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Soldering Copper Gutters

| Posted in General Discussion on January 4, 2000 11:44am

*
Can anyone give me some helpful hints on the best way to get both a leakproof and attractive solder joint in a copper gutter system? Please get down to basics. I am not hampered by knowledge in this area.

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Replies

  1. Guest_ | Nov 25, 1999 07:58pm | #1

    *
    A plumbers torch, soldering IRONS with some good tips, clean joints, a couple spring clamps and PRACTISE, PRACTISE, PRACTISE.

    and good staging so you can concentrate on your joint instead of hanging on.

    1. Guest_ | Nov 25, 1999 08:02pm | #2

      *

      Ditto, Mike. Especial on the scaffolding.

      Joseph FuscoView Image"Whenever, therefore, people are deceived and form opinions wide of the truth, it is clear that the error has slid into their minds through the medium of certain resemblance's to that truth." Socrates

      1. Guest_ | Nov 25, 1999 08:34pm | #3

        *I suppose the official way of doing this is to use clamps heated in sand (I think it was) to apply the heat, the risk with the torch being too much heat in too small an area. That's what the local roofing supply that does a lot of copper has advised me. I'm not exactly dying to make the capital investment, but would like to see this being done sometimes.It may help to get a torch with a larger and less intense flame than a plumber's torch, to avoid the disco,loration cause by overheating and to transfer heat into the joint faste. A 5-6" gutter has a lot of copper in it.

        1. Guest_ | Nov 25, 1999 09:39pm | #4

          *A gutter has alot of copper but it's pretty thin, discolors easliy, not too hard to melt.I've seen the soldering done with irons, not torches.I've toyed with this and I think anyone can solder gutter sections. I can't do it an make it look good.I'd agree Practice, Practice, Practice.

          1. Guest_ | Nov 25, 1999 11:03pm | #5

            *Irons, that's what I meant -- what exactly did you use?

          2. Guest_ | Nov 26, 1999 12:02am | #6

            *

            Well what can I say. . . You use the torch to heat up the IRONS. . .

            But then again you guys won't know that. . . . I guess that's what happens when grammarians answer questions. . .

            Joseph FuscoView Image"Whenever, therefore, people are deceived and form opinions wide of the truth, it is clear that the error has slid into their minds through the medium of certain resemblance's to that truth." Socrates

          3. Guest_ | Nov 26, 1999 12:18am | #7

            *ah come on guys, read my post again, I said IRONS !Hey , Joe can you tell "1/2 log" how to get the picture of his fireplace up on the board.b Happy Thanksgiving, I'm out a' here.

          4. Guest_ | Nov 26, 1999 01:50am | #8

            *Mike,you're right you said irons. I missed it on the first read.

          5. Guest_ | Nov 26, 1999 04:44am | #9

            *The ABC catalog has a neat looking gas soldering iron in it for just that purpose, I would suppose. Hooks up to a 10# propane tank. Doesn't cool off. A tin knocker I know said try this stuff "swift solder" or something like that, it's made by SOS and he said it doesn't run and cause the solder to follow. I've always used an iron(s) heated w/ plumbers torch.Good luckkevinboy am I stuffed.

  2. Larry_Batey | Nov 27, 1999 07:38am | #10

    *
    What is an ABC catalog and where can I get one?

  3. Larry_Batey | Jan 04, 2000 11:44pm | #11

    *
    Can anyone give me some helpful hints on the best way to get both a leakproof and attractive solder joint in a copper gutter system? Please get down to basics. I am not hampered by knowledge in this area.

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