nostalgia
Well-Known Member
Here's what I do. I'm sure others have equally valid techniques:
- clean coupling and keg very well. any solution of product I should use?
- apply flux around coupling in the gap
- insert ring of solder or rings of solder depending on solder thickness ( I have plumbing solder that is pretty thick, and the kit I just bought has very thin solder)
- fire up torch of Mapp gas and heat a good distance from the coupling getting the surrounding area hot circling closer to coupling.
- solder should melt once proper temp is achieved
- wipe with damp rag or cloth to clean.
- ??????????
- profit
1: I use grease and wax remover, followed by 150/220 grit sandpaper. I use acetone for a final cleaning before applying flux. You can use acetone for the whole cleaning, but I have the grease and wax remover on hand, so I use that first.
2. Yes, and I use a dental pick to wipe the puddle of flux around to make sure everywhere I want solder has wet flux on it.
3. Yes. I wrap the solder around the outside of the coupler first to shape the ring.
4. Sort of. I do heat up the surrounding area a bit, but mostly focus on the fitting itself. Since the keg is so relatively thin compared to the coupling, once the coupling is hot enough to melt the solder, the keg will already be there. So I start out warming up the keg around the coupling, but then pretty much exclusively concentrate heat on the fitting, since it will have the most thermal mass.
5. Yes. Once the solder flows, I heat for another second and stop.
6. After the joint is cool, yes. This may take longer than you think - don't move the keg if you don't want to flow solder everywhere. Ask me how I know
7. Have a homebrew.
8. Win!
-Joe