Teaching myself to solder - tear me apart

[JBurt09]

Hello all! Love the forum here! As titled, I've taken on teaching myself to solder. I watched every single one of xxxxxx videos on Youtube on soldering as well as a ton of others before even attempting my first one. Went out and bought a few feet at Home Depot as well as some different fittings and set myself up a jig to start.

Using 1/2" copper Type M
Bernzomatic TS8000 torch head with MAP/PRO cylinder
Oatey Solder Kit with H20 (5) Water Soluble Flux and Safe Flo Lead Free Solder

A few observations and questions I've come up with:

1. Is there any difference in MAP vs Propane these days? In one video of xxxxx, he mentions to use MAP because it burns hotter, but in a later one he refers to and mentions that true MAPP gas was discontinued in 2008 and anything you use these days is a MAP substitute. What would be the best thing for me to get on board with for someone that is obsessed with doing things the right way?
2. The Bernzomatic TS8000 flame dispersion seems to be way too large. I'm still trying to figure out how to balance between keeping a smaller, more concentrated flame while still opening it up with enough gas to really heat the fitting. I think the answer is a different torch head but interested in what everyone is using. In the videos I watch, the flame folks have is way more concentrated than what I'm getting.
3. I've seen some recommend fluxing just the pipe while others recommend fluxing the pipe and the coupling. I started doing both and then eventually switched to going a LITTLE heavier on the pipe and none on the coupling. Is there a right way or just preference? I know one of the cons to doing both is that flux can be leftover in the fitting and corrode from the inside if it's not completely boiled up/out, which I can't even begin to fathom how you figure out whether or not you're good there.
4. I've noticed when heating the fitting, it gets to the the point where the flux starts to boil and bubble, but I've had some instances where the flux starts to bubble and spring up and off the fitting like I may be heating it too much/hot? Is this normal or is my assumption correct that I'm heating it too much and need to reduce?
5. Is there a right way as to whether you push all of your solder in at one point in the fitting versus whether you feed it in all the way around? I've struggled to 'trace' my way around the fitting with the solder while feeding it in but have had more success with just pushing it all in at one point, like say the top of the fitting while heating from the bottom.
6. When tearing apart my joints (as seen in the last two photos), I notice there are what appear to be some air pockets. Is this normal? Am I doing something wrong?

Thanks in advance for your time and feedback! I know there's a lot of hoopla around solder versus press couplings but I wanted to learn the original methods before moving on to anything else! I made a couple of the below contraptions and this is the final one I finished with yesterday.

 

[Geofd]

Really not that bad, you don't learn soldering in a day, it takes lots of practice in the picture were you cut it apart looks like full penetration on the pipe and fitting, yih tjere are a couple of burn marks,from over heating , I think thats a very good start. try vertical soldering,that's were repetition and experience show,I use mapp gas or a large propane tank with a hose, keys are just the right amount of heat wiping excess flux before soldering cleaning the joint/pipe after soldering to get rid of excess flux or dirt, keep doing what your doing doesn't look bad
Another thing you can try is pulling off a soldered joint,cleaning it up and cleaning up the pipe and the using, like that was you last fitting

 

[Twowaxhack]

Hello all! Love the forum here! As titled, I've taken on teaching myself to solder. I watched every single one of xxxxxx videos on Youtube on soldering as well as a ton of others before even attempting my first one. Went out and bought a few feet at Home Depot as well as some different fittings and set myself up a jig to start.

Using 1/2" copper Type M
Bernzomatic TS8000 torch head with MAP/PRO cylinder
Oatey Solder Kit with H20 (5) Water Soluble Flux and Safe Flo Lead Free Solder

A few observations and questions I've come up with:

1. Is there any difference in MAP vs Propane these days? In one video of xxxxx, he mentions to use MAP because it burns hotter, but in a later one he refers to and mentions that true MAPP gas was discontinued in 2008 and anything you use these days is a MAP substitute. What would be the best thing for me to get on board with for someone that is obsessed with doing things the right way?
2. The Bernzomatic TS8000 flame dispersion seems to be way too large. I'm still trying to figure out how to balance between keeping a smaller, more concentrated flame while still opening it up with enough gas to really heat the fitting. I think the answer is a different torch head but interested in what everyone is using. In the videos I watch, the flame folks have is way more concentrated than what I'm getting.
3. I've seen some recommend fluxing just the pipe while others recommend fluxing the pipe and the coupling. I started doing both and then eventually switched to going a LITTLE heavier on the pipe and none on the coupling. Is there a right way or just preference? I know one of the cons to doing both is that flux can be leftover in the fitting and corrode from the inside if it's not completely boiled up/out, which I can't even begin to fathom how you figure out whether or not you're good there.
4. I've noticed when heating the fitting, it gets to the the point where the flux starts to boil and bubble, but I've had some instances where the flux starts to bubble and spring up and off the fitting like I may be heating it too much/hot? Is this normal or is my assumption correct that I'm heating it too much and need to reduce?
5. Is there a right way as to whether you push all of your solder in at one point in the fitting versus whether you feed it in all the way around? I've struggled to 'trace' my way around the fitting with the solder while feeding it in but have had more success with just pushing it all in at one point, like say the top of the fitting while heating from the bottom.
6. When tearing apart my joints (as seen in the last two photos), I notice there are what appear to be some air pockets. Is this normal? Am I doing something wrong?

Thanks in advance for your time and feedback! I know there's a lot of hoopla around solder versus press couplings but I wanted to learn the original methods before moving on to anything else! I made a couple of the below contraptions and this is the final one I finished with yesterday.

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If you really want to learn how to solder the correct way then stop watching YouTube and reading forums.

Download and print this copper tube handbook and learn it front to back.

This is the way young Jedi…….yes indeed.

https://www.copper.org/publications/pub_list/pdf/copper_tube_handbook.pdf

IMO MAPP gas burns hotter than propane.
The torch and tip make a big difference. There’s a reason why I use a $300 acetylene/Air torch and carry $75+ torch tips for it.

Can I use cheap torches ? Sure but there’s a difference. Better torches and tips are easier to execute the job with.

You want a light coat of flux on the pipe and fitting.

Heat the pipe first then move to the fitting. The solder is drawn into the joint with capillary action…….similar to how I suck the money out of my customers pockets.