I’m not sure I believe this, but ignorance is bliss as they say. A plumber friend of mine told me he uses a certain flux, forget the name and he says you DON’T have to clean the pipe ends at all. Claims it saves tons of time (true) and that all you have to do is just cut your pipe, flux and solder away. I was taught to ALWAYS clean the pipe ends and fitting sockets then apply flux.
Is this legit, there exists such a flux paste that cleans at the same time so you don’t have to?
Is the joint just as good and strong?
Does it work as great with Acetylene flame?
If such a product exists, what is it called, or what should I look for when buying new flux?
Replies
You have a lazy plumber 'friend"' ?
re: Is the joint just as good and strong?
good = long time, no corrosion, unlikely
strong = an oxymoron for any 'soldered' joint
Tell us what this stuff is, probably common chemical/flux. BTW, if it is so good on uncleaned joint, htink how good it would be on a clean joint.
consider the case of phosphourous bearing silver braze material - no flux needed, the phosphourous does it. If you want to do that without cleaning you need more phosphourous in the alloy which likely leads to weaker braze (with braze and weld, you can talk about strength)
Well, I did read the container of the flux he uses. It says something like "cleans as it fluxes for a good soldered joint." Elsewhere further down I DID read something that suggested that you are indeed supposed to clean the pipe/fittings. It was about as confusing as I dunno what. Thus the BT post. He swears he never cleans using that stuff. He's a long time plumber so you'd think he knows what he's talking about. But.....then again he's aging a lot, too :) LOL
When I have more than 20 or so fittings for a job, I don't sand, brush or other wise mechanically 'clean' any of the fittings, just let them sit in a 30% solution of ferric chloride for 15 minutes before..
This however, is a chemical cleaning, is that what you are refering to??
This however, is a chemical cleaning, is that what you are refering to??
No, the container I read looked like regular paste flux. The directions said to brush on as always. He sez that's all he does, brushes on and heats 'er up to finish the job. Seriously. Even if it's true and it works, I dunno, I don't trust it.
could be..but...BIG but,,,why? Cleaning the fittings is what? 2 mins a joint?
any good plumber has it ingrained...I can't see it.
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There is a flux brand called GOOD CREST that does an excellent job of chemically cleaning copper prior to sweating the joints. I know plumbers that don't bother to sand/brush the fittings or pipe before soldering with this flux--on half-inch or smaller pipe only. Anything over that and the general consensus is that you need to sand and brush too.
I use Good Crest myself, but being a 'Suspenders and Belt' type of person, I still mechanically clean all joints before fluxing, no matter what size pipe I'm working with. My track record is pretty good with this procedure; I don't remember the last time I had a joint leak in new work, and I'm still using an old propane torch (about to be changed for MAPP or an Oxy/acetylene job, though)....
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Oatey sells a liquid flux /cleaner . It works ! Had some pipe that was in a bad position that needed a new fitting . Tough to get a good job with steel wool or the pipe brush . Squirted it with the magic liquid and the pipe turned into shiney copper almost instantly. soulder sucked in better than with the paste. However it is nasty stuff so I still use paste most of the time.
Nokorode by Rectorseal makes a cleaning flux paste. Myself though, just not brave enough to risk it on my plumbing but it is available and claims to make a strong joint.