Copper Soldering

I have a question about copper soldereing. I have made several small
copper boxes 20 gage& 22gage. I want to solder the joints. Can you
tell me what kind of solder to use.

Thanks in advane any help is appericated. I’m just learning.

Kathy Walkup

I have made several small copper boxes 20 gage& 22gage. I want to
solder the joints. Can you tell me what kind of solder to use. 

Kathy, the first thing to do is to search through Orchid’s Archives,
since the topic of copper soldering has been discussed more than
once.

Briefly, I can say that I have not (yet) found a solder that is truly
copper-colored. The solders for copper which are in catalogs are
generally grey in color (as Rio admits). Pre-1980 pennies, hammered
and snipped into paillons, are a good color, but their melting point
is high and very close to that of the copper itself. They also don’t
flow as nicely as most solders.

If you don’t mind the seam being of another color, flow on some
brass (“bronze”) brazing material, using the thinnest possible
brazing rod (1/16 inch in diameter). The color contrast may be
considered part of the “charm” of the box. Or, if you have tight
joins, use 6K gold repair solder for a thin seam that will always be
a wonderful bright gold, regardless of how much the copper may change
color.

All the best,
Judy Bjorkman

Indian Jeweler’s Supply sells a copper colored solder.

Elaine

Elaine Luther
Metalsmith, Certified PMC Instructor
http://www.CreativeTextureTools.com
Hard to Find Tools for Metal Clay

Indian Jeweler's Supply sells a copper colored solder 

The problem with using them is that they have a high minimum
purchase & I rarely want anything else from them. I do wish there was
a recipe to make copper colored solder.

Carla

sorry to say I have not been following this thread but has “Silfoss”
solder been discussed?

Bill
Bill, Deborah, Michele & Sarah
Reactive Metals Studio, Inc
928-634-3434, 800-876-3434, 928-634-6734fx

sorry to say I have not been following this thread but has
"Silfoss" solder been discussed? 

I don’t think so. What is Silfoss solder?

Carla

Here is probably the best guide to the industrial silver brazing
alloys:

http://tinyurl.com/yk6ahq (pdf file)

"Colors " are for them are shown but I can’t say that I agree with
those shown.

I go along with Judy nothing really matches – true gilding metal (95
copper-5 Zinc–Old pennies) comes closest but the melting points are
too close for most brazers to work with. Old penny info at:

The only possible supplier for non mill order quantities ( huge)
seems to be Thompson enamels but even that may not be absolutely a
color match ?

Design joints for welding, use oxygen free copper, and use a tig
welder. It will work when you get the skill.

jesse