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[ijon]

Has anyone ever got bad solder that just won't seal? I just sweat some copper with some new solder I bought and it was like a nightmare. I had just used up some old that I had and no problem with it. Went to the new and all hell broke lose. Am I going nuts?

[Roger2561]

I'm by far no expert, but my experience with the new solder is you need to spend more time making sure the mating ends are absolutely nice and shiny and perfectly clean and use a lot of flux.  When I tried to use the new stuff like I did the old, it would bubble like a cold solder joint and leak.  Once I made the mating pieces nice and clean and shiny with plenty of flux, it sealed really well.    Roger

[ijon]

Thanks, thought I was losing my mind.

[DaveWertz]

I just had a valve break loose yesterday afternoon. I to had trouble soldering. I cut out the old valve and cleaned up the copper pipe and new valve. I swear I had that new valve so hot it actually exploded on me!! Im not even kidding. The solder just wouldnt take to the pipe??? Well come to find out I still had a little bit of water in my line which wicked heat away from the point of pipe I was trying to solder. Ughhhhhhhhh. Talk about fun!

[ijon]

I soldered one joint on the work bench and it still leaked, so it didn't have any water in it.

[willieG]

clan clean and clean...paste both parts of the joint (making sure you get all the way around) concentrate you heat on the outer piece of material, touch solder occasionally on opposite side of where you are applying the heat, as soon as solder melts apply solder to joint and remove heat. that should be all there is to it

[cranman]

The non leaded solder is a disaster unless yu use the proper flux and even then it is to be avoided for hydrnics. I always use the 50/50 solder and matching flux and as always ...clean ,clean, clean.

[hoardac]

Cheap flux will cause a problem sometimes I have noticed.