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DeereGuy:
Awh, your write ups are always such a great read Peter. I will be looking for the silver solder paste locally next week. It certainly works well for you and your parts came out great. Can't wait to see this project ready to go.

klank:
Thanks Bob,
If you are thinking of taking the plunge to have a go at a boiler - silver solder paste is (obviously) not the right medium for its construction.
Paste is ok for small delicate joints/fittings and having a "quick go with" - using a fine jet on your propane torch.
For major boiler joints, look (also) for silver solder rod (1.5mm/3mm dia) and "wire" - 0.75MM dia.
Over here its branded as "EasyFlo" No.2 - melting point about 610 dgrees C. (There are higher melting point solders available in a range).
With this you will also need bigger torch jets, the appropriate flux (powder or paste), and some type of dilute acid solution for "pickling" the work afterwards (to remove all the flux residue) - citric acid, old diluted battery acid etc. - should be lots of references to this elsewhere.
In most types of silver soldering - you are heating up the metal around the joint to be made so that the solder melts by the heat in the metal and flows into the joint, not playing the flame on the joint directly. More metal to heat (bigger heat sink) = bigger flame. Even on my small boiler, it took quite a big flame for quite a long time to get the boiler barrel/end plate joints up to flying speed if you see what I mean.
All a bit obvious, but hope this helps.
I am sure the MM collective brains/experience here can provide lots more tips on Silver soldering if necessary.

Peter

Stilldrillin:

--- Quote from: klank on August 23, 2009, 07:03:42 AM ---Hi David
I sourced my paste from CupAlloys :- http://www.cupalloys.co.uk/ (usual disclaimer).
--- End quote ---

Thanks Peter......

They`re just t`other side of town to me! :thumbup:

David D

DeereGuy:
Noted Peter and thanks.

bogstandard:
Lads, you have to be very careful when buying silver solder paste, it has a very short shelf life, sometimes as little as 6 months, depending on the grade, and there is no rescue procedure, once the time is up, the whole lot becomes no good.

It is very good if you have a use for it all in the short term, but if you are only going to use a little bit every now and again, it can get very expensive. If you do buy some, check the dates very carefully, and make sure you only buy very fresh stock.

I used to nearly cry, when in industry, when we found our 1000 squid a tub had gone out of date, and it was only good enough to throw in the bin. I even brought some home to try out, and a couple of months out of date and it was useless.

Bogs

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