On Mon, 7 Jul 2003 08:32:34 +0100, "Jonathan@Home"
wrote:

I might tak a look at one of those, on my first blow torch plumbing foray,
at my friend Warrem'sn house again, I burnt through the mat I bought from
Wickes after about 10 joints but maybe that was because I haven't quite
mastered hot plumbing yet. What I wanted was a good old fashoined asbestos
mat like we I used to but under bunsen burners whaen I was at school.

I find that it is important to play the flame around the joint a bit -
that way the mat behind doesn't receive a deadly dose of heat in one
spot.

Also make sure you use a flame size that is appropriate to the joint -
no need to light up a Saturn 5 rocket for a 15mm joint! My rule of
thumb is that the flame size should be no wider than the joint being
soldered, and in many cases smaller.

Hitting the joint with too much heat can be disastrous for a solder
joint - you want the solder to liquify but not evaporate

Andrew

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