Brian Adam wrote:
In message 961011180003_103125.1115_JHG56-1@CompuServe.COM you happened to mention:
How do you make your own solder?
Dianne Karg
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
103125.1115@compuserve.com
Well, Dianne. I make the silver/copper eutectic alloy as a very nice solder.
Roughly 72% sil/ 28% copper.
A ‘eutectic’ of two metals is a particular mix which acts as a pure metal
with regard to (at least) melting charactetistics. It’s liquidus and solidus
are the same temp: 778deg celcius. So it has no ‘pasty’ stage like (especially)
easy solder. I like this in a hard solder. You find some manufactured
solders have a pasty stage (freeze range) between the liquidus and solidus
temps, so you can jiggle it about with the soldering pick. But eutectic goes
from solid to liquid it a split second and zooms right into the joint,
leaving a small filet (sp?). You know the filet? the way a soldered joint has
a new curve of metal at the joint, well this solder give very little. Hence a
slight or invisible line of solder is visible, and corners are sharp.
It’s recomm by Oppi!
Drawbacks? Well…
- it’s a high temp solder. 778 is close to sterling’s solidus
which is when stg starts to melt.
- Your joint need to be tight. It does not fill gaps.
How to make it? This was your original question. Have you done any alloying?
Use clean dry electrical copper wire cut into even sized bits. You can add it
to clean stg scraps to make eutectic. You can make it from fine sil granules.
We’ll talk alloying procedure next time if that’s what you’d like.
Regards,
Brian
–
BRIAN ADAM - on Acorn RiscOS - NEW ZEALAND
Eyeglasses, optica-absurda … and other sight-specific jewellery
Please edit your replies well.
orchid@ganoksin.com
Brian,
Wonder if you have ever tried the mix of 20% cartridge brass and 80%
sterling or fine silver?It makes a good medium solder that I find is
about the same melting point and flow point as commercial medium
solders.Also wanted to note that some electric wire contains other
metals in addition to copper, beryllium is one and sometimes nickle and
these are added to electric wiring to increase the heat resistance of
the copper.Pure copper can be obtained as shot from the chemical supply
places among others…Gavin
In message 325F1A59.3AF7@connecti.com you happened to mention:
Brian,
Wonder if you have ever tried the mix of 20% cartridge brass and 80%
sterling or fine silver?It makes a good medium solder that I find is
about the same melting point and flow point as commercial medium
solders.Also wanted to note that some electric wire contains other
metals in addition to copper, beryllium is one and sometimes nickle and
these are added to electric wiring to increase the heat resistance of
the copper.Pure copper can be obtained as shot from the chemical supply
places among others…Gavin
Thanks, Gavin.
I have tried the brass mix - well my students did, … and very successfully.
The cartridge brass is important as you may well know - 70/30 and nothing
else than Cu and Zn.
I doing a few typos here - it’s election night here - Sat night and we’re ll
huddled arounf the telly. I thought I’d try the Net to get some early results
(10 min to 10 Sat night) but I got way-layed by my mail.
Ahh, abput the elec wire, over here it’s renowned to be THE purest Cu we can
get that’s free (or about $4/kilo), and the local refineries use it, I’ve heard.
The conpany that produces it, MICO-Wakefield, claim it’s got less oxygen than
their own (pure) copper sheet.
So 80% sil/20% brass: My eutectic is:
sil 80% 72%
copper 14% 28%
zinc 6% -
Right?
Brian (plus a little aussie shiraz)
BRIAN ADAM - on Acorn RiscOS - NEW ZEALAND
Eyeglasses, optica-absurda … and other sight-specific jewellery
Edit Edit Edit!!
Brian Adam wrote:
In message 325F1A59.3AF7@connecti.com you happened to mention:
Brian,
Wonder if you have ever tried the mix of 20% cartridge brass and 80%
sterling or fine silver?It makes a good medium solder that I find is
about the same melting point and flow point as commercial medium
solders.Also wanted to note that some electric wire contains other
metals in addition to copper, beryllium is one and sometimes nickle and
these are added to electric wiring to increase the heat resistance of
the copper.Pure copper can be obtained as shot from the chemical supply
places among others…Gavin
Thanks, Gavin.
I have tried the brass mix - well my students did, … and very successfully.
The cartridge brass is important as you may well know - 70/30 and nothing
else than Cu and Zn.
I doing a few typos here - it’s election night here - Sat night and we’re ll
huddled arounf the telly. I thought I’d try the Net to get some early results
(10 min to 10 Sat night) but I got way-layed by my mail.
Ahh, abput the elec wire, over here it’s renowned to be THE purest Cu we can
get that’s free (or about $4/kilo), and the local refineries use it, I’ve heard.
The conpany that produces it, MICO-Wakefield, claim it’s got less oxygen than
their own (pure) copper sheet.
So 80% sil/20% brass: My eutectic is:
sil 80% 72%
copper 14% 28%
zinc 6% -
Right?
Brian (plus a little aussie shiraz)
–
BRIAN ADAM - on Acorn RiscOS - NEW ZEALAND
Eyeglasses, optica-absurda … and other sight-specific jewellery
Edit Edit Edit!!
orchid@ganoksin.com
Brian,
My father served over that way (Australia/New Guinea) in WWII for a few
years.He was wounded on New Guinea by shrapnel but not badly enough to
send him home at the time also came down with a malaria like thing I
think they call Denghe fever or something like that…He always was
going to go back but never was able to though he loved Australia and
spoke highly of the people he knew there.Speaking of electricity do you
guys still do everything based on 220V as opposed to the U.S.110V?
Gavin…
In message 325F6B1B.237D@connecti.com you happened to mention:
Brian,
My father served over that way (Australia/New Guinea) in WWII for a few
years.He was wounded on New Guinea by shrapnel but not badly enough to
send him home at the time also came down with a malaria like thing I
think they call Denghe fever or something like that…He always was
going to go back but never was able to though he loved Australia and
spoke highly of the people he knew there.Speaking of electricity do you
guys still do everything based on 220V as opposed to the U.S.110V?
Gavin…
Hi Gavin.
Yes I like Australia too. I was there once in 1993 setting up my exhibition
in Melbourne at Gallery Gold and Silver. I know I said I was drinking an
Aussie shiraz but REALLY I’m over the Tasman sea ditch in NEW ZEALAND. A
common way of thinking by you Americans, that NZ is part of Austrailia. Like,
I guess, Canada is part of the USA.
Electricity? Yes we have 220 - 240 volts. Makes it difficult when I buy elec
goods when I’m in USA; like our coffee grinder, Audio Research amp, etc. We
need huge transformers to run them. Reduces the cost-savings somewhat.
Extra nice colours can be had with anodising the reactive metals, though. The
greens are up around 120+ volts, by my reckoning. Set the dial on 200v and
watch the colours zoom.
BRIAN ADAM - on Acorn RiscOS - NEW ZEALAND
Eyeglasses, optica-absurda … and other sight-specific jewellery
Edit Edit Edit Edit Edit Edit Edit Edit Edit Edit Edit Edit Edit Edit Edit Edit Edit Edit Edit Edit Edit Edit Edit Edit Edit Edit Edit Edit Edit Edit Edit Edit