
plating, anodizing, & finishing Q&As since 1989
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Soldering vertical seams in ductwork
"Duct Diagnostics and Repairs"
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Q. 500 hundred feet to go and still on the first seam ! I am a HVAC duct installer and am currently working a job site with some pretty strict rules of how things are to be done. The situation is a 8 ft wide by 3 ft tall intake duct needs the seams to be soldered. I seem to have mastered the horizontal, but just can't get the vertical. That gravity! Any suggestions?
John Hamiltonhvac installer/avid welder - Westminster, Colorado, U.S.A
August 9, 2010
Q. Hi, my problem is this, I have 18 gauge galvanized sheet metal gutter that has to be installed in a very awkward position and I was told to weld the joints with a wire feed welder. I was told to do this because "it's not possible to solder on a vertical surface, only horizontal". That doesn't sound correct to me, there has to be a way, maybe similar to sweating pipe. The help of a older or more experienced sheet metal man would be greatly appreciated.
Thank You
HVAC, and sheet metal - Fresno, California, US
"Roofing, Flashing, and Waterproofing"
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A. I would assume that it would require a relatively tight joint to be able to "sweat solder" it.
Another thought is to use a low temp alloy weld rod. It seems to work well on many metals. To me, it is a misnomer to call it weld rod as it is much closer to being a "different" solder.
- Navarre, Florida
December 21, 2021
A. Vertical bead soldering is possible. It takes a lot of practice
John JuneauFreelance flashing specialist - French settlement, Louisiana