NEED TO FILE THE CHROME OFF of chromed copper pipe before soldering IF you use ACTIVE flux i.e. Laco or Everflux (passive or traditional yorkshire flux won't work)

Now here's the theory. Chromium is very porous, when it's used on steel (ferous) for a decorative finish it has to be plated over nickel (not porous and non ferous) otherwise it would give no protection to the steel and it would rust quick-smart. When copper (non-ferrous) is plated with chrome no nickel is used and as just said the chrome is porous so your solder goes straight through it.

Note; This will not work on stainless steel

 

[helpsy]

re: Hints, tips & secrets of plumbing - No Banter please!

When using a spanner in an awkward area put some string/cord through hole in spanner and tie off to something. If you drop it you just pull it out with the string/cord!!

 

[Phil]

re: Hints, tips & secrets of plumbing - No Banter please!

Interesting shorticus, I'll try that although I have to say I have a bench grinder and it makes short work of grinding the chrome off.