Anybody solder copper flashing?

[Kelvin]

Need to replace some flashing around chimneys and planning to use copper. At a flea market I got one of those big copper soldering irons, the head probably weighs half a pound or more, but will probably use an air-acetylene torch for heat. Seems like that would get the job done quicker. With an iron, I suspect I would always either be too hot or too cold.

Any tips for a noob on solder types, flux types, etc? I was going to try this flux, since I have some:



A welder friend said that if you don't do it right, you can get corrosion, but assuming it's a sound wetted out joint, and you rinse off any acid residue from the flux, I don't see how that can happen unless water pools and sits for a long time at the solder joint...but I could be mistaken (again)...

Thanks in advance for any info.

[Mike Westbrook]

I'd say the most important part is a good tight clean fit and kinda like brazing keep the heat ahead of the soldier as you go and wipe the soldier down into the joint it will fill up as it cools wipe with a wet washcloth done !

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[Fast Leroy]

Scotch brite all the surfaces that will be solder then wipe with alcohol. Flux all surfaces then pre tin with acid core solder. When you go to make the final joint be sure it don't move while soldering. There's plenty of Youtube vids that show the process. Good luck.

[MISSING LINK]

Actually just made one. Yup clean all surfaces with scotchbrite, flux then solder. All joints were a hem or lap joint. Keep them tite and it works great.

[ronsii]

your house is sliding down the hil!!!!!

[Kelvin]

Thanks, fellas. So on the flux issue, I guess so long as the solder wets out properly, it doesn't matter which flux you use?

[MISSING LINK]

Hahaha! Yea is next to a old red ore pit, having it on it's side allowed me to work off the ground!😂😂😂😂 i wish it would slide in! I just used copper pipe flux from to store, and some old rosin core. It wet really nice

[cornemuse]

Dont forget this:

https://www.amazon.com/SRA-Sal-Ammon.../dp/B01I4QFZPG

I remember this from HS metal shop! (1962)

[mckutzy]

If you can, try on some scrap pieces.. To get the hang of how it reacts and how long the heat lasts in the copper...
If you can build a little forge with fire bricks to have a better heat containment, itll heat the copper quicker and more consistent...

A Sal block is a very good tinning source... Have a hot copper and touch the sharpened point to the block, touch with the solder and let it tin up... Keep your head away as itll smoke quite a bit... not pleasant at all..
I usually give it a wrist flick at the ground after a soldering joint, to fling off the excess solder on the copper...
Clean joint well after the soldering....