Over 698,000 strictly plumbing related posts
Plumbing education, information, advice, help and suggestions are provided by some of the most experienced plumbers who wish to "give back" to society. Since 1996 we have been the best online (strictly) PLUMBING advice site. If you have questions about plumbing, toilets, sinks, faucets, drains, sewers, water filters, venting, water heating, showers, pumps, and other strictly PLUMBING related issues then you've come to the right place. Please refrain from asking or discussing legal questions, or pricing, or where to purchase products, or any business issues, or for contractor referrals, or any other questions or issues not specifically related to plumbing. Keep all posts positive and absolutely no advertising. Our site is completely free, without ads or pop-ups and we don't tract you. We absolutely do not sell your personal information. We are made possible by:
Author:
usetobefast (PA)
Hi all,
I am a plumbing contractor with 30+ years of experience but this new no lead brass is giving me the fits. I consider myself pretty accomplished with a torch but I just had a nasty leaker. I installed a Gerber 3 valve faucet on friday, and the customer called 24 hours later to say it was leaking. It certainly wasn't leaking when I left. When I got there the leak was not just a little dribbler but looked like a pressure washer. When I installed the faucet I soldered the 1/2"copper lines in the brass body upside down & had 2 very nice looking joints with good flow when I was applying the solder. After the massive clean up I took the joint apart & observed even & complete solder coverage on both the faucet body & the copper stub.I used Oatey solder with Utility flux ( zinc chloride) and a #5 turbo tip. Any help you can provide would be appreciated
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
hj (AZ)
www.youtube.com/user/coppervideo or as a whitepaper, "Recommended practices for soldering no-lead copper alloys", downloaded from www.copper.org
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
packy (MA)
I don't like to brag but I went for years and years and years without a solder leak. I have had 3 in the past couple of years because of lead free fittings.
I find I have to be extra careful to clean the fitting and keep it scuffed up rather than as smooth as a baby's rear end.
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
usetobefast (PA)
I know, right? I've been soldering since I was 13, I'm 50 now. I like to think I know my way around a torch. Thx for the vids guys but I do do all that but I just need to slowly heat up the joint & I've read elsewhere cool it off with a wet rag. I wish I could post pics, the joint looked good upon disassembly, no voids or burnt solder.
Edited 1 times.
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
usetobefast (PA)
I think I'm going to change to Gerber's union style rough body & use adapters. Of all the manufacturers their brass is the worst looking. Looks more like pot metal than brass
|
Post Reply
|
Author:
packy (MA)
i thought tub/shower valves were exempt from the no-lead laws ??
|
Post Reply
|
Please note:
- Inappropriate messages or blatant advertising will be deleted. We cannot be held responsible for bad or inadequate advice.
- Plbg.com has no control over external content that may be linked to from messages posted here. Please follow external links with caution.
- Plbg.com is strictly for the exchange of plumbing related advice and NOT to ask about pricing/costs, nor where to find a product (try Google), nor how to operate or promote a business, nor for ethics (law) and the like questions.
- Plbg.com is also not a place to ask radiant heating (try HeatingHelp.com), electrical or even general construction type questions. We are exclusively for plumbing questions.
Search for plumbing parts on our sponsor's site:
Special thanks to our sponsor:
|