solder wont flow

Danger · Jan 1, 2010

so today i was installing a new shower diverter and after i cut all my pipes and put them together (cleaned and fluxed) i pulled the propane torch kit out of the box to find someone had stolen the torch. it took about an hour to get back to the job with the new torch. the first joint soldered just fine but when i moved on to the next the solder just wouldnt flow at all. it really wasnt even melting. should i have recleaned and refluxed everything or am i doing something wrong?

thanks!

Doherty Plumbing · Jan 1, 2010

danger said:
so today i was installing a new shower diverter and after i cut all my pipes and put them together (cleaned and fluxed) i pulled the propane torch kit out of the box to find someone had stolen the torch. it took about an hour to get back to the job with the new torch. the first joint soldered just fine but when i moved on to the next the solder just wouldnt flow at all. it really wasnt even melting. should i have recleaned and refluxed everything or am i doing something wrong?

thanks!

That is a good sign of a dirty joint (or possibly water in the piping). Reclean everythign REALLY well. The copper should be shiny all the way around about 1/4-1/2" past the fitting hub.

Apply the heat EVENLY all the way around the fitting towards the back of the hub you are joining as to draw the solder all the way and into the hub.

Sponsor · 2022-01-29T12:20:58-0800

NHmaster · Jan 1, 2010

My vote is for water in the pipe, but you will have to take it apart, clean it and re-flux after you get the water out

RTAPlumbing · Jan 1, 2010

defineatly water

I think there is water in the pipe as well. Make sure the shower head is off or cap whatever the case might be to release pressure while soldering. Possibly add flux while you are heating it you might have burned out all of the flux.

Danger · Jan 2, 2010

thanks guys. yeah i did leave the shower head on. hopefully thats it. will try it in a bit.

hj · Jan 2, 2010

solder

Solder NOT melting, means it is not getting hot enough, and that means water in the pipe. Dirty copper would still melt the solder, it would just not flow around the joint properly.

Danger · Jan 4, 2010

well i disassembled everything and sure enough there was water in there. i dried it out well and everything went fine. thanks again.

Master Plumber Mark · Jan 4, 2010

propane is a weak tool

if you would have had a turbo torch with acetelyne
gas it probably would have melted that joint. with no problems...

I cant stand a propane torch

solder wont flow

Danger

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Doherty Plumbing

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NHmaster

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RTAPlumbing

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Danger

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hj

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Danger

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Master Plumber Mark

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