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Posted by RayV on October 23, 2007, 7:24 pm
On Oct 23, 12:13 pm, es...@surfbest.net wrote:
> I'm redoing my shower, all 1/2" copper pipes. I've done two couplers,
> 1 elbow, and 3 threaded connectors... and they all went fine. Just
> one other elbow had a small leak. I tried at least 10 times last
> night and continue to have leaks. Maybe I just need to try again
> tonight with a fresh mind, but...
>
> One problem I've got now is that the two ends going in to the elbow
> have solder on them. I've sanded them until smooth (they are still
> solder color, but smooth, is that okay?) and used a new elbow, and did
> that a couple times last night, but still no go. Is it okay to sand
> off the old solder and keep trying this way, or do I really need to
> start with all new pipe? It is easy to keep using new elbows, I've
> got plenty to spare... but I can't really cut back the pipe, not
> without adding yet another fitting (another coupler) which just seems
> like even more work, and eventually I'll have it cut back to the slab
> and not be able to continue.
>
> The elbow fits well, nice and tight, just like all the others I did,
> so I have no idea why this one connection is giving me so much
> trouble. I did only do one other elbow though, so maybe I just got
> lucky on that elbow. Is there anything special you need to do when
> doing elbows? I've tried doing one end at a time, and also tried
> heating in the middle of the elbow and running the solder around both
> ends, one right after the other (while still hot, so they both cool/
> harden at the same time).
>
> I've read a lot about soldering... but, how long do you need to wait
> before testing? The pipe seems to cool pretty fast, so I've been
> testing within 2 to 5 minutes, is that not long enough? I kind of
> wish I could find an elbow with about 6" of pipe on each end, so I
> wouldn't have to worry about messing up one end while working on the
> other.
I had a similar problem a few years back and I was finally able to get
the joint to solder after I bought a new can of flux. Maybe the flux
went bad or something settled in the can from the heat in the shed but
new flux fixed it for me. YMMV
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Posted by coffee on October 23, 2007, 8:00 pm
On Tue, 23 Oct 2007 09:13:59 -0700, eselk wrote:
> I'm redoing my shower, all 1/2" copper pipes. I've done two couplers, 1
> elbow, and 3 threaded connectors... and they all went fine. Just one
> other elbow had a small leak. I tried at least 10 times last night and
> continue to have leaks. Maybe I just need to try again tonight with a
> fresh mind, but...
>
> One problem I've got now is that the two ends going in to the elbow have
> solder on them. I've sanded them until smooth (they are still solder
> color, but smooth, is that okay?) and used a new elbow, and did that a
> couple times last night, but still no go. Is it okay to sand off the old
> solder and keep trying this way, or do I really need to start with all new
> pipe? It is easy to keep using new elbows, I've got plenty to spare...
> but I can't really cut back the pipe, not without adding yet another
> fitting (another coupler) which just seems like even more work, and
> eventually I'll have it cut back to the slab and not be able to continue.
>
> The elbow fits well, nice and tight, just like all the others I did, so I
> have no idea why this one connection is giving me so much trouble. I did
> only do one other elbow though, so maybe I just got lucky on that elbow.
> Is there anything special you need to do when doing elbows? I've tried
> doing one end at a time, and also tried heating in the middle of the elbow
> and running the solder around both ends, one right after the other (while
> still hot, so they both cool/ harden at the same time).
>
> I've read a lot about soldering... but, how long do you need to wait
> before testing? The pipe seems to cool pretty fast, so I've been testing
> within 2 to 5 minutes, is that not long enough? I kind of wish I could
> find an elbow with about 6" of pipe on each end, so I wouldn't have to
> worry about messing up one end while working on the other.
eselk,
Take a file to the pipe to get the rest of the solder off or reheat it and
use a soldier wick to suck it off. You can get wicks in HD or somewhere
similar. A round file worked without alot of pressure should be fine also.
Most leaks are caused by the copper pipe not being hot enough when you
apply the solder. Otherwise not enough flux. Make sure you clean the ends
with sandpaper before applying any flux or solder.
Good luck,
--
coffee
Linux Registered User #449534
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Posted by Don Young on October 23, 2007, 10:15 pm
> I'm redoing my shower, all 1/2" copper pipes. I've done two couplers,
> 1 elbow, and 3 threaded connectors... and they all went fine. Just
> one other elbow had a small leak. I tried at least 10 times last
> night and continue to have leaks. Maybe I just need to try again
> tonight with a fresh mind, but...
>
> One problem I've got now is that the two ends going in to the elbow
> have solder on them. I've sanded them until smooth (they are still
> solder color, but smooth, is that okay?) and used a new elbow, and did
> that a couple times last night, but still no go. Is it okay to sand
> off the old solder and keep trying this way, or do I really need to
> start with all new pipe? It is easy to keep using new elbows, I've
> got plenty to spare... but I can't really cut back the pipe, not
> without adding yet another fitting (another coupler) which just seems
> like even more work, and eventually I'll have it cut back to the slab
> and not be able to continue.
>
> The elbow fits well, nice and tight, just like all the others I did,
> so I have no idea why this one connection is giving me so much
> trouble. I did only do one other elbow though, so maybe I just got
> lucky on that elbow. Is there anything special you need to do when
> doing elbows? I've tried doing one end at a time, and also tried
> heating in the middle of the elbow and running the solder around both
> ends, one right after the other (while still hot, so they both cool/
> harden at the same time).
>
> I've read a lot about soldering... but, how long do you need to wait
> before testing? The pipe seems to cool pretty fast, so I've been
> testing within 2 to 5 minutes, is that not long enough? I kind of
> wish I could find an elbow with about 6" of pipe on each end, so I
> wouldn't have to worry about messing up one end while working on the
> other.
>
If the fit-up is too tight, solder can not flow properly into the joint.
This can be a problem is the pipe is slightly oval or has a bent place.
Don Young
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Posted by on October 24, 2007, 11:26 am
>
>
>
>
> > I'm redoing my shower, all 1/2" copper pipes. I've done two couplers,
> > 1 elbow, and 3 threaded connectors... and they all went fine. Just
> > one other elbow had a small leak. I tried at least 10 times last
> > night and continue to have leaks. Maybe I just need to try again
> > tonight with a fresh mind, but...
.. snip...
>
>
> If the fit-up is too tight, solder can not flow properly into the joint.
> This can be a problem is the pipe is slightly oval or has a bent place.
>
Thanks to all who replied. I got it last night! Yeah!
I wish I could say for sure what the problem was, but I ended up doing
pretty much everything that was recommended in one shot, so not sure
what really helped the most. I think part of the problem, and why I
had to try so many times, was that after it was leaking the first
time, I was probably trying to hard on all of the next attempts
assuming that something was wrong. In the end, I just said to myself,
"The other fittings went on fine, so stop trying so hard and just give
it one more shot, just pretend it is the first time your doing this
one, and that it was never leaking."... I just went back to basics,
and didn't try too hard, and it worked. Plus I opened the faucet,
used sand paper, bread, and several other tips as well, so was
probably a combination of everything.
Thanks again!
p.s.-Could have been the fishing gods helping me out as well, because
of the 1 day delay, it could time out that I'll be waiting for
waterproofer to dry on Saturday instead of Friday, so maybe I'll get
to go fishing after all =]
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Posted by Stormin Mormon on October 24, 2007, 5:10 pm
We never doubted you. You're a fine plumber. Be sure to charge enough,
you're worth it.
--
Christopher A. Young
.
.
Thanks to all who replied. I got it last night! Yeah!
I wish I could say for sure what the problem was, but I ended up doing
pretty much everything that was recommended in one shot, so not sure
what really helped the most. I think part of the problem, and why I
had to try so many times, was that after it was leaking the first
time, I was probably trying to hard on all of the next attempts
assuming that something was wrong. In the end, I just said to myself,
"The other fittings went on fine, so stop trying so hard and just give
it one more shot, just pretend it is the first time your doing this
one, and that it was never leaking."... I just went back to basics,
and didn't try too hard, and it worked. Plus I opened the faucet,
used sand paper, bread, and several other tips as well, so was
probably a combination of everything.
Thanks again!
p.s.-Could have been the fishing gods helping me out as well, because
of the 1 day delay, it could time out that I'll be waiting for
waterproofer to dry on Saturday instead of Friday, so maybe I'll get
to go fishing after all =]
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Page 6 of 7 < 1 2 3 > last >>
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