trying to solder copper pipe

[barned01]

ok piccies to find out what is going wrong...or wether i am heading in the right direction.
first my attempt at the soft solder:
this is the flux i used

this is the solder

and this is my result






to me it doesn't really look like it flowed really well inside the joint and is not smooth at all around it (i did wipe it with a rag/my t-shirt when i was doing it to see if it made it smoother but it didn't really help )

Now onto the other sort of style (brazing?)
here is the rod and join in this picture

here is the flux that i dipped the rod into before applying it to the joint (i also tried this stuff on another attempt when using the soft solder above but still did not have success)

"this is a close up? I said a close up you jerk, a close up!"




from my recollection the brazing attempt looks like it has flowed a lot better around the join and would look sufficient to hold pressure.

So is it still a heat related thing with the soft solder or is there still something wrong.
All pipes and fittings are hit with emery paper/steel wool/deburring tool before fitting and heat application

[wonderplumb]

The silver looks OK, the soft looks like you've cooked it too well. Heat it gently, it doesnt have to glow, it only takes a few seconds to heat sufficiently, you will know if its hot enough because it will suck straight into the joint, you only need it just hot enough to melt the solder. If you want to have a look, cut the fitting in half with a hacksaw to make a cross section and see if the solder has made its way into the fitting.

[wonderplumb]

Should look like this, photography isnt the best its off my phone
Attachment 62274

[bricks]

Are you sure that solder is ok for welding copper?, I've never seen it before.

[wonderplumb]

Good point, but why would they bother with 'lead free' Though the label says 'silver bearing' would that mean it has a content of silver????
But then again if they market the stuff with their little turbo torches they may be thinking that people who buy them are only going to weld some pipe or solder some copper wire together. Try using Coke as a flux, I havent tried it myself but a few of the old-hands say it works a treat.

[barned01]

i can't be certain on the solder but i assume it is, it also came with a strip of emery paper, just perfect for shinying up some copper tubing and a little brush. and like wonderplumb mentioned, why would bernzomatic release a kit like this if they didn't assume i was going to use it for soldering copper pipe.
i do have some other 'silver solder' that i bought from bunnings, it came in a blue blister pack and was a small coils worth, i'll try to find the packaging of it and post a piccie up of that as well.
I'll have another attempt this weekend (i might even try the coke as a flux thing for you if you like....i cant get the solder to look right anyway so why not experiment )
cheers for the help guys, this has been great
barnsey

[bricks]

i do have some other 'silver solder' that i bought from bunnings, it came in a blue blister pack and was a small coils worth, i'll try to find the packaging of it and post a piccie up of that as well.
I'll have another attempt this weekend (i might even try the coke as a flux thing for you if you like....i cant get the solder to look right anyway so why not experiment )
cheers for the help guys, this has been great
barnsey

Dude, as far as I know I can't remember ever seeing copper tube solder at bunnies? Your in adelaide right? If you like I'll catch up with you and I'll give you some solder and sort you out on how to use this torch as well.

I know it's often a personal triumph to master a new skill all by yourself and Im in no way implying that your an idiot, just extending the arm of goodwill from one croweater to another.