Acid core solder?!?!?

[spitter]

It's nice to hear about people sweating pipes . Everyone here wants to use pex. Any one who does copper uses the pro press. We have plumbers that work for us that can't even sweat pipe !!:confused2: When they need to have something sweated the boss says just call spitter. When I get there I said you call your self a plumber :laughing: They said your just showing your age. I watched same two guys using the chain cutter trying to spin it around cast iron sewer pipe like a tube cutter .:laughing::laughing::laughing::drink:

 

[Larry Caldwell]

Isn't the flux paste what's in acid core?

What is the "Flux" paste?
What is the "Acid" in acid core?

You can buy cans of powdered flux or bottles of liquid flux. Typically a separate flux is used for brazing, but some is suitable for solder. You just heat the wire a bit and dip it into the flux. Acid core is great for galvanized metal, because the acid opens the pores on the galv coating and lets the solder thoroughly wet the joint. It will also clean a little schmoo off the surface. Most paste fluxes will contain some chlorides as wetting agents. Paste fluxes will use acids like sulfuric acid, but not as much as you might think. If you are soldering gutters, rain will wash the acid away. There are protective organic fluxes that are better for electronics.

 

[kenmac]

With the aluminum gutters used today. I know of no one using galvanized gutters, where the joints need to be soldered

 

[Tractor Seabee]

It's nice to hear about people sweating pipes . Everyone here wants to use pex. Any one who does copper uses the pro press. We have plumbers that work for us that can't even sweat pipe !!:confused2: When they need to have something sweated the boss says just call spitter. When I get there I said you call your self a plumber :laughing: They said your just showing your age. I watched same two guys using the chain cutter trying to spin it around cast iron sewer pipe like a tube cutter .:laughing::laughing::laughing::drink:

Times change, technology marches on. Sometimes I wonder though about some of this new stuff. Seems some of it is designed to fail so a new sale can be made. Copper is a lifetime system unless you have acidic water or designed turbulence into it. I learn of PEX failures from time to time mostly at fittings. In my pipefitting days I never had a solder, braze, or welded joint leak; had plenty of threaded ones leak on first test. I have kept up my skills pretty well now into my 80s. Copper system I will use copper. As I cannot crawl under houses anymore I just added a PEX line from sink supply through some cabinets for an icemaker using "SharkBite". See how that goes, first test is tight.

Ron

 

[Tractor Seabee]

With the aluminum gutters used today. I know of no one using galvanized gutters, where the joints need to be soldered

That is why I keep fixing those gooped up joints. It is an annual affair. Cannot work off a ladder anymore or I would mechanically fasten those joints. Guys I pay to add more goop haven't a clue how to fix right. Aluminum has a big coefficient of expansion so they keep moving around. Never seen a Galv job fail the joints after riveting and soldering.

Ron

 

[Industrial Toys]

I love sweating pipes. I built this solar hot water heater for my hot tub a while ago. It worked but was a total waste of time in this location and climate.