basic soldering question...

[Coaster]

Hello,
I have the tools and some spare pipe and connectors and going to try out some soldering
I have read various articles about soldering, but is there any way of testing the grade of quality to a joint besides whether it leaks or not?

 

[sooey]

Seeing as you're only practising cut down the joint with a hacksaw and peel it off then you will see whether the solder has run all around the joint or not.

 

[MANDATE]

I think this is similar to welding, where you can't subject every joint to a test other than a visual examination. The quality is related to the skill of the person doing the job and his/her skill is judged by carrying out destructive tests on test samples which were produced in the presence of some approving authority.
You could cut through/near a few joints to ensure solder has flowed the full length of and all round the joint.
Other than that you need to pressure test, which usually happens during installation.
My son removed a leaking joint, which I sectioned to reveal that solder had not flowed fully in the area that was nearest the wall,

 

[Bamba71]

once you have soldered the joint blank off 1 end (with your finger perhaps) then stick it in a bowl or bucket of water then blow done the pipe as much as you can & see if any bubbles come out of the joint,