How do you apply your flux?

[Dannypipe]

Laco.

That's it. I've heard enough. I hate that stuff. Bloody awful flux.

I've tried it. Then gave the tub away twice. I have no idea why it's popular on here. Most blokes I've worked with have reckoned it's crap too.

Burns too easily if you use Mapp and you're sweating 35mm+. Larger fittings need a bit of heat in the fitting, Laco starts to turn black before the solder runs properly. I hate that brand big time!

 

[Keefy]

Laco.

That's it. I've heard enough. I hate that stuff. Bloody awful flux.

I've tried it. Then gave the tub away twice. I have no idea why it's popular on here. Most blokes I've worked with have reckoned it's crap too.

Burns too easily if you use Mapp and you're sweating 35mm+. Larger fittings need a bit of heat in the fitting, Laco starts to turn black before the solder runs properly. I hate that brand big time!

I found the Powerflow turned black that was the main reason I decided I couldn't be bothered with it. I only ever use propane too as MAPP is way too hot, I rarely ever work on anything bigger than 28mm. Never experienced the LA-CO go black either, maybe it does that if you use MAPP???

 

[Dannypipe]

Maybe. Laco is very popular on here.

I've been using nothing but Mapp for years now. I can't remember when I swapped over from propane, but it must be +10 years.

If I use propane (pick up one of my lads torches) it does my head in. Takes too long to heat the joint! I know it's just seconds difference, but I guess it's what you know.

I've also burnt powerflow. Maybe it's time I bought a can of propane!!

EverFlux is bloody great. You'd have to be a fool to burn it. It will clean up oxidised copped no problem, and it lasts ages. However it does eat your skin. Which makes you wonder. What is it doing to my lungs as I inhale the fumes?

 

[Mike Jackson]

I find that the fumes from powerflow are a lot worse than those from everflux.

 

[Gray0689]

I find that the fumes from powerflow are a lot worse than those from everflux.

I'm the opposite ever flux is wicked stuff

 

[dancinplumba]

I'm the opposite ever flux is wicked stuff

morning mr gray 🙂

 

[R1CKY]

I tried just fluxing just the pipe off the back of this thread and didn't like it. Pipe and fittings for me, small amount on each, gently heat and apply solder from the back/underneath the fitting and it leaves a nice neat ring of solder. Let the solder set and wipe with a damp cloth.

We all have our own methods and we'll all most likely never change them!

 

[Gray0689]

morning mr gray 🙂

Good morning dancin
No rest for the wicked lol

 

[iiplumbing]

Hmmm, reply to the original question.

Its a pity that the flux manufacturers dont put a small brush connected to the underside of the lid of the flux tub anymore, isnt it?

I use an old toothbrush that I keep in my tool box and use that

Or I use my flat end screwdriver

Or I use my finger (btw my fingers always go green when I am handling copper pipe with or without touching the flux!!!!)

www.iiplumbing-services-derby.co.uk

 

[deadstare]

belt and braces flux both

 

[Solderman]

With a matchtail jus to the fitting

 

[bill9005]

Both on hot, cold and heating. only fittings on gas....just one of those things

 

[pipefitter]

Only use everflux ..15mm-42mm only ever flux pipe ..always use a brush ..very rarely get a leak & always looks neat ;-)

 

[qualityplumbing]

if you flux the pipe only when you insert it in the fitting tecnically your fluxing the fitting too ????????

 

[Keefy]

if you flux the pipe only when you insert it in the fitting tecnically your fluxing the fitting too ????????

Of course but any excess flux will be pushed out of the fitting and not into the pipe.

 

[mutley racers]

Like this

 

[qualityplumbing]

Of course but any excess flux will be pushed out of the fitting and not into the pipe.

Depends what your soldering as well if central heating or hot and cold it can be flushed but if gas then apply little as poss and allso depends what flux you use ie aggressive or nonI which do u use

 

[Dannypipe]

I love the fact that we had a debate on this very simple topic than ran into several pages, so I started this poll on a seperate thread. We're now into page number 8 and counting!

It's a simple question, but it's one that every plumber will have an opinion on.

 

[Dannypipe]

Like thisView attachment 11834

Oh lovely!!

 

[qualityplumbing]

Mmmm thats deffinately over use of the flux brush and lazyness

 

[Keefy]

Like thisView attachment 11834

That'll be for the next poll:

Do You Clean Your Pipes?

• Yes
• No, I'm a meff.

 

[mutley racers]

I saw it today while at a mates house having lunch. Went searching for it. Wish I never. Also a concealed cistern which had no way of access. Sad hey

 

[dancinplumba]

That'll be for the next poll:

Do You Clean Your Pipes?

• Yes
• No, I'm a meff.

Then am sure I'm a meff will win keef 🙂

 

[qualityplumbing]

Most deffinately

 

[Dannypipe]

I saw it today while at a mates house having lunch. Went searching for it. Wish I never. Also a concealed cistern which had no way of access. Sad hey

Don't you love concealed cisterns with no access points? At least the original plumber was an optimist!!

 

[qualityplumbing]

Its amazing wat you find in peoples house I once found a flue on a room sealed boiler that was on an outside wall but the flue went vertical in to the loft then on a 45 down through the eaves and poped out didnt take a picture but wish I had there was no obstructions not sure why they didnt go straight out the wall strange

 

[Dannypipe]

I found one installation, where the customer had installed his own boiler, and luckilly not been able to get it to work.

He's used self tappers to screw the old flue to the new boiler (a Biasi boiler - nice).

Anyway I Riddor'd that one. Don't do that very often.

 

[Kyle87]

I switched to powerflow today. Been doing a bit of soldering outside on a portable workbench at a job as soldering in a cupboard was a night mare.
Anyway I found that being outside (which is very cold in the snow), laco was burning off before I even took the chill out of the pipe. Power flow on the other hand was my saving grace. Think ill keep the laco in the shed with the other rubbish I don't use!

 

[BuilderMCR]

Thinly with a brush on the pipe and fitting then give the pipe a bit of a twist in the fitting

 

[dick999]

"EVERFLUX" and steel wool and rub off anything that looks oxidised including my brains...And a good flux brush...Has anyone tried buying these brushes from shops they a total rip-off.

 

[carrpaul]

pipe only with a twist laco recomend bit in the fitting if it cant be twisted

 

[TerryH]

Cleaned pipe, flux on both and a twist,
I assume that makes me a pessimist. :bigcry::bigcry:

 

[Griffo]

On the pipe with the solder and twist as you insert to the joint as many have said, if your posh use a brush 🙂

 

[JCplumb]

All the soldering I did today - I just fluxed the pipe and no fittings fluxed at all. I was using yorkshire fittings though.
Not turned the water back on yet as finishing off tomorrow 🙂
Wish me luck!

 

[kay-jay]

All the soldering I did today - I just fluxed the pipe and no fittings fluxed at all. I was using yorkshire fittings though.
Not turned the water back on yet as finishing off tomorrow 🙂
Wish me luck!

All the soldering you did???? I ended up doing your job on my way home....
A day on site then a bath and shower on way home😱....cheers for the referral im knackered now🙂

 

[JCplumb]

Hehe I was on day-rate yesterday on a refurb, back there this afternoon too, I just wouldn't of had time to do that other job, glad you sorted it mate 😉

 

[markofled]

Just flux on pipe but both pipe and fitting need to be cleaned with abrasive strip then push in and twist.

 

[pmc]

back to basics, surely the point is to use a small paint brush, clean the pipe and fitting with wire wool, i use the wire brushes to clean the fittings then apply a little flux, and the important point is to not use too much solder and to move the flame, ive seem fittings burnt black by too powerful a flame and the plumber not moving it to help the solder run around fully, im also old school and dont like to see solder snots hanging from the fittings

 

[dancinplumba]

​Never Ever use wire wool

 

[pmc]

sorry mate but what planet are you from?

 

[TomLane]

The same one as me by the sounds of it!

Wire wool can break up & leave small pieces of the metal on the pipe causing problems with the solder taking properly!!

 

[dancinplumba]

sorry mate but what planet are you from?

Not yours clearly 🙂

 

[dancinplumba]

Small strands of wool get left in the joint, over time these corrode and you get leaks..........simples 🙂
Or have you too much experience ?

 

[pmc]

been using wirewool for more than 30years, never had any issues, but its nice to see you have, i check my pipe before i insert it into the fitting.

 

[dancinplumba]

Gosh, only 30 ? Nearly as many as me then 🙂 🙂

 

[mutley racers]

that is why I use Emery. No strands to go any where

 

[oily-rag]

I apply LACO with my finger.

 

[Keefy]

I apply LACO with my finger.

But where do you apply it?

 

[Mike Jackson]

been using wirewool for more than 30years, never had any issues, but its nice to see you have, i check my pipe before i insert it into the fitting.

You mean you have never noticed any issues. As well as the potential for leaving contaminants on the pipe if you use it near sanitary ware it can leave rust marks after a few hours.

 

[dancinplumba]

Different planet 🙂

 

[villa_tom]

been using wirewool for more than 30years, never had any issues, but its nice to see you have, i check my pipe before i insert it into the fitting.

Am I reading this correctly?

you use wire wool instead of a flux brush to apply flux? Or am I mis-reading this 🙂

 

[pmc]

sounds like you have made a lot of mistakes in your time, rust marks on sanitary ware? my advise is to take more care m8!

 

[villa_tom]

sounds like you have made a lot of mistakes in your time, rust marks on sanitary ware? my advise is to take more care m8!

Who me?

 

[dancinplumba]

Who me?

Yes you, who else ? 🙂

 

[dancinplumba]

Eyup the second messiah 🙂

 

[villa_tom]

Yes you, who else ? 🙂

When the word mistake is mentioned, I heard your name is never normally far behind? 🙂

 

[dancinplumba]

When the word mistake is mentioned, I heard your name is never normally far behind? 🙂

Funny that I was talking to your ma an pa the other day and they said that about you.... Strange 🙂

 

[Mike Jackson]

sounds like you have made a lot of mistakes in your time, rust marks on sanitary ware? my advise is to take more care m8!

The only people I have ever met who reckon they have never made a mistake have been liars. I expect your one of those plumbers that has never had a leak as well.

Where do you get the lots of mistakes bit anyway? I've got rust marks on a bath once in 32 years and that is lots of mistakes? By the way I object to being called mate by someone as sanctimonious as you.

P.S. Do you want to buy a shift key?

 

[pmc]

it would be nice if before making a comment about a reply to thread that you check out the previous comments and catch up 1st, otherwise you have no idea whats going on and your looking for a free history lesson which i dont have time for

 

[dancinplumba]

Eyup, dummies been thrown out 🙂 🙂

 

[pmc]

ok ive never had a leak before lol, i can turn water in wine, float like a butterfly and sting like a bee, take it easy and wind your neck in, if you dont like wire wool because you damaged a bath before thats ok, but im sure im not the only old school plumber that still uses it.

 

[dancinplumba]

Never had a leak before ? You must be bursting 🙂 or you are not a proper plumber 🙂

 

[Kyle87]

What's happened to this forum. There's always some random causing trouble with the regulars.

 

[Whl4852]

What's happened to this forum. There's always some random causing trouble with the regulars.

Agreed!

 

[dancinplumba]

What's happened to this forum. There's always some random causing trouble with the regulars.

Sorry :-(

 

[villa_tom]

Sorry :-(

Go to your room 🙂

 

[Dannypipe]

I say live and let live. I use emery cloth now, before that I used those expensive abrasive strips (the square mesh ones) and before that, many moons back, I used wire wool. With no problems. Just like thousands of other plumbers did or do.

I personally want to think that I'll never be too set in my ways to listen to advise....but I personally think live and let live.

 

[dancinplumba]

To all, it's advice, unless it's to advise 🙂

 

[Dannypipe]

Whoops!

 

[tamz]

I use steel wool from time to time and much prefer it to strips or sandpaper or fittings brushes or whatever. Everybody to there own thing. Much like 170 posts on how to flux a pipe. It is irrelevant.

 

[Dannypipe]

I disagree, it's totally relevant. It doesn't get much more 'grass roots' than how you sweat a joint.

 

[tamz]

Which is why it is irrelevant Danny. Anyone doing this for a living doesn't need told how to do the basics. Everyone will do it their own way.

 

[Rickster123]

Which is why it is irrelevant Danny. Anyone doing this for a living doesn't need told how to do the basics. Everyone will do it their own way.

Isnt it time we had another "how many wraps of ptfe do you use" thread?!

 

[kay-jay]

There are two ways to do anything....


The right way and the wrong way.🙂

 

[Rickster123]

There are two ways to do anything....


The right way and the wrong way.🙂

No it's my way or the wrong way!

 

[Whn1]

Isnt it time we had another "how many wraps of ptfe do you use" thread?!

16 never had a leak.

 

[tamz]

16 never had a leak.

You only need 14 your wasting tape :lol:

 

[Guest123]

Everyone will do it the way that works best for them.

I've always fluxed both and Yorkshire fittings will back me up with that as that is what they recommend.

 

[kay-jay]

Isnt it time we had another "how many wraps of ptfe do you use" thread?!

Or a solvent weld thread....glue pipe only , fitting only or both🙂

 

[Kyle87]

And my way lol

 

[Keefy]

Everyone will do it the way that works best for them.

I've always fluxed both and Yorkshire fittings will back me up with that as that is what they recommend.

He's right ^

http://pegleryorkshire.co.uk/MEDIA/DownloadAttributes/CC_002/68577306_Yorkshire_ISR.pdf

 

[tamz]

Or a solvent weld thread....glue pipe only , fitting only or both🙂

That one is easy shut the door, leave the lid off and who cares :smile:

 

[Keefy]

Yorkshire Traditional Flux HOW MUCH?! Yorkshire traditional flux 500 gm tub

 

[Dannypipe]

Yorkshire Traditional Flux HOW MUCH?! Yorkshire traditional flux 500 gm tub

Yeah, but if you get hungry you can eat it. (jokes obviously !)

 

[tamz]

Yorkshire Traditional Flux HOW MUCH?! Yorkshire traditional flux 500 gm tub

Last one i bought last year was about a fiver for a wee tin. Use it if you want really neat joints.

 

[Keefy]

Last one i bought last year was about a fiver for a wee tin. Use it if you want really neat joints.

Never tried it, what's it like, I mean is it similar to LA-CO or is it white like... like that other one, forgot what it's called lol.

 

[Rickster123]

Last one i bought last year was about a fiver for a wee tin. Use it if you want really neat joints.

But how and why does it give neat joints? Never heard of it or seen it before.

 

[mountainman]

It's brown and has the consistency of grease or Vaseline and indeed it is called Yorkshire flux.
It's still available and widely used for soldering electronic components.

 

[GasmanxxxR1]

I think its none cleaning, the fittings and pipe have to be rubbed bright and the exact correct amount of heat applied, doesnt snot like the self cleaning flux la-co etc

 

[dancinplumba]

I use steel wool from time to time and much prefer it to strips or sandpaper or fittings brushes or whatever. Everybody to there own thing. Much like 170 posts on how to flux a pipe. It is irrelevant.

How dare you..........

 

[Keefy]

Think I'll give it a try some time. Here it is on Yorkshire's own site for anyone interested: Pegler Yorkshire

 

[tamz]

Its greeny brown colour. Not self cleaning so your fittings and pipe need to be spotless. The solder only runs where it is cleaned. Fry's fluxite and telux are similar. Smells lovely but nips worse than everflux in a cut. It has zinc chloride in it.
Btw you can make your own flux if you can be bothered. Throw a bit zinc in some spirits of salt and let it dissolve.

 

[mountainman]

I thought that an irrelevant was a big grey mammal with a trunk!

 

[Keefy]

Its greeny brown colour. Not self cleaning so your fittings and pipe need to be spotless. The solder only runs where it is cleaned.

I always make sure my pipe and fittings are spotless before applying anyway so I'd hardly be having to change my habits, can't stand seeing people just fluxing a dirty pipe 'because the flux will clean it'. Does sound good this Yorkshire flux though.

 

[Guest123]

Back in the day my tradesman used it for lubricating the o rings of soil pipe. How times have changed!

 

[tamz]

Try it. Most merchants will have one of them in stock.

 

[Guest123]

It used to come in wee tins like the ones used for Kiwi shoe polish didn't it?

 

[Dannypipe]

I love the smell of it. Might buy some for nostalgia purposes!

 

[tamz]

I went out to the shed and here are 2 different traditional ones for those who have never seen it. Frys and Telux both much the same as is Yorkshire.
I even sparked up the lamp for a wee sniff of the nostalgia Danny :smile:

 

[Howsie]

I've a tub of telux in the van i'm sure of it. Unfortunately I'm in Ireland with a pint of Guinness in m hand so can't check 🙂