[SEL] Silver Soldering Failure

[Luke Tonneberger]

Hi Everybody,

Well, I tried my hand at silver soldering Saturday and didn't have any 
success. I tried for about 4 hours and just couldn't get it.  I practiced on 
a piece of steel. Got it red hot and touched the silver solder to it. It 
melted and made a nice little blob. After it cooled I smacked and whacked on 
it and it wouldn't bust loose. I thought hey that's pretty easy so I tried 
it on my crankshaft.  Put my flux on and heated it with my oxy/acetylene 
torch with a brazing tip in it.  Got it red hot and touched the silver 
solder to it. It melted for about 3/16 of an inch and quit melting. I heated 
it up again and as it got red hot, it started to blow out my other solder. 
It would just not stay hot to apply my solder long enough. As soon as I got 
it red hot and started to apply the solder it would cool off and not melt 
the solder. I tried the cutting tip to get it hotter and that didn't work 
either. Actually started to melt the steel in a couple spots, then quick 
started to apply the solder and same thing, just 1/8 to 3/16 and it would 
cool off and not work. Then reheat and it would melt the other solder out of 
the way and have to do it over again. I messed around for about 4 hours and 
didn't get anywhere. I was not a happy guy! After almost throwing the whole 
damn model in the scrap bin from being so frustrated, I figured I'm not cut 
out for model making. After sleeping on it for a day I took the welder and 
welded the crankshaft. I did a little at a time so it didn't get too hot. 
Not sure if it will be distorted or not, I didn't really care at that point. 
I did put it in the main bearings after welding and it still turned over and 
didn't bind. So that's my silver soldering failure story.

Luke Tonneberger
Rockford, Michigan
USA