[SEL] Silver Soldering Failure

[Luke Tonneberger]

Hi Dave,

When I was searching for info on how to silver solder I came across that 
site.   The job (crankshaft parts) was pretty much ruined. After attempting 
to solder it a few times I took everything apart, cleaned everything up 
again really good, and tried soldering it again. Still couldn't get it. It 
looked like hell. That's why I was so mad. Took a nice looking crankshaft 
and totally wrecked it.  The next day is when I decided I have nothing to 
lose at this point and just welded it. Welding I can do, but silver solder 
is not on my list of skills :-)

Luke Tonneberger
Rockford, Michigan
USA
=========================
>From: "Dave Croft" <dave.croft at ntlworld.com>
>Reply-To: The SEL email discussion list <sel at lists.stationary-engine.com>
>To: "The SEL email discussion list" <sel at lists.stationary-engine.com>
>Subject: Re: [SEL] Silver Soldering Failure
>Date: Mon, 18 Apr 2005 18:31:32 +0100
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Luke Tonneberger" <flywheelin at hotmail.com>
>To: <sel at lists.stationary-engine.com>
>Sent: Monday, April 18, 2005 5:00 PM
>Subject: [SEL] Silver Soldering Failure
>
>
> > 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
>
>Hi Luke, Silver soldering is something I learned a good number of years ago
>but I still remember a fair amount.
>One thing I have just found while Googling for a good site for you is how 
>much
>bullshit is on the web on the subject.
>See http://easyweb.easynet.co.uk/~chrish/t-solder.htm for a basic guide!
>You need the joint you are soldering to be clean & fairly tight.
>I use a powder flux which has to be melted on the joint with a very hot gas 
>flame
>until it turns into a thin liquid.
>When the temperature is high enough apply the silver solder stick and allow 
>it to flow into the joint.
>The entire joint area needs to be very hot & as you move around the joint 
>you need to keep the very
>hot area moving so that the solder stick keeps liquidising.
>I advise practising on a few trial pieces before ruining a job.
>It is a skill well worth learning.
>Best of luck!
>Dave Croft
>Warrington
>England
>http://community.webshots.com/user/crftdv