Unsweating a soldered joint tight to ceiling!

[gassafe]

I often find on replacing a boiler I have to unsolder a joint far too close to the ceiling than makes me comfortable!! How do you guy say do it without setting fire to the house, I'm always worried the flame will catch something in the ceiling...

this is is an example, the 22mm flow pipe coupler, it was the only bit of 'fresh' pipe to get on... bathroom above etc!

 

[ShaunCorbs]

If that close leave and clean some new pipe further down to add my coupling in, as somtimes they can be a "&@@ to unsolder, aways don't play ball when you don't want to burn anything

 

[REDSAW]

i just cut and use compression.

how about one of these? Pipe-Master Soldering Tool from Arctic

 

[JCplumb]

Looks like you're half way there already with the tin pinned up.
I do it the same way, mixture of mats, wet rags/towels and bits of metal all pinned up, not had any fires, did have a smouldering joist one time though.

 

[Rickster123]

Water spray, heat mats, I always seal the gap around the pipe through the ceiling first too. Get the flame right. And always a fire extinguisher on hand!

 

[JCplumb]

i just cut and use compression.

how about one of these? Pipe-Master Soldering Tool from Arctic

Anyone used one of those? Looks handy if it's as good as it looks in the video.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Anyone used one of those? Looks handy if it's as good as it looks in the video.

There rubbish too big and take a bit of time to heat up and cool down

 

[townfanjon]

Yep It gets a bit hairy , I use a squirter / sprayer and just about soak everything through the hole before I even start , and the all the gear that JC above says ^^^

 

[newcastle phill]

Try a hot air gun ( some goto 600 degrees) or (as i have) a set of electric tongs with 15, 22 etc fittings - they really do work

 

[unguided1]

Leave water in the pipe!!!!!!!!

 

[newcastle phill]

Actualy just looked at that link - thise tongs are just like mine except mine are yellow.
Great for inside new expensive kitchen units etc

 

[newcastle phill]

Have to disagree with shaun. I cant speak for what he has used but heating up and cooling down times are just like a soldering iron. When mine are cooling i just pop them on a step or back in the van on a metal tool vault.
The benefits outweigh the disadvantage, but its not every day i use them but they are great when i do...

 

[REDSAW]

i learnt to tin solder at school using an iron, same thing old school

 

[newcastle phill]

Sorry for the rapid-fire replies. I think im on whatsapp lol....

 

[gassafe]

It's true they never un-sweat in the right place, always end up the joint about cracks off 1st just always pray it doesn't all come down & im left with an open end in the ceiling to have to get at!!!

 

[tamz]

Use some of this
[DLMURL="http://www.wickes.co.uk/LA-CO-Cool-Gel-Heat-Barrier/p/138024"]LA-CO Cool Gel Heat Barrier | Wickes.co.uk[/DLMURL]

 

[unguided1]

Use some of this
[DLMURL="http://www.wickes.co.uk/LA-CO-Cool-Gel-Heat-Barrier/p/138024"]LA-CO Cool Gel Heat Barrier | Wickes.co.uk[/DLMURL]

Looks like some sort of lubricant the ex war department would slap on her piles!

 

[Dotty]

Looks like some sort of lubricant the ex war department would slap on her piles!

I forgot how much I missed you!

 

[tamz]

Looks like some sort of lubricant the ex war department would slap on her piles!

More like wallpaper paste that doesn't burn...............now there's an idea

 

[unguided1]

I like the idea of flame and the ex war department not so sure about the retardant bit though, I think that was her pet name for me! I think!!!!

 

[Noxer]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/CO-947ml-Cool-Spray-Heat/dp/B00BU30Z1K

 

[Dogby]

I have a pair of the electric solder irons, I have used them in the past to pre heat the joint and if it won't release due to paint and water etc I then use the blow torch but it is used for a much shorter time and minimises any risk.

 

[gmartine]

At last I've found a use for my Rothy heat guard...

 

[gassafe]

At last I've found a use for my Rothy heat guard...

That ain't gonna help much, push the flames up into the ceiling more than anything lol

 

[newcastle phill]

Mine are arctic. Work very well and worth the 20 quid i paid !

 

[adonis]

How do those electric ones work in low temperatures? for instance a loft in winter.

 

[newcastle phill]

They get very hot indeed. I think they will cope fine. They hit about 500 degrees and can do 22mm easy