Soldering on front fowler sight

[Dennis Glazener]

I am about to solder on a front Fowler sight which I have done several times before but this one ends up being almost direct over top of a soft soldered barrel tenon (max of an inch forward of the tenon). Much closer to the tenon than any I have soldered before. With my luck I will melt the tenon bringing the barrel up to soldering temperature. What is the best way to heat sink the tenon? I was thinking about putting the front tenon in the vise jaws then use a rod stuck in the bore to heat the barrel/sight to soldering temperature, should this work OK? Again, my concern is release of the soldered barrel tenon.
Dennis

[tallbear]

Dennis

I would just wire the tennon in place so evejn if the solder hits melting point there are no issues in it moving.I've done this before and it works fine.

Mitch

[EC121]

You can buy soldering heat sink paste that covers the part to be protected.  Smear it around the parts to be kept cool.

[E.vonAschwege]

I've also wired the tenon in place before.  On top of that, I keep a container with cold water - dip a rag into it and hold the rag on the bottom to act as a localized heat sink.  Be careful with the heat and you should be good.  I think the heated rod may distribute the heat too evenly when you want to be heating the top half of the barrel.  The tricky bit I've faced is not burning the flux when doing so. 
-Eric

[Dennis Glazener]

just wire the tenon in place

Well duh, why didn't I think of that Thanks Mitch and Eric.

EC121 I have heard of that stuff and if I expected to do several more (and I wasn't so cheap ) I would order some of that paste.

Thanks guys,
Dennis

[Ed Wenger]

Dennis,

I'm sure the wire as Eric and Mitch described will work fine for this.  In the mean time, I'd really consider a purchase of some heat sink paste like EC121 mentioned.  Brownell's sells it and it'll last you a good while.  For me, it's sooo less aggravating than dealing with wire, but that's me...   I use it when I solder loops or front sites, and find it concentrates the heat better as well.  Just my 2 cents...

   Ed

[Keb]

Someone (I can't remember who & the search feature is beyond my tech ability) posted a "How To" earlier which I modified to my needs and now use.
They flux it & flatten the solder. Hold in place with a spring clamp made from an old saw blade. I hold it with a hose clamp with some pressure on the sight/tenon. When the heat is right, it  will melt & hold. It works perfectly. I've not had a failed tenon or sight since I started doing it like this.

This is not a real barrel but conduit and it's only set up to show how I do it.

[Long Ears]

Yep, wire works like a million bucks and cheap!

[Dennis Glazener]

Someone (I can't remember who & the search feature is beyond my tech ability) posted a "How To" earlier which I modified to my needs and now use.
They flux it & flatten the solder. Hold in place with a spring clamp made from an old saw blade. I hold it with a hose clamp with some pressure on the sight/tenon. When the heat is right, it  will melt & hold. It works perfectly. I've not had a failed tenon or sight since I started doing it like this.

This is not a real barrel but conduit and it's only set up to show how I do it.

Might have been me. I have posted this before.  I use an old piece of steel  lumber banding. I made a 90 degree bend at the end that holds the tenon in place. The end of the band has a slot the same width as the tenon. I use a clamp to hold the other end of the band to the barrel, much like your hose clamp but quicker for me.

Ed,
I probably will order some of the heat sink past along with some of their paste solder. I have been using a 60+ year old roll of solder that my dad had in his garage back in the late 40's early 50's. I just flatten a small piece with a hammer and put under the tenon or sight base. It works fine as long as I use good flux.
Dennis

[Kermit]

Do you guys use a pencil line to keep the solder under control? I've never seen that illustrated. Anyone have a photo? I have a front sight to solder one of these days.

[Dave B]

Here is another way to skin the cat. I took the extra step of insetting a tab in a recess for this job but it wouldnt be required if using silver bearing solder.

[frogwalking]

Here is how I do it: (tenon shown)