If you have not done so, you need to read and re-read this thread...its a great primer on "How to Solder Copper"
Do the white bread trick to keep water drips out of the joint.
I've used different fluxes and never really noticed a difference, so I doubt it's that. It's probably a heat issue.Thanks. I had a plumber replace my main valves by my meter about a month ago with new watts ball valves, so luckily I have a good shutoff and can avoid leaks.
I think i wasn't getting the joint hot enough. I just bought the flux and solder, so i doubt it was bad flux...unless the plumbing flux i bought was a bad brand. I don't remember the brand off the top of my head. I didn't mix the flux before applying though, so maybe that was it?
What I'm trying to do is learn to solder so I can branch off my main water line for a sprinkler system, I just got myself a work bench with a vice on it, should make things easier. If I can't teach myself to solder by this summer, then I will just call a plumber!The thing that makes me nervous about doing this is if I mess up...I have no water in my house till it's fixed. But taking that chance is worth saving the amount the plumber wants.
(I posted another thread about the sprinkler system install here...)
http://www.diychatroom.com/f7/double-check-valve-installation-few-other-questions-42606/
No, it should be fine as long as the joint your soldering isn't clamped directly in the vise. If the joint is at the end of a few inches of pipe, you should be fine.1. I just had it clamped to a 2x4 that was laying off the edge of a table. I just bought a black and decker workmate (wooden vice type thing). Am I better off wrapping the pipe in a towel or something where the vice squeezes it to insulate it?
Sorry - lawn sprinkler.A lawn sprinkler or fire protection sprinkler?