I tried a little copper plumbing this weekend.
I soldered a ball valve while it was upside down, and am a little worried about it. It hasn't leaked with the water pressure on. Is this good enough? Should I still worry?
2006-11-21 04:29:37 · 11 answers · asked by WJ 7 in Home & Garden ➔ Do It Yourself (DIY)
dull is good or bad?
2006-11-21 05:07:07 · update #1
If the parts were clean and shiny and you used soldering paste before heating, it should be ok. Soldering upside down isn't a major problem other than an occasional drip of molten metal. Not always as pretty a way to do work, but perfectly functional. If it holds pressure you should be safe.
2006-11-21 12:31:27 · answer #1 · answered by Warren914 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you used a good acid flux and at least 95/5 your solder should be good. You should have seen the solder pull up into the ball valve while soldering. Hopefully you wrapped the ball valve with a wet rag. You should have concentrated your heat onto the lower part of the ball valve and not on the piping. This forces the solder to be drawn into the joint regardless of the position that it is in. Yes the solder will flow upwards to the heat. Good
2006-11-23 00:53:50 · answer #2 · answered by David B 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it does not leak then it is fine. Besides x-ray, visual inspection is the only true test of a soldered joint. By the way solder follows heat much better than gravity so I would not worry much about the upside down thing.
2006-11-21 09:59:55 · answer #3 · answered by Controlfreak38 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If You Cleaned It Fluxed It And The Solder Ran Around Joint You Should Be Good.
2006-11-24 06:09:56 · answer #4 · answered by bob r 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Soldering utilising tin/lead isn't recognized as having any substantial potential. that's consistently used with some mechanical reinforcement. I recommend having a glance at silver soldering (which includes ordinary-flo) or brazing utilising between the low temperature brazing alloys.
2016-10-22 11:59:54 · answer #5 · answered by wach 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well upside down or inside out (sorry had to say that) if your solder took and did not leak when you turned the water on you are good to go.
2006-11-21 13:11:14 · answer #6 · answered by skinnyrich_99 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If both pieces were sanded and you used flux to solder, you're all set. Usually if a joint is going to leak, it will be almost immediatly.
2006-11-24 11:52:41 · answer #7 · answered by Matrix 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If after soldering the color of the solder is dull and not bright
2006-11-21 04:57:08 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If its not leaking with the water pressure,its not gonna leak.Job well done.
2006-11-24 18:16:27 · answer #9 · answered by George K 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when the wire you soldered is not visible or sticking out, and when it turns a silvery blue colour.
2006-11-21 09:09:55 · answer #10 · answered by reiki wizzard 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋