forsyth

yup ! ... hard to beat lil trick

Hehe, thanks. Bread putty worked like a charm.

clean fitting and pipe with emery cloth or sand paper then wipe clean , fit together, heat ... touch
flux core solder to hot joint it will suck it in your done when a little puddle of melted solder
pools /gathers around the joint .
if it's a wet pipe ... mash a piece of white bread (white part only) with your hand to form a "putty" 1/2 inch or so thick to temporarily plug the pipe .
after plugging dry then fit together and solder as quickly as possible
(water will disolve the bread putty plug very quickly after turning the water back on)
the flame on the torch should be blue ... your not trying to get the pipe red hot just hot enough
(300-400 degrees) to melt the solder

Any normally skilled individuals find themselves having problems with this relatively simple process? I've worked metal all my life, but never really had much occasion to do any joining work under 700 degrees. I feel kinda like an adult trying to open a childproof bottle.