Soldered Joints Rough / Grainy Finish at top of Joint (Lead free Solder & Mapp)

[Roy_66]

Would a pic help of flame set up ?

Yup good idea. Will do.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Just got back to the office and the pics open now

That’s defo the solder

Change the solder you should be golden

 

[ShaunCorbs]

About this

 

[Harvest Fields]

About this

View attachment 37796

Nice and blue that mate

 

[Roy_66]

OK I think I'm now sorted many thanks everyone

All following with Laco flux. Pics are all Hi-Res.

First tried turning Superfire2 (Mapp) right down to point it is tricky to relight (and hardly any bright blue flame). Took a long time to heat the joint, and ended up with blueing(?) under the joint, and poor solder finish again:

Photo by Roy_6666

. . . Torch also getting hot (not melting though like the large turbine tip).

Also tried Propane/Butane mix on nice low setting, but again poor joint finish with non-leaded solder.

So switched to Lead and with the Superfire2 (small jet/tip) on a low setting, but some bright blue, and at a level that it will relight ok:

Photo by Roy_6666

Finally got a good result.

In following picture the Leaded one is at the bottom of the picture. Please ignore the right hand side joint on the fitting because I went back and dabbed on a bit more solder there out of interest (Compare all the left hand joints)

Photo by Roy_6666

So, many thanks I think I'm now "good to go" on my project next week, and got enough Lead left to do that, and a few more practice joints.

In future if I try non-leaded again at some point where would you recommend I buy from please. Similarly if I need more lead what would you recommend.

Many thanks,

Roy

P.S. I'd like to post my project separately, but any chance of being able to add the pictures properly in-line now. Is there someone I can ask for that now.

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Needs to be unleaded if it’s beung used on water

 

[ShaunCorbs]

You should see upload a file by the post reply button

 

[Roy_66]

Needs to be unleaded if it’s beung used on water

My first project (for a good few years) is the feed to the downstairs loo, so I hope I'd be forgiven for using lead one last time, also the rest of the 1995 house is I guess done with lead (Although I'm sure using lead anywhere on the cold system is strictly still against the regs for anyone confused).

However I do want to move on to sinks so thats why I was having a go with lead free. I'll try to get to screwfix on Saturday and get some Fernox lead free solder if that sounds ok.

Thanks,

Roy

 

[ShaunCorbs]

Needs to be unleaded on mains water

 

[Harvest Fields]

As far as I’m aware mate. You haven’t been able to use leaded solder on any pipework connected to your drinking water since the mid 1980’s you should not be using that on pipework in you house apart from heating or gas pipework.