Soldering stainless steel

bmcneil

bmcneil

Joined
Apr 5, 2000
Messages
250
I can solder almost anything, from wires, to pipe, to weird metal assemblies, however I have never soldered stainless steel.

Can anyone tell me the solder, flux, and if there are any special procedures for it?
 
Some silver solders have flux for regular steel, and another for stainless. I would guess that most silver solders used by knifemakers have dual usage flux anymore.
I use Sta-Brite, Force 44 from Brownells, Tik, etc.
K&G sells a kit with solder, flux etc., all in one package. It's good stuff too. The silver solder I am referring to melts at 400-440 degrees F.

Make sure your surfaces are totally clean before you attempt to solder. I use a cotton swab to run some flux around my tang, and the inside of the guard. Assemble, and heat the tang and guard from below, all around. Be careful not to burn the flux, if it turns black, too hot, and better clean it up and start again. Other than that, it solders like anything else.
I am assuming you are trying to solder 416 stainless, and not the 300 series, which is so difficult as to be almost impossible, at least for me, and many others.
 
I've been using a liquid flux I got from Sheffield. It is for stainless but I notice it takes a bit more fluxing for the silver solder to wet with stainless than it seems to with simple carbon steel.

Roger
 
Actually, I'm trying to fix a tea pot :)

That's intersting, I was under the impession most silver solder melted at much higher tempertaures.
 
I don't know the name of it, but Koval sells some solder and flux that comes in a little pink bottle with silver solder wrapped around it. This stuff is so good, that a longtime knifemaker I know, immediately switched to it, and is using it exclusively now.
 
The solder that Danbo is refering to is Eutectic 157 and he is right it is very good stuff. These are all low temp solders though and you are thinking of the high temp stuff, which melts at about 1200 degrees and wold most likley hold your tea pot together better than the low temp stuff that we all use for soldering on gaurds
 
Originally posted by bmcneil
Actually, I'm trying to fix a tea pot :)

That's intersting, I was under the impession most silver solder melted at much higher tempertaures.
Click to expand...


What you are referring to is, hi temp silver solder(1100-1200degrees F). You can get it at any jewelry supply place. You would have to ask them about the flux. A teapot is likely 300 series stainless, it might be VERY hard to solder.

Eutectic 157 is a mid range solder, 400-440 degrees F. It is however, about the best there is, and priced accordingly.

http://www.riogrande.com/
 
When I had to silver soder yellow brass to stainless at work we used high temp silver solder with a borax flux. The best tip I know is that the stainless needed to be roughed up. This was 300 series stainless. Though roughing up might not look too good on a teapot.

WS
 
Get the rod or wire used for silver brazing at most welding supply shops. They carry flux to
Take Care
TJ
 
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