[BC] Silver soldering BRASS

[Cowboy]

On Wednesday 17 October 2007 08:06 am, Mike McCarthy wrote:
>  If there is a way to oxy/acet solder silvaloy to brass, someone please show 
>  me.  Every time I've tried it, it won't flow and the brass distorts and/or 
>  melts. It's like the brass is dissimilar enough to the flux that it won't 
>  flow. But Kintornics seems to make it work using 45% silver....which 
>  requires even more heat.  So I don't get it....and haven't had the time to 
>  play with it as I'm usually under the gun to get something done.  So I 
>  improvise using threaded plumbing fittings which I can solder.

 Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. It has some properties of both,
 and properties of neither, and they vary depending on how much of each
 metal is present, as well as other additions in the mix.
 It can be done, but the application of heat is critical, and can vary with the
 type of brass.
 Copper melts at lower temp. than brass, thus the theory that you
 can't braze copper. ( though I've done it )
 Silver soldering brass is mostly a deft hand, good judgment on
 the heat, and practice.
 Better to sneak up on it from the cold side.

-- 
Cowboy