Oatey flux

I fought for a day, trying to get a decent joint with Oatey #95, tinning flux. Then, I tried Oatey #5, paste flux. worked like a champ. I even went back, cut out and re-did the three joints I did yesterday. The #95 had come in a "kit" with solder, brush, emery cloth.

What's the #95 good for? And why is it in the "Starter Kit"?

I like the tinning flux. Everyone has their favorite.

Awhile ago, I needed to do some soldering and found I didn't have my trusty can of flux, so I bought one. Don't remember the brand, but it was a white paste. Had a really hard time getting a decent joint. Went out and bought some tinning flux (again, don't remember whose), and redid them all, all worked without hassles. For someone that doesn't solder that often, but may still have a lot of joints under their belt, the flux does, at least for me, make a big difference on the success rate. It's a lot easier, too, if you have full access, but these were in a tight hole in the tiled wall while trying to replace the shower valve through the remodeling plate's, slightly larger hole...really awkward. Generally, a tinning flux is easier, but the paste makes a huge difference as well.