solder ?

K

Keith Willis

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Oct 24, 2007
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812
Where can i find brass colored solder?Or do they make such?I have two guards that i have the slot a little too wide and need something that will cover up the gap on each side.Any ideas?

Thanks,Keith
 
Solder isn't really made for filling gaps, if it is hot enough to stick it is hot enough flow. That said, you may be able to fit some brass in your slot, file it exactly to fill the gap, and use some silver solder that is made for working on gold-filled (which happens to be brass colored) I got mine from a jewelers supply catalog. I think it flows at around 1100-1200f or so, but don't hold me to that number. If you've got experience silver soldering and make the appropriate filler pieces it could work for you.

-Page
 
Most welding supplies sell small packages of brass or silver solder with flux included. As stated it will run and is a hard to clean off of where you dont want it.Being careful where you apply your flux helps some.
 
Neither of those High temp silver solders will help you now. They would ruin the temper with the blade being heated to 1100-1200F.

You have two decisions to make.
1) Solder it on with stay-brite or whatever regular low temp. solder you use, and live with the poor joint.This is fine for a shop knife of a personal user, but would be poor workmanship in a knife for sale.
2) Re-make the guard and fit it right .Is a $2 piece of brass worth messing up a $200 knife.

Before tossing the guard try this trick:
Put the guard in place, setting the side of the guard on the anvil. Take a 2# hammer and whack the other side of the guard solidly. It will close up the hole nicely, most of the time. Take the guard off and clean up the dings and such. reassemble and solder.
Stacy
 
wacking the gard works good. i use a lot of copper and giving it a wack tightens it right up.
 
Stacy's right
I wasn't even thinking of using it to join the gaurd to the blade, I was thinking that it could be used to assemble the patch piece into the brass then a lower temp solder could be used for assembly, but I agree with Stacy, you should probably just make a new gaurd more carefully if the hammer method doesn't solve the fit issue.

-Page
 
If you have a lot of time in the guard and don't want to loose it. Maybe you could make a thin piece of Brass (Decorative) that fits in front of the guard? If the hit it with a bigger hammer doesn't pinch it together enough. Or if it can't be done. Audra Draper
 
Jt has the right idea just put the guard on the knife hold it so the guard is square on a anvil and wack it hard enough to close the gap. Do both sides. Then re file or grind the outside back to an acceptible shape. then solder normally
 
Audra's suggestion is a good one. I've done that a couple of times on ha-penny gaurds that I needed a little slop to get everything linned up rite. I just use a contrasting thin metal. If it's just a normal guard though I'd make anouther. Save it though, you might find a use for it on the next knife. There are plenty of times that I am working on a gaurd and have to start over.

I've had mixed results with squishing it with a hammer, sometimes it works for me, sometimes not. I just put a copper gaurd on that that trick saved a bit of work, so it seems it works better on the softer materials. I invariably have to refinish the face though. One trick that I've tried is to pien the face of around the slot, then refinish the face and file the slot back where you want it. Most times it's about as quick to just make anouther gaurd.
 
Yes, a decorative seppa to cover the gap would work well. I have done it when using a large guard on a disassemblable handle (they are standard on swords), to keep it snug and cover the gap.
Stacy
 
i just did a bowie last night that has a thin copper gard. i had a little gap and a little tap on both sides closed it up. when i say little gap i mean thicknes of a sheat of paper or less. i also did a hamer finish to the copper, oh its just amazing. i love copper
 
Thanks for the all the help. I think i will try Audra's suggestion and see if it will work for me.How do you attach the thin piece to the guard?

Hey William,i am still going to get to Bassfield,i have been off work a lot needing back surgey,so moneys been short.Hope to get that way soon.Keith
 
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