Heat mat recomendations!

[gassafe]

Can anyone recommend a decent heat mat... my last one from the suppliers was literally paper thin, after soldering a joint you can literally poke your finger thru its brittle crumbly material =[ ... that was a waste of £8 quid, its always annoying having a burn on the wall also after using your new mat also !!!

Whats everyone else using? I got some Heat gel spray in the van, but i worry if it squirts on the fitting the solder wont flow...

 

[stevetheplumber]

The thick woven ones are the best agree the skinny ones are a waste of money

 

[SimonJohns]

Good old bit of asbestos. Just dont snap it

 

[GasmanxxxR1]

Ive used the heat gel in a thatched roof property when i had to solder right on a rafter. I was worried that the gel would effect the solder but it didnt, it was alright, so might be worth a try next time

 

[mikegas]

i bought this one today from plumb cen not used it yet, 16 quid, bit of a rip off but the only one they had

 

[SimonG]

I have a bit of sheet metal I use, sick of burning out the mats.

 

[villa_tom]

That burn barrier is what I had untill I had the van robbed. Great bit of kit. I didn't know it was that much as I got it when I used to be on the books at a firm.

 

[dontknowitall]

I've one of those and it's well past it now - thanks for that though because I couldn't remember where I bought it. Thin ones are good when these thick ones can't get behind the pipes. Must admit, I've done a fair amount of soldering recently without using a heat mat.

 

[andyplumber]

i use the burn barriers heat mats they cost around £12, but they last a long time.

 

[Phil]

I'm with you simonG, I use my metal dust pan from the van, nothing beats it.

Great when soldering under a bath and if you cant wedge it in, then use a bit of duct tape.

 

[jackyp1234]

asbestos

 

[AWheating]

the trouble ive found is most plumbers now use a powertorch which kicks out a huge amount of heat and has a 5inch flame, which means most heat mats dont last very long, they lasted alot longer with the old primus type small nozzled torches.

 

[Guest123]

Cut up an old metal oven baking tray into various shapes and sizes. Heat resistant and absolutely fire proof! Because it's metal, it deflects the heat and keeps the heat on the job.

I always carry a small 10 quid fire extinguisher from Asda too, the type you get for a car. Keeps the insurance guys happy.

 

[quality]

Cut up an old metal oven baking tray into various shapes and sizes. Heat resistant and absolutely fire proof! Because it's metal, it deflects the heat and keeps the heat on the job.

I always carry a small 10 quid fire extinguisher from Asda too, the type you get for a car. Keeps the insurance guys happy.

I make do with a few odd pieces of 14 gauge plate steel , same theory and it works though

 

[Resolute]

I've used cement backer board before, seemed to work ok but I wouldn't want to use it for a long amount of time.

 

[Gray0689]

Monument heat mat

 

[AWheating]

Cut up an old metal oven baking tray into various shapes and sizes. Heat resistant and absolutely fire proof! Because it's metal, it deflects the heat and keeps the heat on the job.

I always carry a small 10 quid fire extinguisher from Asda too, the type you get for a car. Keeps the insurance guys happy.

make sure you read the small print in your insurance policy, some do specify a certain size fire extinguisher. My old company had to get rid of thoses little one and make us all carry a slightly larger one due to insurance policy.

 

[kimbo]

I use small sheet of aluminium great, you can bend it easily with your hand for all sorts of areas. I use the sort that you can get from the merchants I think it is used for gas fires or flue shields.

 

[anz]

Closure Plate?

 

[kimbo]

Yes thats it anz a closure plate make lots of heatshields.

 

[gassafe]

Thanks for the recommendations and sharing your ideas... I like the metal idea, i think i will try cutting up some different bits of metal and see what works best. The price of a good heat mat these days is scary.

 

[leelister6]

I've got some bits of 16 gauge sheet metal cut to different shapes and sizes........... Experience (and big F.O. blisters) has taught me to use pliers to remove the metal after soldering!

 

[manic26]

Closure Plate?

Shame I decommissioed a couple of fires and didn't get one for myself one. Next time....

 

[Keefy]

I like the Monument mat with the hole and split in which you can fold round the pipe. I also recently acquired this 8ft length of Sil Tech fireproof board which should last a while.



Sil Tech

 

[tackleburger]

i use the burn barriers heat mats they cost around £12, but they last a long time.

That's because you never went to plumb centre MR Topless