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Author Topic: SOLDERING  (Read 2982 times)

Offline hortonstn

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SOLDERING
« on: February 08, 2011, 11:52:05 PM »
i am trying to solder a ft sight blade to a base. made of brass  i'm using a propane torch with map gas i sand to clean the brass flux heat to a pale red
touch the solder to the brass then it bubles up and runs off not sticking to anything.. what am i doing wrong???
paul
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Offline Longknife

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Re: SOLDERING
« Reply #1 on: February 09, 2011, 12:05:21 AM »
You're getting it TOO hot, there is no need to get it red, get it just hot enough to melt the solder, propane might work better for you as it will not get as hot...Ed
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Ed Hamberg

Offline bgf

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Re: SOLDERING
« Reply #2 on: February 09, 2011, 01:38:37 AM »
I agree that red is too hot.  Also, it seems to help to add (wipe on) a little flux when you are close to temperature -- once it boils off it is useless on bare metal, at least that has been my experience.  Just be sparing, or you'll go the other way and have solder sticking everywhere; been there :).
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Offline Paddlefoot

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Re: SOLDERING
« Reply #3 on: February 09, 2011, 09:58:16 AM »
If you're going to heat it that much you've got to use silver solder. Might be better for a thicker sight blade but usually not needed.
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The nation that makes great distinction between it's warriors and it's scholars will have it's thinking done by cowards and it's fighting done by fools. King Leonidas of Sparta

Offline D. Taylor Sapergia

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Re: SOLDERING
« Reply #4 on: February 09, 2011, 08:36:22 PM »
I don't use ordinary solder for that job anymore...eventually it'll fail, and then you're in a pickle.  Clean the base and blade well with abrasive, flux and use silver braze.  It's called hard soldering, and is so much stronger than ordinary lead solder.  For that,  you do need dull red heat.
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D. Taylor Sapergia
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Offline Paddlefoot

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Re: SOLDERING
« Reply #5 on: February 10, 2011, 08:14:00 PM »
Got to go with Taylor.  Was looking at my Hawken last night and danged if the front sight blade wasn't loose. Soft solder no more.
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The nation that makes great distinction between it's warriors and it's scholars will have it's thinking done by cowards and it's fighting done by fools. King Leonidas of Sparta
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