HELP! Solder nightmare - using wrong solution?

[frodiggs]

Hi and thanks.

Been having a tough time soldering an elbow to a main waste pipe, Newb here, first time with the torch. project is a faucet and pop up drain replacement. A corroded elbow pipe broke from a main waste line.

So i pulled out the corroded pipe (bathroom sink), ground out the remnants of the old pipe (thin tinny metal) and roughed up the new cut elbow. I'm using silver solder (BenzOmatic kit from HD) and after using the whole roll i got some to stick but can't get the bottom. i have no room to work as the larger lead type thick pipe in the wall does not stick out. Also there is a tiny gap around the pipe I'm putting in.

Long story short i wonder if this is the right process for these metals, do i need plumbers putty and another type of solder (old setup had a dark grey welded look to it). I'm stuck as this waste line is connected to the master bedroom so there is a bit of a drip when the master sink empties. Maybe I open the wall up and use a rubber connector here bet. the two pipes. Soldering iron vs torch?

Hope the pics tell the story.

 

[phishfood]

I can't be sure, but that looks to be a brass elbow in the wall. I don't think that you are getting the brass elbow hot enough for the solder to flow into the fitting.

 

[frodiggs]

it's a dull grey pipe and pretty thick. You're right though. Nearly impossible to heat up as it does not stick out. I'm burning the tile and wall trying to get the pipe hot. So i'm heating the silver a bit which i know is a no-no. But i also realize i need tons of practice.

What other option do I have beside solder as this is a tough spot to solder in with a torch for sure. Can i use a soldering iron instead?

 

[IFIXH20]

The old trap arm may have been attached with lead. As a DIYer you may be better off attaching the trap arm to the drain with a 1 1/2 by 1 1/4 trap fernco coupling until you decides to open the wall and replace the drain line.

 

[CT18]

That connection from the trap to the waste arm are made with a adapter. They are mostly galvanized threaded to nut and washer or dwv copper soldered to nut and washer. It may be in your best interest to get a plumber in there. I have never seen that connection soldered on the trap side.

 

[journeyman]

The pipe in the wall is galvanized your not going to be able to solder that. Get a band for steel to plastic and then install your drain

 

[OregonPlumber]

I swear that looks like what's left of a wiped lead joint when I blow up the picture..he said it was "dull grey and thick".

Here's the deal, you really need to just open up the wall and replace that line since it's torn off flush with the tile like that. There is no "magical half ass repair" you can do that will work at this point.

 

[johnjh2o]

It is galvinzied pipe. He needs a fernco coupling as IFIXH2O stated. Very simple repair.

 

[journeyman]

It is a galvanized nipple it is shiny because the man has been cleaning the hell out of it trying to solder. If you are good enough you can put a saw inside nipple and split it. Be careful not to tear up threads. Once out install a new nipple. Or you can do like john said with a fernco band. Either way will solve your problem.