Help with soldering

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Help with soldering

Postby doogie » Thu Feb 25, 2021 3:10 pm

Hi Everyone
I've been tinkering making my own column and condenser and have hit a snag with one join (the last one) that I just can't get to take. Pics 1 & 2 show the outcome of my fourth attempt and pic 3 shows the other one that I had no trouble with. Needless to say these were spotlessly clean when I applied the flux. Any advice greatly appreciated.
Doogie

solder 1.jpg

solder 3.jpg

solder 2.jpg
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doogie
 
Posts: 46
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equipment: T500 with stainless steel column for neutral and homemade 2” copper column and Liebig condenser.

Re: Help with soldering

Postby bluc » Thu Feb 25, 2021 3:49 pm

Are you hard or soft soldering? If soft soldering looks way to hot to me :-B
Also what flux you using?
Last edited by bluc on Thu Feb 25, 2021 3:49 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Help with soldering

Postby Dude » Thu Feb 25, 2021 5:03 pm

What bluc said, its way too hot. Try "tinning" the faces to be soldered first. Clean steel wool is best for cleaning for soft soldering.
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Re: Help with soldering

Postby doogie » Thu Feb 25, 2021 6:16 pm

bluc wrote:Are you hard or soft soldering? If soft soldering looks way to hot to me :-B
Also what flux you using?

Hi bluc & Dude, I'm soft soldering.
solder 4.jpg

solder 5.jpg


Dude wrote:What bluc said, its way too hot. Try "tinning" the faces to be soldered first. Clean steel wool is best for cleaning for soft soldering.


I'm using 25 grit sandpaper to clean the surfaces.

Thanks, I'm obviously trying to heat it up too quick.

Craig
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doogie
 
Posts: 46
Joined: Fri Aug 07, 2020 6:43 pm
Location: Melbourne
equipment: T500 with stainless steel column for neutral and homemade 2” copper column and Liebig condenser.

Re: Help with soldering

Postby bluc » Thu Feb 25, 2021 6:21 pm

Put more heat in thickest parts of copper let it heat souround. Also keep flame moving dont think about heating specific point spread heat over whole area...
bluc
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equipment: 2" pot with 2" shotty 400mm long 5x 1/2" on a t500 boiler.
50l keg boiler 4" still mount 4" sight glass 1" drain..
4 plate 4" bubbler, 600mm packed section

Re: Help with soldering

Postby doogie » Thu Feb 25, 2021 7:18 pm

Thanks bluc
doogie
 
Posts: 46
Joined: Fri Aug 07, 2020 6:43 pm
Location: Melbourne
equipment: T500 with stainless steel column for neutral and homemade 2” copper column and Liebig condenser.

Re: Help with soldering

Postby scythe » Fri Feb 26, 2021 3:24 pm

This is why I dislike flux pastes.
I think you are having trouble because you keep burning the flux,
Try heating the opposite side of the pipe or about 1"below your join, no flame on the flux.
Let the heat soak up to your join.
Also I would reheat that join that you say is done, it looks like the solder isn't sealed and will leak.
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Re: Help with soldering

Postby bluc » Fri Feb 26, 2021 8:30 pm

:text-+1:
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Posts: 8967
Joined: Tue Apr 14, 2015 5:47 pm
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equipment: 2" pot with 2" shotty 400mm long 5x 1/2" on a t500 boiler.
50l keg boiler 4" still mount 4" sight glass 1" drain..
4 plate 4" bubbler, 600mm packed section

Re: Help with soldering

Postby doogie » Fri Feb 26, 2021 9:35 pm

Thanks guys

Dude's tip worked and I tinned the join, see my other post tonight to see the finished product. Hoping to give it a vinegar run tomorrow.

Doogie
Last edited by doogie on Fri Feb 26, 2021 9:37 pm, edited 1 time in total.
doogie
 
Posts: 46
Joined: Fri Aug 07, 2020 6:43 pm
Location: Melbourne
equipment: T500 with stainless steel column for neutral and homemade 2” copper column and Liebig condenser.

Re: Help with soldering

Postby Dude » Sat Feb 27, 2021 8:12 am

Great news. :handgestures-thumbupleft:
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Posts: 135
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equipment: Turbo 500. 50L pot still with 2 x 2400W heaters, shotgun condenser, reflux condenser. Building a cooling system.

Re: Help with soldering

Postby doogie » Sun Feb 06, 2022 8:56 pm

Need more help guys, I'm having trouble soldering a brass fitting to copper tubing. I've tried heating the brass first because I read it takes a bit more to heat up than the copper but I can't get the solder to run into the join, it just sticks to the copper around the top of the brass.

TIA
Doogie
doogie
 
Posts: 46
Joined: Fri Aug 07, 2020 6:43 pm
Location: Melbourne
equipment: T500 with stainless steel column for neutral and homemade 2” copper column and Liebig condenser.


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