On Wed, 17 May 2006 02:59:34 -0700, Lobster wrote:


Chris Bacon wrote:

Lobster wrote:
Isn't the blue part of the flame unburnt gas though? I don't follow
that one, as my problem seems to me that for whatever reason I'm not
getting up to temperature quick enough!

The blue is burning gas, just not as hot as the outside of
the cone (if evident). If the gas is not burning properly
you will get a yellow, perhaps evidently smoky, flame. You
said that the torch seems to "give a good blast" so I'm a
little confused as to why it's not heating the joint fast.

You and me both! ;-)

It strikes me that short of seeing a video of what you 're doing I can't
really say. But if the blow lamp is producing a 10-15mm diameter of blue
flame it must be heating the pipe well.

I'd say that you are, maybe, over-heating the fitting and the solder is
not taking and that you should apply the solder much earlier.

I try to heat the pipe from the 'back side' if possible and put the
solder in from the front. As soon as the front solder starts to melt (I'm
gently rubbing the end of the solder on the pipe to find out as I heat the
pipe) I remove the heat and start to run the solder in and around.
Sometimes a little more heat is needed.

HTH

--
Ed Sirett - Property maintainer and registered gas fitter.
The FAQ for uk.diy is at http://www.diyfaq.org.uk
Gas fitting FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/GasFitting.html
Sealed CH FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/SealedCH.html
Choosing a Boiler FAQ http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/BoilerChoice.html
Gas Fitting Standards Docs he http://www.makewrite.demon.co.uk/GasFittingStandards