How do you apply your flux?

[Mike Jackson]

Why not just do it the way the copper development board recommend.

Flux the pipe only.

 

[Guest123]

Once my brush is fluxed I just buy a new one.

 

[Billy Bob Bob]

right board now flux this,flux that i want answers to more serious questions,who craps them selfs when sweating up in the eves :winkiss:

 

[Dannypipe]

Pipe and fitting is just one vote behind pipe only!! Ha!

Don't care what the copper board says any more Mike!!

 

[AWheating]

I was watching a young plumber yesterday. We get provided with powerflow flux on site (i prefer la-co)
Anyway this lad didn't flux pipe or fittings. He assembled all joints dry then brushed flux around the joints and then sweat them up.

Never seen or heard anyone doing it this way. He says its because the powerflow flux makes it difficult to assemble joints and twist them etc when the acid bites. I know what he means this is why i hate powerflow flux.

i remember a team of 3 engineers (if you can call them that) who used to do the same, and im going back about 13-14 years ago. They did have more leaks than most and there slodering was not very neat tbh, but they were rough.

im currently using roughly 60/40 laco to powerflow mix and its working well, i tried 60/40 powerflow to laco but it did start to bind more like you normally get with powerflow alone.

 

[Mike Jackson]

Is that because you only use plastic and flexis now then?

Too late posting, was replying to Danny,

 

[Dannypipe]

Is that because you only use plastic and flexis now then?

Too late posting, was replying to Danny,

Yeah mate, and push fit flexis' at that. None of this compression lark.

My tool kit has a plastic pipe cutter in it, and a fork for my pot noodles. And that's it.

 

[Keefy]

right board now flux this,flux that i want answers to more serious questions,who craps them selfs when sweating up in the eves :winkiss:

Had a hairy situation in my sisters loft while extending the OSV. It was clipped along a few roof spars which looked like rough sawn (really old house) and the splinters decided to suck the flame from my blowtorch and quickly began sharing it with their mates. I managed to pat out the flames with my solder mat but for a moment I honestly thought I'd have to dive head first out the loft hatch.

That was a heart pounding moment and since then I've always kept a mini fire extinguisher close by.

 

[Dale Greaves]

Pipe and twist, bush if I can find it in my tool bag

 

[TerryWaite]

Does anyone dip the pipe in the flux? Tell me no ones ever done it just once to be rebellious....

...oh and I would love to meet R.D. Treloar. Imagine being his apprentice, you would be doing boiler houses in a day by 2nd year! Legend!

 

[Keefy]

Does anyone dip the pipe in the flux? Tell me no ones ever done it just once to be rebellious....

...oh and I would love to meet R.D. Treloar. Imagine being his apprentice, you would be doing boiler houses in a day by 2nd year! Legend!

I recall someone saying he was a student of Treloar's, sure it was a member of this forum.

 

[Whyme]

I recall someone saying he was a student of Treloar's, sure it was a member of this forum.

Mike jackson..

 

[Dannypipe]

I am R.D. Treloar. Danny is my pseudonm.

 

[Dannypipe]

Oh and with 61 votes cast....pipe only versus pipe and fitting is dead even. Who'd have thunk it!?

 

[Howsie]

Pipe on its own mostly but when I know it's going to be a ******* both.

 

[Koogatubac]

Flux? Whats flux?

 

[WHPES]

I think it was the old Yorkshire Fittings guide which stated flux should be applied sparingly to both surfaces to be soldered, and that is what I have always followed. Otherwise if you get any surfaces the flux does not run onto you risk non-adhesion

 

[kay-jay]

I think it was the old Yorkshire Fittings guide which stated flux should be applied sparingly to both surfaces to be soldered, and that is what I have always followed. Otherwise if you get any surfaces the flux does not run onto you risk non-adhesion

I twist the pipe where possible.as this smears flux all around. Not too fussed really though as the flux runs around the joint when heated. Capillary attraction works on the molten flux just as it does on the solder

 

[WHPES]

Fine for the standard 15 and 22mm fittings but as they get larger it's more important

 

[Guest123]

Why not just do it the way the copper development board recommend.

Flux the pipe only.

Ah but Yorkshire recommend flux inside their fittings and on the pipe.

 

[Dannypipe]

Fittings and pipe is a vote ahead. No one is going to argue with stalwarts like WHEPES and System3 are they?

So all you fittings only lot, mend your ways!

 

[shaunsinky]

both, with a twist too, no wonder my install jobs take ages

 

[Keefy]

Fittings and pipe is a vote ahead. No one is going to argue with stalwarts like WHEPES and System3 are they?

So all you fittings only lot, mend your ways!

Get out of it, never had a soldered joint fail yet plus my flux lasts twice as long.

 

[Dannypipe]

You've not had a single joint fail you yet....ever, ever?

In the past 15 years or more, I've had one joint fail me (I can still remember the joint). Reducing tee, with a street elbow, and another elbow off of that. One part of the joint wouldn't take. Think I burnt the flux.

So I can't be doing much wrong my way. My tub of flux lasts me ages too.

I am considering going fitting only for gas work. I tend to use powerflow for gas now as it's less aggressive than Ever.

 

[Keefy]

You've not had a single joint fail you yet....ever, ever?

Never... ever. I've always used LA-CO too, tried Powerflow once and hated it.