soldering stainless steel guard

F

fetz

Joined
Dec 30, 2003
Messages
88
having problems soldering a stainless steel guard on a fixed blade
tool steel knife, any ideas, the solder just wont stick to the stainless guard! thanks
 
Moved to Shop Talk.
 
You would probably get a better response in the ShopTalk forum.

Are you using any flux? If you aren't using any flux, or are using an incorrect flux I could see having problems getting it to hold.
 
Soldering stainless is a learned skill. You have to experiment with different combinations of solder and flux to learn what's right for you. Also, you have to get the heat just right. This is nowhere near as forgiving as sweating copper pipe. I have 3 or 4 different silver-bearing solders with matched fluxes. You haven't mentioned what you mean by "Stainless"; is it 300 or 400 series, or unknown? I don't like to solder 300 series, and that's why I only use 416 for stainless furniture. Stainless simply isn't as easy to solder as plainer steels.

Staybrite solder and Stayclean flux is a popular combination. I also have good luck with the paste-type silver solders for stainless, as sold by Rio Grande. A good old standby is TIX, but it is not as pretty or corrosion resistant.

Some people have mentioned using a heat gun to melt the solder, laying little strips along the solder lines, fluxing, and heat-gunning. I have yet to try this, but it sounds interesting.
 
IT IS 416 SERIES STAINLESS, I WAS HEATING WITH A PROPANE TORCH, I
WILL TRY DIFFERENT SOLDER AND FLUX. THANKS
 
The solder ( not silver BRAZE )should be 95 tin, 5 % silver which melts at 400 F . Then you should have a flux specifically made for stainless steel. Standard fuxes won't work.
 
Fetz, be sure not to get it too hot, a common problem. Like mete stated, it's low temp solder you want, and will melt at bit over 400F. Overheating trashes the flux and then it won't adhere. It took me forever to get to where i was happy with my soldering and knew i could do it as i wanted. Keep practicing, it'll come; it's not an easy skill.
 
I DONT HAVE A PROBLEM WITH SOLDERING BRASS WITH THE SAME STUFF BUT I
WILL UPDATE MY STUFF AS YOU GUYS ADVISED. THANKS FOR THE HELP!!
 
ah, k, then change solder/flux some til ya find what works. good luck
 
Soldering 300 series stainless is a real pain! I can get 316C stainless out of a friend's scrap so, being the cheap person I tend to use it. In one case I took a piece to a friend who's a much better wielder than I (that would include almost everyone!) and he had problems also.
There may be hope. Someone mentioned a flux for 300 stainless but I can't remember who or what. I only remember that it was black. Any help out there!
Thanks, Lynn
 
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