Flame-resistant protective mat for plumhing?

For years I've had one of these - a woven fabric mat about 9" square which I can place behind pipework which I'm soldering, to avoid setting fire to the underlying fabric of the building or whatever.

As it is now very tatty, I included a replacement in a recent order from Screwfix. There were two to choose from:

costing 4 or 11 quid respectively - both are described as 'soldering mats'; the only obvious difference being that the expensive one is described as "professional quality".

I ordered the cheapo one, since from the picture it looks just the same as my old one. But having unpacked it I find a label which states:

"Do not place this soldering mat onto surfaces which can be damaged by heat, eg nylon carpets, painted surfaces. The intended purpose of using this soldering mat is to prevent small drops of solder coming into contact with other surfaces. It will not act as a heat barrier for much larger items such as nozzles from gas torches"

So I'm puzzled. Is this warning for real, or is it just a disclaimer to stop me from suing when my house burns down?.... is my new mat likely to be just the same as the old one and can I carry on using it in the same way?

Or is there a different mats which I should buy to use in this way? (I note that Screwfix's dearer mat is still described as a 'soldering mat' BTW.

Thanks David

Reply to
Lobster
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How does it compare in construction to the old one? It will almost certainly give some protection to the surrounding areas, but not being padded like the posh one you will still get a significant temperature rise behind it. I have managed to scorch things through the thin mats in the past. The padded ones do control the temperature better.

The page title on the cheap one describes it as a drip mat rather than a soldering mat.

Reply to
John Rumm

The first is just a drip mat. It's proof against solder, but it's not going to insulate anything.

If you're using an electric iron, then a drip mat is adequate. If you're using a gas flame or hot air, or if you're getting the workpiece hot enough that radiant heat is a problem, then you need the real thing.

Mine is a couple of layers of Kevlar, with an outer layer of Nomex (worn-out fireproof boiler suit) on each side. The Kevlar is a loose weave, so not flame proof.

Reply to
Andy Dingley

Personally dont use mats,I prefer a sheet of tin the stuff thats normally used to seal off the back of a gas fire. This can get behind the pipe even if the pipe is very close to a wall whereas the mat wont. ;-)

Reply to
George

BTW, Nomex and Kevlar are very closely related.

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Reply to
Huge

A baking sheet makes an acceptable substitute, providing the wife doesn't find out.

Reply to
Huge

I have found no type of flexible matting which does the job, i.e. protect what's behind from a moderate propane torch for soldering and last more than a week.

I used use some traditional mid C20 fire resistant sheeting I picked up from a site. Let's describe it as mineral fibre reinforced cement board (may the reader understand what I mean). Eventually the small pieces I had got broken/lost/excessively soiled. I have found that the modern equivalent is also a fibre reinforced cement board and is called Hardibacker it is intended to compete with Aqua-panel, offcuts of this are excellent.

Reply to
Ed Sirett

I bought the cheap one from Toolstation and it lasted for one job - bloody rubbish. It looks about the same as the Screwfix one.

The Monument one is an entirely different piece of kit, about 5 times as thick and of much denser material. Looks like you could launch a cruise missile from it with no problem.

I always use a wet cloth under the soldering mat as well.

Reply to
The Medway Handyman

I've never really understood the distinction. Chemically they're quite similar, yet mechanically they're significantly different. Kevlar has bulk strength that Nomex doesn't (this is fairly obvious from the simple behaviour of the fibres), yet only Nomex is available as fine- weave fabrics where Kevlar isn't. Why is this? Why don't we have fine-weave Kevlars, and use them for everything?

My Kevlar underwear is scratchy as hell, I can tell you! (US Navy aviator issue, genuine usenet-rated flameproof longjohns. Never enter talk.origins without them)

Reply to
Andy Dingley

The web page whose URL I gave explains. Kevlar macromolecules are sterically hindered about the amide links between the aromatic rings, whereas Nomex isn't. That affects the physical properties of the resultant fibres and hence the cloth they're made into.

Tee-hee. Serves you right for going there!

I have a set of Nomex racing overalls and underwear. They're all very comfortable, other than being very hot in the summer. It's like wearing a continental quilt.

Reply to
Huge

That's easy for you to say.

Reply to
Frank Erskine

In article , Frank Erskine wrote

Who last had the can of uk.d-i.y screen cleaner.

Reply to
Tony Williams

I was quite impressed, given that my degree is [tap, tap, tap] 32 years old.

Reply to
Huge

I understand the difference, I just don't understand why this means that there's no fine-fibre Kevlar and thus no thin soft Kevlar cloth.

I suppose I ought to go and ask. Factory's only over the road...

Reply to
Andy Dingley

Ah but they were better in those days....

Reply to
Andy Hall

You mean because they were in Fahrenheit. ;-)

Reply to
PJ

I like to think so.

:o)

Reply to
Huge

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