FLUX in new system install - how to get rid

[Destroyer2813]

to melt a hole in the lid Jase

 

[jase158]

yeah read it again, bit of a stupid moment, lol:iamwithstupid:

 

[samh]

You warm up a bit of copper with your blow torch get the piece of plastic you want a hole in and push it through. Some do it on CWSCs but this isn't advisable as it does weaken the molecular structure of the plastic and cause it (in worst case scenario) to split. Also you have to then file off all the plastic that was pushed through and get it out. Best to just use one of those drill bits (The name has just slipped out my head, it'll come to me later, everyone will know what I mean) that has a guide bit then a circle bit with sharp teeth to cut a perfect hole in it 🙂

 

[jase158]

And what is the best brush to use? Most cheap brushes fall apart.

 

[Halesowen1]

except me....

Warm up copper? whats that all about?

Makes a nice neat round hole and with no drill swarf in the flux. We are on about the same thing here?? putting a hole in the lid of your flux tub.

 

[Guest123]

And what is the best brush to use? Most cheap brushes fall apart.

Laco has one built in. Try a piece off a sponge, that works too.

 

[tamz]

Well i use my finger. Have done for near 40 years and its still there.
Hate using brushes as it slaps too much on and i ain't got the time to play at being Picasso.

 

[jase158]

Laco has one built in. Try a piece off a sponge, that works too.

My last tub of La co didnt have one? but it did come from screw fix.

 

[Halesowen1]

I get Rothengerger brushes from city plumbing, but as long as you dont do what i do( put some more flux to a soldered joint, to make the solder run again) they will last a while, the best ones are the ones with no metal holding the brush hair on as these rot away.

 

[samh]

Well i use my finger. Have done for near 40 years and its still there.
Hate using brushes as it slaps too much on and i ain't got the time to play at being Picasso.

College used to go mad at me for using my finger, didn't do it again after picking up the stuff that cleans the pipe and fitting itself!

 

[Guest123]

My last tub of La co didnt have one? but it did come from screw fix.

The big tubs dont have one but the smaller standard ones should have one. I got mine from Screw Fix too but that was last year.

 

[Halesowen1]

Well i use my finger. Have done for near 40 years and its still there.
Hate using brushes as it slaps too much on and i ain't got the time to play at being Picasso.

You dont do much 8 or 10mm work then?
A mate I know uses his pinky too, must admit I much prefer a nice fine flux brush.

 

[kirkgas]

I would say thats what we all do, I warm up a bit of copper pipe though, saves getting bits from the drill in the flux.

in this day and age you need to do a risk assessment before you do this in case the heat causes toxic fumes, you also need a hot work permit to heat the pipe with a blow lamp

 

[jase158]

I get Rothengerger brushes from city plumbing, but as long as you dont do what i do( put some more flux to a soldered joint, to make the solder run again) they will last a while, the best ones are the ones with no metal holding the brush hair on as these rot away.

so something like this, but without the metal?

 

[AWheating]

as an apprentice i copied the guy i worked with and used my finger to apply powerflow. After a few weeks the skin on my finger/s started to peel off. i now use my solder, only use a brush on 28-42mm.

 

[tamz]

You dont do much 8 or 10mm work then?
A mate I know uses his pinky too, must admit I much prefer a nice fine flux brush.

Just smear it around the pipe. No need to do the fitting. Brushes are just not my thing.
Painting flux on a joint while doing it or to cool it does my nut in. I once sacked a guy for that.

 

[Halesowen1]

so something like this, but without the metal?
View attachment 4460

The ones I use are all plastic so no rotting away.

 

[Halesowen1]

in this day and age you need to do a risk assessment before you do this in case the heat causes toxic fumes, you also need a hot work permit to heat the pipe with a blow lamp

You also need to do a risk assessment when you get your drill out to drill the lid, I hope you are also putting your goggles on too when drilling the lid.
Does soldering using the flux cause toxic fumes too and does it also need a hot work permit??

 

[kirkgas]

You also need to do a risk assessment when you get your drill out to drill the lid, I hope you are also putting your goggles on too when drilling the lid.
Does soldering using the flux cause toxic fumes too and does it also need a hot work permit??

see you are learning the rules,
risk assessment on drilling the lid is: use hand drill as it is safer, goggles AND gloves, a vice to hold the lid (i know risk assessment on the heavy vice)
read safety list for flux and it says suitable to use on copper pipe for soldering, so no risk assessment required as it is fit for purpose, its heating the lid that is risky as we dont know the type of plastic the lid is made of, and again safety first, do all soldering outside and take pipework sections back in and fit with compression fittings (no joke this appeared in an amendment to the EAGA contract when a couples house got burned to the ground when getting their new free heating)

 

[AWheating]

im bloody fed up of hot work permits, i soldered 3 fittings inside a house today. took me a few mins, it took me 20mins to get the hot works signed off. 🙁