Just to let anyone still following this thread that my home made
soldering iron worked a treat. Bought lead flashing and solder wire
from Wickes. Applied flux to joints and heated iron with gas blowlamp
until able to melt solder. Then applied iron to edges of joint and
allowed solder to run onto lead. Then reheated iron and "smoothed
over" the rather blobby solder so that it ran into joint. End result
may not be the neatest piece of soldering ever seen but it's sturdy
and weatherproof. When it's on my roof I'm sure the appearance will be
secondary. Thanks for the help. Bob