Front sight solder

[frogwalking]

I have been working on (and off) an English trade pistol for several years.  I soldered on the silver front sight today, and as sometimes happens, got a little extra solder on the barrel, outside the sight.  It is 5% silver low temp solder from Brownel's. 

Does anyone know how to remove the solder around the outside of the sight?   

Thanks,

Frog

[kutter]

Just good old extra careful polishing to clean up the surfaces of the bbl around the sight.
It's a common occurance and a pain to clean up.

You can keep the solder from spreading from the tinned surfaces to others that you don't want solder on by rubbing down those others surfaces with nothing more than a regular pencil.
The pencil lead (graphite) will coat the surface and not allow the solder to adhere. Makes a nice clean job of things.
Tin the bottom of the sight. Clean off the bbl surface. Add a tiny amt of flux to the sight surface and clamp it in the right position.
 Before you heat things up to sweat solder it in place, scrub all around the sight & bbl surface with the pencil and any excess solder bleeding out will just roll off those graphite coated surfaces.
Great for next time...

[frogwalking]

Thanks Kutter,

I will keep on polishing.  I only build one every  now  and then, and am not as skillful as most folks here.  My grandchildren call this build a "pirate pistol". 

[B.Habermehl]

A tip. Cold blue the area around the sight. Any remaining solder will be plainly visible, Polish or carefully pare the solder away with a carving chisel, then polish. Reblue as needed till you get it all then polish off the cold blue.

[J. Talbert]

A sharpened brass rod makes good scraper for soft solder and is easy on the steel.

Jeff

[volatpluvia]

BJH,
Yes, indeed.  I saw Kennedy do that on one of my gonnes.  The chisel just sliced it right off.  I don't think it even dulled the chisel.  He was so skilled with it.
volatpluvia

[frogwalking]

Brass I have.  Skill may be another matter.  I certainly will give it a try.  Thanks.

[snowdragon]

You can do surprisingly well with a chisel, but don't try to take off a big chunk at any time.  Just shave it down slowly, rocking the chisel as you go.  Change directions when needed.  When you get it down to almost gone, you can use an exacto knife to cut or scrape it away.  You may not even need to polish when finished. Good luck. Bill