Brazing / Silver Solder how to find someone with the skills

[ArAKern]

After trying myself and failing (soft soldering), How do you find the required skill set.

I need 2 joint 4mm ID copper pipe into I assume brass fitting. The only place that advertised locally (Southampton) silver soldering/ brazing were not interested.

Any help appreciated.

 

[JOEPRO]

Take a look at this thread - if you read through it you will see what worked for me as a total newbie to silver soldering:

Thread 'SLS pipe leaking - repair options?'

Dec 2, 2025

On my 1989 Merc cossie - one self levelling suspension hard line is leaking.



I think the part is NLA or if available sites are showing a price of £225+!

I am thinking of remaking that section with 5/16 Kunifer. The old steel tube is measuring around 8mm OD so thats very close in size.

For banjo fittings can they be bought bare and maybe braze it onto the Kunifer? Silver solder from a google?

• JOEPRO
• Replies: 53
• forum: Mechanics Corner

If you prefer you can post it to me and I can try soldering it for you.

 

[Kram]

Silver brazing is very easy, best done when its getting late so you can see the part just starting to glow, which in low light will be about 650-700c.
Apply the flux, dont let the flux burn or turn black, if it starts to, apply more flux.. Heat the part rather than the rod, when the flux runs clear its roughtly the correct temperature, occasionally run the fluxed/dipped rod along the joint and eventually it will wet and wick in.

Thats with silverflow 55, which unless you can get hold of the older toxic cadmium ones, is worth the extra cost.

Whats thebpart for anyway?

Small part like that wont need much heat, mapp or even a cheap butane mix can should do it.

 

[Agroshield]

Please give detailed outline of how you tried.

Cleanliness, heat source, flux, filler material.

Start elsewhere and build up your skills (as rectifying a sub-standard joint in your actual piece will be tricky). Master soft soldering first.

Tinning a flattened out piece of 15mm copper water pipe would be a good start.

Soft soldering a 15mm copper pipe into a 15mm copper fitting would be the next step.

Soft soldering a 15mm copper pipe into a 15mm brass fitting is very close to your task.

Repeat the latter two with silver solder and the correct flux and then go to your own item.

 

[GaryS65]

After trying myself and failing (soft soldering), How do you find the required skill set.

I need 2 joint 4mm ID copper pipe into I assume brass fitting. The only place that advertised locally (Southampton) silver soldering/ brazing were not interested.

Any help appreciated.

View attachment 538376

Are you anywhere near Essex?

 

[indykid]

These silver solder rods are a fiver at halfords (but the link is broken so have the B&Q link).

@Kram's advice mirrors mine - Heat the lot, move the torch away, touch the rod to the joint and let the flux melt onto it first then focus the heat on the bigger brass bit and keep moving the torch away and touching the rod to the joint until the rod melts by touching the job (try not to melt the rod with the torch, it'll just end up on your boots). Once the rod has melted and wetted the joint, heat the brass bit to wick the solder into the socket.

 

[bourbon]

or the more expensive, but simpler way. (I think it is anyway) silver solder paste put on the joint and heat evenly and it will wick into the joint.

 

[Kram]

These silver solder rods are a fiver at halfords (but the link is broken so have the B&Q link).

Interestjng, the 650 temp range suggests they are silverflo 55 or very similar. In the pic they look fluxed but the reviews say no?
If they are as big as they look, its a good price and perfect for small job.


To help with heating, you ca wrap the copper pipe in fiberglass exhaust wrap or similar, keeps a lot of the heat in.

 

[Hitch]

Know anyone that repairs brass instruments?

Father in law used to teach brass instrument repair. Very good at silver soldering.

 

[indykid]

In the pic they look fluxed but the reviews say no?

It depends how damp they've been I have some with flux on the rod and some with flux in the bottom of the packet. I bought mine 20 years ago when halfords changed their range for 50p a pack, but they look like they're the same thing.

The Cromwell listing for the same says they're fully flux coated. They're 25cm long

 

[RichardM]

Silver solder needs a bit of clearance in the joint to allow it to flow in.
If you are soft soldering, clean, flux and apply heat to the brass as that has the biggest bulk. Do not let the flux burn.

 

[Misterg]

Any help appreciated.

You need to get the pipe and the hole in the fitting scrupulously clean and grease free.

I would mix up silver solder flux powder with a bit of meths and coat the outside of the pipe and the inside of the hole.

I wouldn't rely on adding solder by hand, as it's likely to end up with too much that might flow into the pipe and block it. Instead would balance a small pellet of silver solder (a pallion) about half the size of a match head on the joint and coat this with flux too.

Put the whole thing on an insulating brick and heat it with a normal gas blowlamp. Gently at first to dry the flux out, then as quickly as you can. The flux will froth up which may dislodge the pallion - poke it with something to put it back over the joint if it does. Keep heating, and the flux will melt and go clear. Shortly afterwards the solder will melt and vanish into the joint. Quickly check (visually) that there is a bright line all around the joint then kill the heat and walk away. You can drop it into water (or pickling solution) after ~30 seconds, or so to help remove the scale.

If it's a one-off, I'll happily send you enough easyflow silver solder & flux to do the job (or send it to me and I'll do it).

If you wanted to buy something, look at the CUP Alloys site.

Low Temperature Silver Solder

Shop low temperature cadmium-free silver solder for precision joining. Free UK delivery, no minimum spend, quality guaranteed with expert advice.

cupalloys.co.uk

 

[Kram]

Silver solder needs a bit of clearance in the joint to allow it to flow in.
If you are soft soldering, clean, flux and apply heat to the brass as that has the biggest bulk. Do not let the flux burn.

Not much clearance, ideally. The majority of things will generally have too much, as its not so great as a gap filler.

Hot citric is great for cleaning up the flux after brazing. Turns brass slightly pink.

 

[brightspark]

properly fluxed soft solder or silver works on capillary action flowing in to the joint

 

[Martin-Sy]

Blondihacks has a nice introduction to silver soldering HERE

(Although it appears the Canadians, like the Americans cannot pronounce SOLDER. )

As others have said it's not that difficult and very satisfying when the solder flashes into the joint.

 

[MattF]

Although it appears the Canadians, like the Americans cannot pronounce SOLDER.

Irks me every time I hear someone say sodder. How hard can it possibly be to pronounce solder.

 

[oldbikedavey]

You need to get the pipe and the hole in the fitting scrupulously clean and grease free.

I would mix up silver solder flux powder with a bit of meths and coat the outside of the pipe and the inside of the hole.

I wouldn't rely on adding solder by hand, as it's likely to end up with too much that might flow into the pipe and block it. Instead would balance a small pellet of silver solder (a pallion) about half the size of a match head on the joint and coat this with flux too.

Put the whole thing on an insulating brick and heat it with a normal gas blowlamp. Gently at first to dry the flux out, then as quickly as you can. The flux will froth up which may dislodge the pallion - poke it with something to put it back over the joint if it does. Keep heating, and the flux will melt and go clear. Shortly afterwards the solder will melt and vanish into the joint. Quickly check (visually) that there is a bright line all around the joint then kill the heat and walk away. You can drop it into water (or pickling solution) after ~30 seconds, or so to help remove the scale.

If it's a one-off, I'll happily send you enough easyflow silver solder & flux to do the job (or send it to me and I'll do it).

If you wanted to buy something, look at the CUP Alloys site.

Low Temperature Silver Solder

Shop low temperature cadmium-free silver solder for precision joining. Free UK delivery, no minimum spend, quality guaranteed with expert advice.

cupalloys.co.uk

View attachment 538428

CUPAlloys are a very helpful outfit.....

 

[roofman]

To be fair that looks a basic soldering job that...to the OP, buy some copper end flow fittings from a plumbers store and practice 1st as its the same method. youtube can be very helpfull too in gaining the right temps needed if your a complete novice.