How to get slipjoint bolsters even

tito

tito

Joined
May 30, 2006
Messages
670
I've been expermenting with slipjoints lately, and have been soldering bolsters on. I like soldering, and like that my soldering has improved. But even when I'm careful I still get the bolsters on crooked sometimes, and overall am not satisfied with the method of scribing lines on the liners to line them up. Just seems imprecise. Does anyone have a better technique to match up the bolsters?

Thanks, c
 
Try using carbon blocks clamped to the liners. Use soldering tweezers to hold the bolster in place. Per-tinning the bolsters helps, too. You can make this as a jig. Charcoal blocks or magnesia blocks will also work well. Using a proper soldering board to place the items on also helps.

Make the bolsters oversize and after soldering them in place, trim to fit. Careful filing on the liner side with a safe-side file (one face smooth) allows minor adjustments at the scribed line to make them match.
 
Oh I see....aw man. I'll have to hunt down some carbon. Thanks Stacey.
 
Jewelers suppliers sell charcoal blocks and magnesia blocks:
contenti.com

Soft Charcoal Soldering Blocks

Chemically prepared for soldering. Under flame, the charcoal glows and reflects heat back to work, making the flame more effective. Easily punctured to hold work. All are 1 1/2" thick.
contenti.com contenti.com

The carbon blocks are used for EDM . It is often called a graphite block:

Amazon.com: OTOOLWORLD 2pcs 99.9% Purity Graphite Ingot Block EDM Graphite Plate Milling Surface (100MMx100MMx2.54MM) : Industrial & Scientific

Buy OTOOLWORLD 2pcs 99.9% Purity Graphite Ingot Block EDM Graphite Plate Milling Surface (100MMx100MMx2.54MM): Graphite - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases
www.amazon.com
 
I use my file guide with carbon inserts. I put the liners together and scribe my line. Get my bolsters soldered on as close to perfect as I can. Then when done and all cleaned and profiled up I stick them back in the file guide. Use set-up pins to keep them aligned and clamp them in your guide so that just about .001 or so is exposed on the carbon side of the guide. On your flat platen with a 220 j-flex clean them up down to the guide. Be careful not to have any of the belt running over the side of the platen your working on ot it'll gouge your liner. I've done this on my last 3 builds and my bolsters have turned out dead nuts perfect.
 
Let's see if I can explain what I do. I use a piece of scrap aluminum about 1 1/2"x 6" that has a straight cut end. The pin holes are dead on in my liners, I overhang one liner off the aluminum where I think the bolster look good. Clamp and drill the aluminum through 2 pin holes. Now I use temporary pins to pin the liner onto the aluminum. Take your bolster material and butt it up to the aluminum and solder to the liner. Flip the aluminum plate over and duplicate with the other liner/bolster. No brainer, comes out dead nuts on every time.
 
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