soldering copper gutters

[bellweather]

Some sage words from another "I'll do it mysefer". I know what you mean about getting into small projects that turn into big projects. I little follow up to my situation...I met will a getter installer who does copper, and the way he explained it, it's all about control. As you guessed from your own experience, the irons allow you to put a bead of solder between the the pieces without overheating, discoloring and without loosing solder all over the place. Well, I haven't made up my mind yet, but his quote is looking mighty tempting. Best part is, if I let the pro do it, it frees me up for other projects, like ones that involve the new tractor. Thanks for your response.

 

[Ralph The Roofer]

The best and most reliable way to seal copper gutter seams is to use solder. A properly soldered seam will have the same life as the gutter. If you use caulking or sealant it will only seval months to a year or so.

As for whether to use a flame or iron, the iron is far better. Irons provide a stable concentrated heat source and provide a much easer way of pin pointing the heat to draw in the solder.

 

[Willl]

This has got to be a record.

 

[kennyd]

The best and most reliable way to seal copper gutter seams is to use solder. A properly soldered seam will have the same life as the gutter. If you use caulking or sealant it will only seval months to a year or so.

As for whether to use a flame or iron, the iron is far better. Irons provide a stable concentrated heat source and provide a much easer way of pin pointing the heat to draw in the solder.

This has got to be a record.

Welcome to TBN Ralph

What Willl means is you dredged up a 7 year old post Hopefully the OP got those gutter's fixed by now

 

[Deerlope]

It might be a record but Ralph the roofer is right on how to do the job. I use to have some of those really big iron/coppers for doing a raised seam metal roof. It takes a good man to hold one of them all day.

 

[Scooby074]

Yowza.. 7yrs

But yes a iron is the proper tool

 

[Skyco]

Yup- back about 1973 I worked at a college maintenance facility in sheet metal, which also included gutter repair and fabrication. Part of that was duplicating and repairing ancient guttering on civil war era buildings.
We too used a big ole copper soldering iron heated in a propane burner, the iron itself was probably 2 lbs or more on the end of a steel rod with a handle.
You could lay down a great seam that looked beautiful and well defined, I defy anyone to do it with a torch and make it look that pretty.