Using Soft Solder Only

[googe]

Well, gave it a go thismorning, coldnt wait for the weekend ha. I think its just as easy as copper to copper, little more care like mcstill said. Impressed with the strength too. Penatration seemed good. I just used the bernzomatic torch and solder kit from bunnings. Thanks for the info Macstill. I didnt end up reading the entire thread, dont tell him i told you hehe

[emptyglass]

Looks nice mate.
Well done on your newly aquired "master welder" status.

[googe]

Thanks mate, not sure about masterwelder :))

[MacStill]

Thanks mate, not sure about masterwelder :))

It looks like shit, you should melt it off and start again :teasing-neener:

[googe]

Thanks mate, not sure about masterwelder :))

It looks like shit, you should melt it off and start again :teasing-neener:

Thank you :D

[ticknaylor]

Had a bit of a soldering breakthrough in the last few weeks. So i thought I"d give my advice for the greater good of all newbs. I'm not as talented as some guys here I've been through the stress of stuffing it up and throwing hot copper at the wall (reminder dont drink while building it causes you more hassles). First things first it is piss easy to solder. But like anything in life it takes a bit of practice to master. If somethings not working then try heating at a different angle or direct the heat to a different area heat play around with it, its soft solder easy to clean of if you stuff it. Trial and error really is a good way to suss this skill. I would keep trying the same thing and getting the same result and wondering why. My fridgy mate did some joins for me and made me look stupid because he has years of trial and error and knows where to heat certain joins. I found heating the outside area then directing the heat into where you want works better than just blasting the joint full bore. Might be obvious but it wasn't at the time :angry-banghead: Like Mcstill said use a LOW flame. Took me ages to realise how little heat you really need to soft solder. Last thing is you shouldnt use shit all solder. I was wasting shitloads blasting it if your using heaps and its not sticking then turn your flame down and try again. If ya heat it right it will suck into the joint perfectly not leave a big weak bulb on top of the join. Anyway everything thats been said here is probably more helpful than this but i thought i'd give a bit of advice from someone who'd struggled to do this. If first you don't succeed try, try, try again. Happy stilling.

[caveman]

If first you don't succeed try, try, try again. Happy stilling.

hey mate you no what they say ,practice makes perfect all aside its good to see improvements every time you do sum welding
heat distibution is the key with soldering im sure your on the way to mastering the art :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[googe]

Thanks mate, not sure about masterwelder :))

It looks like shit, you should melt it off and start again :teasing-neener:

Thank you :D

Oi, cheeky bastard putting words in my mouth L-) :))

[googe]

Was soldering away in the shed today and looked at a couple of stainless nuts and thought hmmm, i gave it a go. It soldered and felt pretty good at first till i swung on it a bit and snap, it looked like the flux had not done its job, was dry and patchy looking inside. Anyone else tried it?.

Cheers

[MacStill]

what flux were you using?

did you rough up the SS before you soldered it?

[googe]

Used the bernzomatic stuff and this stuff i got from work, silver solder, cant read the label anymore but its spose to be top tuff. I did give it a good scuff with a file, had some good grooves in it. Might have been the type of stainless too, want to try it on some lower grade pipe and see what happens.

[googe]

Ive been using the Aquasafe stuff from bunnings, shits all over the bernzomatic. Slides nice and easy into the joins were as the bernzomatic stuff needs alot more heat to do the same, thats what ive noticed anyway.

[Camikaze]

I used the bernzo flux/solder on a couple of Cu - SS joins today. Used a bit more solder than I thought but oh well, will look sweet after a clean up with a file and emery. This is a 2" x 8" triclamp spool with a 1" x 8" coldfinger inside. To stop the other joins on the colfinger from desoldering, I filled the bugger with water. Worked a treat.

Solder.jpg

The coldfinger is wrapped with structured copper mesh from Amphora. I bought 3 pounds of it. ;-)

Coldfinger1.jpg

This is the shitty $20 Egay torch I used. I couldn't beleive how little a flame I really needed.

torch.jpg

And here's how it looks on the lamb cannon. Just need to trim the lines. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Lamb cannon.jpg

Thanks guys.

Cam :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[Sam.]

Yeah that copper from amphora is good shit!

All looking good there mate

[googe]

Nice looking still mate, coming along well :handgestures-thumbupleft: . Wheres your build thread btw? ;-)

[Camikaze]

Thanks guys.

Build thread coming soon. :D

[Kimbo]

Good looking weld there mate, keep the pics coming :handgestures-thumbupleft:

[emptyglass]

Was soldering away in the shed today and looked at a couple of stainless nuts and thought hmmm, i gave it a go. It soldered and felt pretty good at first till i swung on it a bit and snap, it looked like the flux had not done its job, was dry and patchy looking inside. Anyone else tried it?.

Cheers

Thats a job for silver/hard solder. Just to poke the sleeping dog.

We are not making ramps for NASA's space shuttle, mate.

:teasing-tease: :teasing-tease:

[googe]

Well, if Nasa has a blowout i wont be helping :snooty: :teasing-neener:

[bt1]

Ah shit!

I new I'd buggered something up...I'll cancel the order for the 2 x solid fuel rockets.

bt1