plumbing help please. my solder wont stick!

hi all

well i have begun my first soldered copper plumbing job. pretty simple little job or so i thought until i realised that soldering copper pipe is not as easy as it looks.

please tell me what i am doing wrong. i got all my bits from bunnings - a handheld gas torch, a roll of 'plumbing solder', some greasy white flux... i got the pipe and fittings from tradelink.

i smear some flux over the pipe and fitting and then put them together, then i take to it with the torch. i heat it for a while until it goes all kinds of colors, maybe 2-3 mins, its not glowing orange yet though i dont think the torch can get it there.

then i take the pipe from the flame, turn the flame off and apply solder. to begin with it doesnt spread, it just bubbles up and rolls off but after a few applications it begins to spread. i get it all the way around the joint and i think its worked. come back when its cold, its lifted off and the fitting slides right off!

pls let me know if you have tips.

thanx

Q


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