Hello to all,

I was hoping to get some expert advise on soldering. Up till now, I have always used a soft solder without any real problems.

Recently I decided to try another route. I ordered some 20ga braze560 wire, handy flux paste, and a oxy/propane kit from IJS. I can't seem to get this stuff to flow right, or stick well to save my soul.

I'm practicing on 1/4" steel base with a 26ga german silver overlay, and 16ga german silver base with 26ga german silver overlay. Any helpfull hints/tips would be greatly appreciated.

PS; Does anyone know of where I could find a video on this type of soldering

_________________
Billy & Amber Dodson.
BAD Western Wurks.
Geronimo,Tx.

I like to use soft solder when overlaying to steel, because you start to get black junk off the steel at the higher temps required to flow the hard solder.I use hard solder for silver to silver or gold or brass. Stuff you can put in the pickle pot. I also usully use banterns self pickling liquid flux. It is easy with a syringe to put right were you need it. Just the way I do it. There is probably a better way.
Jim

BILLY HOW BIG IS THE 1/4" STEEL YOU ARE SOLDERING. YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE ENOUGH HEAT. I STILL USE SOFT SOLDER ON A LOT OF BIG STUFF BECAUSE OF THE FIRE SCALE AFTER SOLDERING WITH HARDER SOLDER. WHEN I USE HARDER SOLDER IS IN LAYERING OF DIFFERENT METALS.

Ted,

I used some small pieces of scrap steel for practice, nothing wider than a inch or so, and 2"-3" long with strips of silver about 1/4" x 1/2" placed on top away from the edges.

_________________
Billy & Amber Dodson.
BAD Western Wurks.
Geronimo,Tx.

Almost always heat your steel from the bottom and use plenty of flux,also use a carburizing or neutral flame. since you are using a low temp silver solder you probaly could form your overlay to fit first and either tin it aor use small chip of solder to tack it in place and then finish by feeding solder wire untill your joint is complete.Only use as much solder as it takes to fill the gap and no more!!!!!!!!!!!

_________________
I'm only as good as you think I am.

Silverchip,

Tried your chip idea, seems to work better than anything else I tried. Thanks!....

_________________
Billy & Amber Dodson.
BAD Western Wurks.
Geronimo,Tx.

Billy,
If you use 560 silver solder to put overlays onto steel, as you know you will get some firescale. But you can put the piece in either muriatic acid or toliet bowl cleaner to clean it up. I like Sno Bowl toliet cleaner. It isn't as fast as muriatic acid, but it is safer. There are makers out there like Matt Humphreys, Jerry Falkner, myself, and a few others who use silver solder for nearly all our mountings on steel. I'm not saying it's beter this way than low temp, it's just how we do it. What ever you do just keep plugging away. It will get easier before you know it.
Stewart

PS
Matt Humpreys and I both use Ultra Flux. We think it's a little better than Handy Flux. Just our opinion.

Stewart,

Where do you purchase the ultra flux? What seems easier about using it?

_________________
Billy & Amber Dodson.
BAD Western Wurks.
Geronimo,Tx.

Billy,
Ultra Flux is not any easier to use, just seems to work a little better than Handy Flux. They are pretty similar. Don't throw away your Handy Flux. It's not that big of a difference. I'm just saying you might want to try the Ultra Flux sometime. You can get it from IJS or Thunderbird.
Stewart

Stewart,

Thanks for the advice, may try that next time I purchase some.

_________________
Billy & Amber Dodson.
BAD Western Wurks.
Geronimo,Tx.