How do you apply your flux?

[Dannypipe]

Laco.

That's it. I've heard enough. I hate that stuff. Bloody awful flux.

I've tried it. Then gave the tub away twice. I have no idea why it's popular on here. Most blokes I've worked with have reckoned it's crap too.

Burns too easily if you use Mapp and you're sweating 35mm+. Larger fittings need a bit of heat in the fitting, Laco starts to turn black before the solder runs properly. I hate that brand big time!

 

[Keefy]

Laco.

That's it. I've heard enough. I hate that stuff. Bloody awful flux.

I've tried it. Then gave the tub away twice. I have no idea why it's popular on here. Most blokes I've worked with have reckoned it's crap too.

Burns too easily if you use Mapp and you're sweating 35mm+. Larger fittings need a bit of heat in the fitting, Laco starts to turn black before the solder runs properly. I hate that brand big time!

I found the Powerflow turned black that was the main reason I decided I couldn't be bothered with it. I only ever use propane too as MAPP is way too hot, I rarely ever work on anything bigger than 28mm. Never experienced the LA-CO go black either, maybe it does that if you use MAPP???

 

[Dannypipe]

Maybe. Laco is very popular on here.

I've been using nothing but Mapp for years now. I can't remember when I swapped over from propane, but it must be +10 years.

If I use propane (pick up one of my lads torches) it does my head in. Takes too long to heat the joint! I know it's just seconds difference, but I guess it's what you know.

I've also burnt powerflow. Maybe it's time I bought a can of propane!!

EverFlux is bloody great. You'd have to be a fool to burn it. It will clean up oxidised copped no problem, and it lasts ages. However it does eat your skin. Which makes you wonder. What is it doing to my lungs as I inhale the fumes?

 

[Mike Jackson]

I find that the fumes from powerflow are a lot worse than those from everflux.

 

[Gray0689]

I find that the fumes from powerflow are a lot worse than those from everflux.

I'm the opposite ever flux is wicked stuff

 

[dancinplumba]

I'm the opposite ever flux is wicked stuff

morning mr gray

 

[R1CKY]

I tried just fluxing just the pipe off the back of this thread and didn't like it. Pipe and fittings for me, small amount on each, gently heat and apply solder from the back/underneath the fitting and it leaves a nice neat ring of solder. Let the solder set and wipe with a damp cloth.

We all have our own methods and we'll all most likely never change them!

 

[Gray0689]

morning mr gray

Good morning dancin
No rest for the wicked lol

 

[iiplumbing]

Hmmm, reply to the original question.

Its a pity that the flux manufacturers dont put a small brush connected to the underside of the lid of the flux tub anymore, isnt it?

I use an old toothbrush that I keep in my tool box and use that

Or I use my flat end screwdriver

Or I use my finger (btw my fingers always go green when I am handling copper pipe with or without touching the flux!!!!)

www.iiplumbing-services-derby.co.uk

 

[deadstare]

belt and braces flux both

 

[Solderman]

With a matchtail jus to the fitting

 

[bill9005]

Both on hot, cold and heating. only fittings on gas....just one of those things

 

[pipefitter]

Only use everflux ..15mm-42mm only ever flux pipe ..always use a brush ..very rarely get a leak & always looks neat ;-)

 

[qualityplumbing]

if you flux the pipe only when you insert it in the fitting tecnically your fluxing the fitting too ????????

 

[Keefy]

if you flux the pipe only when you insert it in the fitting tecnically your fluxing the fitting too ????????

Of course but any excess flux will be pushed out of the fitting and not into the pipe.

 

[mutley racers]

Like this

 

[qualityplumbing]

Of course but any excess flux will be pushed out of the fitting and not into the pipe.

Depends what your soldering as well if central heating or hot and cold it can be flushed but if gas then apply little as poss and allso depends what flux you use ie aggressive or nonI which do u use

 

[Dannypipe]

I love the fact that we had a debate on this very simple topic than ran into several pages, so I started this poll on a seperate thread. We're now into page number 8 and counting!

It's a simple question, but it's one that every plumber will have an opinion on.

 

[Dannypipe]

Like thisView attachment 11834

Oh lovely!!

 

[qualityplumbing]

Mmmm thats deffinately over use of the flux brush and lazyness

 

[Keefy]

Like thisView attachment 11834

That'll be for the next poll:

Do You Clean Your Pipes?

• Yes
• No, I'm a meff.

 

[mutley racers]

I saw it today while at a mates house having lunch. Went searching for it. Wish I never. Also a concealed cistern which had no way of access. Sad hey

 

[dancinplumba]

That'll be for the next poll:

Do You Clean Your Pipes?

• Yes
• No, I'm a meff.

Then am sure I'm a meff will win keef

 

[qualityplumbing]

Most deffinately

 

[Dannypipe]

I saw it today while at a mates house having lunch. Went searching for it. Wish I never. Also a concealed cistern which had no way of access. Sad hey

Don't you love concealed cisterns with no access points? At least the original plumber was an optimist!!

 

[qualityplumbing]

Its amazing wat you find in peoples house I once found a flue on a room sealed boiler that was on an outside wall but the flue went vertical in to the loft then on a 45 down through the eaves and poped out didnt take a picture but wish I had there was no obstructions not sure why they didnt go straight out the wall strange

 

[Dannypipe]

I found one installation, where the customer had installed his own boiler, and luckilly not been able to get it to work.

He's used self tappers to screw the old flue to the new boiler (a Biasi boiler - nice).

Anyway I Riddor'd that one. Don't do that very often.

 

[Kyle87]

I switched to powerflow today. Been doing a bit of soldering outside on a portable workbench at a job as soldering in a cupboard was a night mare.
Anyway I found that being outside (which is very cold in the snow), laco was burning off before I even took the chill out of the pipe. Power flow on the other hand was my saving grace. Think ill keep the laco in the shed with the other rubbish I don't use!

 

[BuilderMCR]

Thinly with a brush on the pipe and fitting then give the pipe a bit of a twist in the fitting

 

[dick999]

"EVERFLUX" and steel wool and rub off anything that looks oxidised including my brains...And a good flux brush...Has anyone tried buying these brushes from shops they a total rip-off.

 

[carrpaul]

pipe only with a twist laco recomend bit in the fitting if it cant be twisted

 

[TerryH]

Cleaned pipe, flux on both and a twist,
I assume that makes me a pessimist. :bigcry::bigcry:

 

[Griffo]

On the pipe with the solder and twist as you insert to the joint as many have said, if your posh use a brush

 

[JCplumb]

All the soldering I did today - I just fluxed the pipe and no fittings fluxed at all. I was using yorkshire fittings though.
Not turned the water back on yet as finishing off tomorrow
Wish me luck!

 

[kay-jay]

All the soldering I did today - I just fluxed the pipe and no fittings fluxed at all. I was using yorkshire fittings though.
Not turned the water back on yet as finishing off tomorrow
Wish me luck!

All the soldering you did???? I ended up doing your job on my way home....
A day on site then a bath and shower on way home....cheers for the referral im knackered now

 

[JCplumb]

Hehe I was on day-rate yesterday on a refurb, back there this afternoon too, I just wouldn't of had time to do that other job, glad you sorted it mate

 

[markofled]

Just flux on pipe but both pipe and fitting need to be cleaned with abrasive strip then push in and twist.

 

[pmc]

back to basics, surely the point is to use a small paint brush, clean the pipe and fitting with wire wool, i use the wire brushes to clean the fittings then apply a little flux, and the important point is to not use too much solder and to move the flame, ive seem fittings burnt black by too powerful a flame and the plumber not moving it to help the solder run around fully, im also old school and dont like to see solder snots hanging from the fittings

 

[dancinplumba]

​Never Ever use wire wool

 

[pmc]

sorry mate but what planet are you from?

 

[TomLane]

The same one as me by the sounds of it!

Wire wool can break up & leave small pieces of the metal on the pipe causing problems with the solder taking properly!!

 

[dancinplumba]

sorry mate but what planet are you from?

Not yours clearly

 

[dancinplumba]

Small strands of wool get left in the joint, over time these corrode and you get leaks..........simples
Or have you too much experience ?

 

[pmc]

been using wirewool for more than 30years, never had any issues, but its nice to see you have, i check my pipe before i insert it into the fitting.

 

[dancinplumba]

Gosh, only 30 ? Nearly as many as me then

 

[mutley racers]

that is why I use Emery. No strands to go any where

 

[oily-rag]

I apply LACO with my finger.

 

[Keefy]

I apply LACO with my finger.

But where do you apply it?

 

[Mike Jackson]

been using wirewool for more than 30years, never had any issues, but its nice to see you have, i check my pipe before i insert it into the fitting.

You mean you have never noticed any issues. As well as the potential for leaving contaminants on the pipe if you use it near sanitary ware it can leave rust marks after a few hours.

 

[dancinplumba]

Different planet