Hi, I thought I would put up a few picture of my first attempt at soldering. I have never had any experience in welding soldering or brazing. My Inspiration came from Mr Optimus's fine fettles and Ebay Guru Bill [Parramethtro] for pointing out the right gear to get of Ebay ........... Thank you My project was a Monitor tourist,the pump tube had been repaired by someone who was not to concerned how his handy work looked, as long as the stove held pressure. I lost the photo of the stove before I started work on it,the solder appeared to have been smoothed on by a hot iron. I melted and cleaned the excess solder by heating and rubbing down with wire wool and a Scotch pad. When most of the solder was removed I removed the pump tube and cleaned up the surfaces that were to be soldered back. I ran a smear of tooth paste around the surrounding area that I was going to be soldering to stop any runs. I gave the joint a good smear of flux. I broke of a small piece of solder and placed it on the joint,heated the neck of the pump tube and watched the solder flow to make the new joint Nothing clever about what I have done,but I hope this shows people who have not attempted soldering before that it can be done ,as I said I have had no experience in soldering and have five thumbs on each hand. Cheers Tim
hi teletim; what a great job!!(can you use regular solder and a handheld propane torch)...i am working up the courage to try soldering a broken leg on a monitor stove and a juwel 21 that needs the pump removed, fettled and replaced...your magnificent results are inspiring...now i will try this soon...hope u dont mind if i contact u when i get to that moment of truth....kablamachunk
hi Tim AWESOME mate, i have all the kit here but have still wimped out on trying i never thought someone could have a first attempt and produce something like that was it beginners luck or was it really as easy as you make it sound? i have to get my propane swapped out as mine is empty but after seeing you and everyone else produce such clean joints i think it's time i stopped putting it off well done mate outstanding finish and you jumped straight in the deep end with a pump tube removal atb a very impressed Bill
Tim, Excellent work on your "British Brassy". I'm quite intrigued with my 17B. Hope that this enables you to continue to enjoy yours. Nice pics, AR
Thanks for the replies. Sorry, I do not no enough to comment on which solder you can use,I used this to do the job. Bill it could be beginners luck,I have just done a job on a Burmos 21 were some one had soldered the male connector to the tank,this was a pig of a job as the female connector on the tank became loose before the male end of the burner came loose,I understand the different melt points a bit better now. I have just re soldered the tank connector,which has turned out OK. I have a old Primus 96 which I took the NRV out , it was a bit of a stubborn sod and I think I have loosened the solder around the pump tube, a plumber mate will keep a eye on me when I do this one! Cheers Tim
you tackled another job already if it had been me i would have done the pump job and then run around like a loon all week, then sat on my arse for another week basking in my success no stopping you now, you'll be snapping up all the cheap stoves in need of tlc atb Bill
Hi Tim well done indeed that is a superb job you have carried out to for the first time the quality of the job is that of some one who has lots of experience. As Kablamachunk pointed out you can use a ordinary propane torch but as you found the micro torch you have less chance of desoldering any other part and having to keep a wet rag on the other parts it just takes a little longer. once again Tim congratulations on a superb job
Excellent job Tim sooner or later we will have to jump into a project requiring us to acquire new skills less we just pay someone else to do a job which you can really do. Ron
The three rules of soldering were used here with excelent results. A hearty WELL DONE for your work lad. Three rules of soldering 1. Clean the metal, 2. Clean the metal, 3. Clean the metal, 4. Apply only the solder needed, 5. Protect the surronding area from excess flow, 6. Apply heat carefully. Did i mention you need to clean the metal???? lance
Hi A story my dad told me about his apprenticeship as a heating engineer. He was making some joints using soldered fittings when his mentor whacked him across the knuckles with a piece of copper pipe. His crime? This is what the gaffer said was "you've cleaned the pipe and wiped the solder with wire wool to take off the oxidation now you're sticking your dirty greet fingers in my tin of flux and smearing it on the work". I don't know if this is a true story as he has a reputation for telling tall tails. But what it does do is remind me every time I solder to clean clean clean and clean. I still wipe old solder with wire wool and apply the flux with the solder or a clean tool. No dirty fingers for me
Truth now Gary, you just don't want some great hairy gaffer to wack you with a copper pipe do ya. I use an artists brush on small stuff and what we call a chemical brush on larger bits. For those who don't know a chemical brush is a bit of flat aluminium rolled about the bristles, making the brush. They are usually dirt cheap and can be thrown away after one use if you choose. I think the us Military buys them by the billions for they are sold by the gross for something like $4.00. For my home use i keep them in a plastic sandwich bag until i can't stand to reach in and get the brush out because of all the stickyness in there. lance
Gary Another no no that most people do is give the freshly cleaned item a good blow with their horrible dirty greasy oily breath
I'm used to electronic soldering with a soldering iron - and have a good one. But it can't source the quantity of heat or peak temps needed for this kinda stuff. I think plumbing acid-cord silver bearing solder is good. Strong, melds with copper and in fact may stick to most things. I have one of those little butane torches too, good for small work but if I had to choose one I'd get a traditional propane torch. As it is I want one of those now but I may be able to borrow one. OK so, soldering with a torch is different because the torch can flash the flux right away! Gotta heat the PART then let the solder melt against the part. Frankly torches suk for electronics type soldering. But for overall plumbing type soldering I'm learning, but they're great.
