Soldering Yorkshire fittings

[john Still]

Now I have been soldering fittings for a long time with a reasonable amount of success. However from time to time I still,have difficulties.

Should I use the very minimum amount of flux or should I add a generous amount ?

Should I heat up the fittings slowly or quickly ?

Should i put flux just on the inside of the fitting or should I also flux the outside of the pipe ?

Should I just heat the centre of the fitting, or should I move the heat around, applying direct heat the pipe as well ?

 

[Old Account]

Hello John,

It depends how you are used to it. Me personally I on,y use flux on pipework and use little amount of solder and get them nice and neat soldered. Nothing runs down the pipework neither I e got such huge silver / solder ring around the pipe. If you solder 15mm pipework medium size flame not too high and not too low it's difficult to explain.

It really depends on your skills I guess just find your own way of soldering.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

same amount as a light spread of butter on your butties

slowly

always flux the pipe

move the heat around the pipe if you can (if you cant get all to either side just slowly left and right the flame on the fitting)

 

[Best]

Yorkshire fittings are IMO more difficult to solder than end feed fittings. Unless that is you just heat them until solder ring begins to show, just as they are designed to.
Maybe you should try soldering with end feed, even just to learn with.
Try using very little heat until fitting solder begins to melt, then back off with the flame. Also consider continually dipping the end of solder wire in the flux, as this will add flux keeping joint clean and the melting wire solder gives indication of when the fitting is at correct temperature

 

[Best]

I was soldering some 15mm Yorkshire fittings today.
To be honest, I have rarely soldered lately and find it harder.
I think the secret is to keep the heat low and slow. These modern brazing torches and working on propane or Mapp gas are extremely powerful and IMO too strong if not used sparingly

 

[Last Plumber]

I agree MAPP Gas is too hot for soldering. A lot seem to use it though.

 

[Best]

I agree MAPP Gas is too hot for soldering. A lot seem to use it though.

I used to only use butane gas (yellow bottles) with the old style Calor blow lamps. It was more than enough heat to do up to 28mm joints. Leaded soldering mainly then.
Was definitely a little slower to get up to heat though and not so good on frozen or wet pipes.
When I started using my first Surefire torch, I thought it was inferior at first, until I learned to be careful with the heat. Then bought SF2

 

[ShaunCorbs]

i use sf2 and map on a very low flame ideal for pipes upto 2"

 

[Last Plumber]

I used to only use butane gas (yellow bottles) with the old style Calor blow lamps. It was more than enough heat to do up to 28mm joints. Leaded soldering mainly then.
Was definitely a little slower to get up to heat though and not so good on frozen or wet pipes.
When I started using my first Surefire torch, I thought it was inferior at first, until I learned to be careful with the heat. Then bought SF2

Same here. Used Butane years back but had trouble with it. Then it was Primus torch, remember those? Now SF2 abd the throw away bottles (propane)

 

[Last Plumber]

i use sf2 and map on a very low flame ideal for pipes upto 2"

On my big stuff I use big propane torch. Off a big bottle with hose. Sievert Make em.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

On my big stuff I use big propane torch. Off a big bottle with hose. Sievert Make em.

Yea have one of them somewhere in the lock up but find it a pita to heavy to carry up 4 plus flights of stairs

 

[Last Plumber]

Yea have one of them somewhere in the lock up but find it a pita to heavy to carry up 4 plus flights of stairs

More Spinach lad!

 

[ShaunCorbs]

More Spinach lad!

 

[king of pipes]

SF2 for me and the smallest nozzle they do never use mapp burns to hot,propane red bottles are plenty hot enough for 15 or 22mm, only ever flux the pipe light smear is all it needs heat low and slow till the solder ring runs , you are probably using to much heat Yorkshire fittings can spit when you heat them make sure either a tap or pipe is open to atmosphere. Cheers kop

 

[TMHM]

I Always clean both pipe and fittings thoroughly with wire wool, don’t use flux, but always use fluxed solder wire. Heat the solder fitting to start, then heat pipe until solder ring starts to appear at joint. Use solder wire to then give a good fillet around joint and to ensure solder flows properly. Very rarely get any problems.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

I Always clean both pipe and fittings thoroughly with wire wool, don’t use flux, but always use fluxed solder wire. Heat the solder fitting to start, then heat pipe until solder ring starts to appear at joint. Use solder wire to then give a good fillet around joint and to ensure solder flows properly. Very rarely get any problems.

Is the solder you use wras approved?

 

[TMHM]

Is the solder you use wras approved?

thats a very good Q, but as I am not in the trade, I am not particularly concerned

 

[ShaunCorbs]

thats a very good Q, but as I am not in the trade, I am not particularly concerned

Don't let the water board catch you

 

[TMHM]

Don't let the water board catch you

If they want to crawl under my floorboards whilst i am plumbing, they are welcome too .

as its lf solder, the chances are that it is suitable anyway

 

[ShaunCorbs]

If they want to crawl under my floorboards whilst i am plumbing, they are welcome too .

as its lf solder, the chances are that it is suitable anyway

Not always as some have lead in them

 

[TMHM]

Not always as some have lead in them

LF solder with lead in - thats a new one .

 

[ShaunCorbs]

LF solder with lead in - thats a new one .

If it's normal electrical solder will be leaded

 

[TMHM]

If it's normal electrical solder will be leaded

not true - most electronic stuff nowadays is LF unless used for some military applications

 

[ShaunCorbs]

not true - most electronic stuff nowadays is LF unless used for some military applications

So it is electronic solder your using, shouldn't be using it sorry to say

 

[TMHM]

So it is electronic solder your using, shouldn't be using it sorry to say

it is LF solder.

I dont think it says "for electronic use only"