Fig. 51.—Finished Wiped Joint
Upright Joints.
—These are more trying to the worker’s patience but are the easier to wipe. After the pipe has been fixed in position, a lead collar should be fixed a few inches below the joint to catch the surplus metal. A piece of stout string tied by a half hitch round the pipe will prevent any leakage of the solder. In working up the heat of an upright joint, care should be taken to work steadily round the joint so that the heat is the same throughout. After sufficient metal has been splashed on with the splash stick and ladle, and the metal is at a moving heat, roughly shape up the joint with the splash stick, keeping the metal fairly high on the joint; then splash on a little more hot metal all round. A warm cloth is now used to shape up the joint by bringing the lower metal up to the higher part, after which start to wipe first with the hand as far round the back of the joint as possible and bring the surplus metal to the front, the cloth being held by the thumb and the index and little fingers; then change the cloth to the left hand and repeat the operation. The joint should be finished off at the back, although if quickly done the finish off should not be apparent. The collar must now be taken off and the solder it contains melted with a plumber’s iron.
A plumber’s iron can be used to good purpose on these joints, especially if they are out of doors and the weather is rough. The iron must be heated to redness and well filed up.
Fig 52.—Making Upright Wiped Joint
Fig. 53.—Wooden Collar or Platform
to Catch Waste Solder
Fig. 54.—Lead Collar to Catch
Waste Solder