Laco

[ShaunCorbs]

I’ve started noticing once cleaned and fluxed after 3-5 mins you won’t be able to solder (solder won’t draw into the fitting) dissembling reveals the pipe and fitting are black eg like they haven’t been cleaned

Anyone come across this before?

 

[Last Plumber]

Do your hands go green when your on a big job?

 

[Last Plumber]

I have noticed that laco is no good unless you solder straight away Shaun, yes.
I still use it though. I just work quick with it.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Do your hands go green when your on a big job?

No as I’m always wiping anything off (have a wet cloth handy)

And I can remember collage days leaving it a good 20-30 mins before doing a mass soldering and it not being a problem

 

[Last Plumber]

No as I’m always wiping anything off (have a wet cloth handy)

And I can remember collage days leaving it a good 20-30 mins before doing a mass soldering and it not being a problem

Maybe they change the recipe.

We always used to use powerflow and before that fluxite. Great days!

What you using to clean the copper?

 

[Last Plumber]

Just noticed you're a staff member as well as a something mod. Does that mean you're getting paid to be here now Shaun?

 

[EvilDrPorkChop]

Not had a problem with Laco here. Same as it's always been to me.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Maybe they change the recipe.

We always used to use powerflow and before that fluxite. Great days!

What you using to clean the copper?

Yea was tought on power flow but found it gritty used to stick the fittings together so moved when I went to collage to Laco as it’s what they used and stuck with it

Sotch brite and the blue fitting cleaners

With kindness and the odd hobnob

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Not had a problem with Laco here. Same as it's always been to me.

Do you leave it before you solder / dip the solder in the flux ?

 

[EvilDrPorkChop]

Do you leave it before you solder / dip the solder in the flux ?

No I generally flux and solder up straight away, or at least within a couple of mins. Don't dip the solder. I do clean with wire wool before fluxing though, even on new pipe.

I had found some solder weren't running as good, but seem to be on a OK batch at the minute.

 

[Stanios]

Laco gives off quite a bit of fumes, I've switched to everflux recently, gentler on skin and lungs

 

[king of pipes]

Everflux is my go to product seen pin holed copper pipe soldered with Laco so put me off it years ago to messy to work with aswell . Kop

 

[EvilDrPorkChop]

Thought that was the main thing with Laco, it isn't corrosive and PH neutral like some others like PowerFlux. Hence why it's approved for use on Gas. I know i've never had an issue with it, and my Dad's been using it since the 1980s!

 

[ShaunCorbs]

The very old Laco was very bad nearly just pure acid that stuff if not flushed used to eat through copper for fun

Just got a tin of fluxrite to try

 

[king of pipes]

Thought that was the main thing with Laco, it isn't corrosive and PH neutral like some others like PowerFlux. Hence why it's approved for use on Gas. I know i've never had an issue with it, and my Dad's been using it since the 1980s

Thought that was the main thing with Laco, it isn't corrosive and PH neutral like some others like PowerFlux. Hence why it's approved for use on Gas. I know i've never had an issue with it, and my Dad's been using it since the 1980s!

More a problem with excessive use in the fitting and the pipe also jobs that take along time some projects take a year or more before to filling flushing and testng out ,I had to repipe a whole hospital bungalow once 40 rads, Basins, showers, Hot - cold supplies cleaners cupboards 100 of meters of pipe took 2 of us 2 months to complete using crimp . Kop

 

[Scott_D]

I prefer everflux but sometimes get given laco when im subbing.

These brushes are much better then the wodden ones i find

 

[Ric2013]

You've just reminded me why I get on better with Fluxite. Yes, Laco goes green etc etc. Having said that, I don't usually use Laco and bought my latest tub of it nearly 20 years ago, so 1 it's old (though seems unaffected) and 2 if they've changed the formula I don't know.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Just to let you know did a test with Laco vs fluxrite overnight Laco went black / dark grey (had to re clean and new flux) fluxrite was still like new / the night before and soldered straight away normally

 

[Scott_D]

How does the solder flow with it?

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Didn’t notice anything different than Laco, had a different smell to Laco and a brown colour but other than nothing being self cleaning working with it is the same

 

[Ric2013]

If there's a tiny amount of water in the pipe, sometimes Fluxite will let you get away with it. Harder to clean off: a wet rag isn't effective if the pipe is cold. Probably doesn't flush out very easily.