Invisible patch in brass possible?

[draken]

After spending the better part of a month cutting and fitting the hinges on my first scratch-built patchbox, I managed to drill the hole for the latch post in the wrong place.  (I seem to have developed a special talent for that lately.)            I considered brazing a small patch to the underside of the door and then filling in the hole on the outside with more brazing.  I learned how to braze in high school, but that was more than sixty years ago but haven't picked up an acetylene torch since then.

I really don't want to start all over again, and I am hoping someone can suggest a way I might be able to salvage this thing.

[David Rase]

Could you chamfer both sides of the hole slightly and then solder and peen a plug into place? 
David

[rich pierce]

The trick is getting brass that is the same.  If you have that, then countersinking, making a rivet, and peening into place will make a near- invisible fix.  Solder will show.

[Robby]

Try the rivet first. If its not to your liking you can always drill it out and try again or go for the brazing idea. Brazing as opposed to soldering brass can be an iffy proposition, The first time I tried it I was in a 'what have I got to lose at this point' situation. Braze and brass have almost the same melting point and you have to keep the torch moving once you start. Like you, I hadn't brazed in years but I was successful in re-sectioning a trigger guard in the middle of the bow, the joint cannot be seen even after some tarnish has occurred. Good luck!!!!!
Robby

[Pukka Bundook]

Rivet is the best bet. Counter-sink first.
Then, incorporate your engraving to cover it if possible, like making the rivet the centre of a flower or such like.
Also, get a hand -powered drill, as it'll take longer to get it wrong that way!  :-)

A photo of the part would help us as well.

R.

[P.W.Berkuta]

The rivet solution is by far the best especially since you lack the experience with a torch. I would rivet it and if needed solder it from the underside to be totally confident that the rivet will not come loose but this is a "belt & suspenders" cure really not necessary.

[oldtravler61]

 Not sure where the mistake is. But could you accent the spot. With a silver inlay of some sort. Just a thought....Seen others do it...maybe not appropriate for this problem.

[mountainman70]

Could tap hole with suitable threads,get a brass machine screw, chamfer both top and bottom of plate  ,trim screw and peen ,both sides, file as needed. Just another way of doing it cold. Dave F

[David Rase]

The trick is getting brass that is the same.  If you have that, then countersinking, making a rivet, and peening into place will make a near- invisible fix.  Solder will show.

Point of clarification.  The only reason I mentioned solder is because if the new hole will overlap the patched hole solder will help maintain the plug in place.  If the new hole location completely misses the patched hole then no solder would be needed.
David

[smylee grouch]

I would try the rivet, counter sink the hole and anneal the brass rivet first then rivet it in the counter sink and file flush. It should tarnish very close to the same as the box material.

[Hungry Horse]

Brazing rod will not be the same color as the brass furniture, it will look like red bronze. I would go with the rivet, and solder. Hiding the patch in some busy engraving, like a flower was also a very good idea.

  Hungry Horse

[Robby]

Since the original brass trigger guard I brazed I have done brazing brass on three different occasions, the braze is a complete match that cannot be seen with bright light and optivisor. I recommend riveting here, but in my experience braze does not show, silver solder shows. Its not for the faint of heart.
Robby

[Bill Raby]

You can have an invisible solder seam by making solder that is about 85% brass and 15% silver. Solder will be very close to the melting point of brass so be careful. Don't solder with acetylene. Oxygen and hydrogen is ideal, but propane or natural gas works well also.

[Goo]

Since the original brass trigger guard I brazed I have done brazing brass on three different occasions, the braze is a complete match that cannot be seen with bright light and optivisor. I recommend riveting here, but in my experience braze does not show, silver solder shows. Its not for the faint of heart.
Robby

GO FOR IT!   It sounds like you Have enough skills to make a successful braze fill of the hole.

[flinchrocket]

Would it be possible to make a post that uses two rivets since you have to fill the hole anyway?

[Mark Elliott]

I would fill the hole with a rivet, but is the hole really that far off that it needs to be patched?     The posts were not always centered depending on the type of release mechanism.   Could you just relocate your release mechanism if that hasn't already been installed? 

[draken]

You can have an invisible solder seam by making solder that is about 85% brass and 15% silver. Solder will be very close to the melting point of brass so be careful. Don't solder with acetylene. Oxygen and hydrogen is ideal, but propane or natural gas works well also.

Thanks for all the excellent suggestions guys, and I find the idea of making a solder by combining Brass with Silver  particularly intriguing.
Bill, I can see where this idea could have a number of applications and I think I understand how it's done, but could you provide a few details?
Thanx