[SEL] Silver Soldering Failure

[Robert L. Holtzer]

I missed the flux!  Another thing comes to mind is the type silver solder 
used.  For models and lighter joinings, I prefer low melting.  I don't know 
the specs, however.  I have some silver solder that it very high temp 
melting -- it has been relatively useless for home hobby work.

Bob Holtzer

At 07:57 PM 4/18/2005 +0000, you wrote:
>Peter,
>
>I first cleaned the parts really well. It was new steel. I used steel wool 
>and rubbed the parts down really well. I then applied flux to all of the 
>surfaces to be joined. I was careful not to touch any of the areas to be 
>soldered with my hands. I assembled the parts and clamped them down so 
>they wouldn't move. I then started to apply heat. When I thought it was 
>hot enough (not red hot) I applied the solder for maybe 5 seconds. It 
>didn't start to melt, so I applied more heat. Kept trying to get the 
>solder to melt, but it wouldn't. That's when I started to get it hotter 
>and hotter, until it started to melt. It was just about getting a redness 
>to it and the solder finally started to melt. But only for a couple 
>seconds, then it quit melting as the steel cooled off. I tried everything 
>I could, but no luck.
>I'm sure if I watched someone do it I could pick it up. Just wasn't meant 
>to be.
>
>Luke Tonneberger
>Rockford, Michigan
>USA
>=============
>
>>From: Listerdiesel <listerdiesel at gmail.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 17:44:13 +0100
>>
>>On 4/18/05, Luke Tonneberger <flywheelin at hotmail.com> wrote:
>> > 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.
>>
>><snipped>
>>
>> >From previous experience I think you are trying to do this the wrong
>>way, which is causing your failures. Without actually watching you do
>>it it is difficult translating your problem into a remedy, but I think
>>that you firstly may be getting the job too hot, you are not brazing,
>>and secondly you may need to revise how you get the flux and solder
>>onto the job.
>>
>>I don't get the metal that hot in the first place, and use a smallish
>>flame that is kept on the move. The flux should be in place before you
>>get the solder out, and the solder should run into the joint. If the
>>solder is blobbing into balls then it is not getting any contact with
>>the joint and it is almost certainly too hot.
>>
>>I'd suggest you try cooling the whole process down, maybe try heating
>>the silver solder separately to get a feel for the melting range
>>before you try and solder with it.
>>
>>Like soft soldering, when all the parameters are correct, it is a
>>really easy process.
>>
>>HTH
>>
>>Peter
>>--
>>Peter A Forbes
>>Email: listerdiesel at gmail.com
>>Web: www.oldengine.org/members/diesel
>
>
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