Silver Solder or any kind of solder?

J

J S Machine

Joined
Oct 15, 2007
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72
I'm going to do some slip joints here soon, and I need to be sure I buy the right supplies. I stopped by Lowes to pick up some silver solder and some flux. I have a small propane torch with a very old torch head. I thought I might pick up a new torch because of the fear that the older one may not work well.

I found that none of the packages of solder had "silver solder" written anywhere on them. The only thing I could find that was solid wire and not rosin or acid core says "lead free solid wire solder".

It says 419* melting temp and 6950psi high tensile strength. I also picked up a new torch unit, and it is labeled for propane. I can't find sufficient information to tell me whether or not I can run a MAPP gas cylinder on this "propane" torch head. I know that MAPP gas burns hotter. Do I really even need MAPP gas for this soldering bolsters to liners, or will propane do the trick?

Also bought two different kinds of flux because I don't know which one to use. I have one that says "tinning flux - for dissimilar metals" and one that says paste flux - for general purpose soldering". Which one of these will work for what I'm trying to do? If I don't have the right stuff I'll take it back and go and get whet I do need.

Thanks.
 
You want something like Stay-Brite brand silver solder which comes in a nice little kit with Stay Clean liquid flux, it flows at a reasonable temperature and will wet to clean steel

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Propane should do the trick. MAPP tips are for MAPP gas . I have a propane torch that has a MAPP insert tip so it's double duty.
 
For soldering bolsters to brass liners, you can use electronics solder. Plain lead solder available at Radio Shack. I use Stay Clean flux. Stay Bright silver-bearing solder will be necessary for soldering to stainless liners. Silver-bearing solder contains about 4% silver. A standard propane torch will work fine.
 
Just to clarify for safety, do NOT run MAPP in a propane tip unless it has an insert or is rated for both. MAPP gets to significantly hotter temps and standard propane tips are not designed for it.
 
What you have may work depending on what your liner material and your bolster materials are, brass and nickle silver in any combination solder pretty easy, throw in stainless and I would guess it will be tough going. I only use stay bright flux and solder.

Note that some solder with a heat gun, a propane torch has enough heat to really mess things up, I flux the liner and bolster, clamp together (very very light pressure), cut a couple of small pieces of solder and place near joint (very small, even smaller), heat till flux sizzles, remove heat a couple of seconds and see if solder melts, if not heat a couple more seconds, repeat...... when solder melts let set a while.
 
Thanks for the replies folks. Bruce Bump pointed me towards Pop's knife supply and he had what I needed. I guess I'll get a refund from Lowes on the other stuff. I think I will keep the new propane torch though. It was only $12.
 
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