Phew!

[RobH]

Commonly know as Fire Blankets in the engineering trade.

[Jim GM4DHJ in the Radio Shack]

Mmmmmm lead poisoning...plumbers still do that with lead solder......

[Capitol]

Use a propane or propane/butane mix cylinder the extra heat output does

28mm easily IME

[Fredxx]

Most professionals use end feed. They rely on capillary actions and to be honest I've been wary of the void in the joint caused by the reservoir of solder.

[Tim Lamb]

OK. My current torch is not a screw fitting type. I think I'll go with the Rothenburger advice, use propane/butane mix and turn it down for small joints.

I will use end feed for the larger joints which are mainly up near the ceiling as I am ducting the pipework to avoid cutting joists.

[tabbypurr]

adding propane to the mix reduces the calories per cubic whatnot of gas. The upside is the propane works in colder conditions.

NT

[John Rumm]

Solder ring fittings are usually a little longer to compensate for that. So the amount of surface area that ends up soldered together is similar in either case.

I always use end feed just because I find them quicker (they take less heating), look neater once fitted, and they are cheaper (I buy bulk packs). Having said that, I keep a few solder ring fittings to hand for those jobs where you have to work one handed.

[John Rumm]

and works longer without freezing up the canister!

(the final flame temperature of either burnt in air is within a few degrees of each other anyway. MAPP will probably do 40 deg C more)

[alan_m]

Probably turn it right down for the larger joints as well and do a practice joint on a piece of scrap first.

[T i m]

The thing is that you can, not only control the flame fairly closely (I wouldn't say it was *particularly* powerful etc) and use it in various orientations without it looking more like an angry dragon. ;-)

I think the trick with many soldering jobs is to warm everything up a bit first, then heat the joint and the material immediately either side and watch the solder run (and then leave it alone). ;-)

Cheers, T i m

[Vir Campestris]

50 quid buys a lot of compression fittings.

Andy

[Roger Hayter]

But then you'd have to use compression fittings. Anyway, it doesn't buy many, especially odd ones or 28mm.