Unsure of solderd fitting

[tomsim]

I am abit unsure whether a solderd fitting has run all the way around. It hasn't had water or anything through it. Can you tell be looking at it?

 

[Madrab]

You really should have a ring of solder evident all the way around the edge of the fitting but only way to be sure is to do a pressure test.

 

[tomsim]

Could you re solder a fitting if it still hasn't had water through it?

 

[Madrab]

Yes, no bother there. You can get away with re-heating, some flux on the solder and add a little more solder to the joint, it's an experience thing knowing if it's taken properly. Only other way is to re-heat, remove the fitting, clean it up and then re-make the joint.

 

[tomsim]

IMG_20160219_161927

• tomsim
• 21 Feb 2016

The 15mm branch on the right is the one in question

 

[Dan Robinson]

Looks OK from here, but that isn't a 100% guarantee.

 

[tomsim]

Its the very front part of the 15mm branch that I thought looked abit bare

 

[Nozzle]

Or pressurise with air and squirt on some "snoop"

 

[tomsim]

cause was thinking re heating could make things worse if it is a solid joint?

 

[tomsim]

as it could disturb the legs off the tee?

 

[Doggit]

It pretty much looks okay, but only time and courage will tell.

The problem you've got in reheating a joint, is that you've got no flux inside the joint to make the solder flow. If you can wipe some flux into the joint, reheat it, and then apply the solder again, then you should be okay - it's an experience thing, and sometimes, it's only by learning to correct things that have initially gone wrong, that you become better at doing something.

 

[tomsim]

I could only wipe flux on to the joint not in it. This not ideal as you say?

 

[Doggit]

But that's part of the point, if you use a flux brush, and CAN wipe flux down into the joint, then it probably need reheating, but if you can only paint flux onto the top of the joint, then there's a good chance that's it's okay.

 

[Fallout]

Looks like its run

 

[Whitespirit66]

Joint looks OK, but impossible to be 100% sure at arm's length. I have rescued the odd suspect joint before with the methods above. Use a flux brush to put a good bead of flux around the top rim of the tee branch. Dip end of solder in pot of flux too. Heat tee branch and when things start heating up and flowing, use brush to put some more flux around rim of tee, then apply the solder until it starts flowing in.