8 replies to this topic

[Prometheus]

So I was at a hobby store a while back, one which happened to be the nearest by. I noticed they had small sheets of brass, approximately 4" (10cm) by 12" (30cm). It was somewhat expensive, but still cheaper than polycarbonate (generic Lexan). I do not know machining and fabrication of alloys other than steel, and some stainless. I also know that brass is an alloy of copper and zinc. I am pondering if brass can be effectively soldered, such as I can make a brass magazine with some tubing for ends and sheets for sides. Or perhaps, solder a peice of 9/16" onto some 17/32" for a coupler, to make a barrel longer than 12" (the brass I get is 12" long, no longer). I am putting this up to anybody who has some information about such a process, as my knowledge in this branch of fabrication is very limited.

[Flaming Hilt]

To solder metal you will have to use a blowtorch. McMaster-Carr has them (as they have everything). Just type "soldering torch" into the search bar and it should be the first thing to pop up. Afterwards all you need is some solder. And maybe leather gloves and safety goggles. Yea, those would be nice, too.

Otherwise it's pretty self-explanatory. Place solder onto desired weld location, and torch. Get non-flux solder because then you don't have to worry about flux (which works best with copper anyways). You will of course need some way of holding everything in place since one of your hands has the solder and the other has the torch. Although it shouldn't be THAT hard to come across a vice...

[Gyrvalcon]

You might want to try somewhere other than McMaster-Carr, as they no longer ship to Canada.

Edited by Gyrvalcon, 21 March 2007 - 09:09 PM.

[Prometheus]

Yes, I know how to solder, it is the same principle as brazing steel and soldering copper. I wanted to know if soldering would have an effect on the brass. I know it has a high melting point, so I won't melt it, but some materials, such as hardened steel, are weakened by heat ( such us that of cutting it with torches). I am wondering if anybody attempted to solder brass before, and what their results were.

[CaptainSlug]

If you heat brass too long it will anneal and become really really soft. The amount of time it takes depends on the thickness of the brass.

Edited by CaptainSlug, 22 March 2007 - 01:36 PM.

[Prometheus]

So yeah, it was a while since we did properties of metals and metallurgy, so I had to refresh myself about annealing of crystal lattices, and the effects it can have. I'm thinking about machining the one edge down, so I can have it overlap the other piece, and use a metal epoxy like JB Weld or JB Quik-Weld, something that will hold up an not reduce the strength of the metal. I also have some aluminum I am gonna try using for some mags and possibly a Longshot clip. I plan on cutting a piece of 2x4, and using it as my mold to bend the aluminum around. Not sure yet how I would attach the edges there, but I might be able to get it MIG welded and then grind the weld down a bit so it's flush.

[TX-2000]

I am currently using quite a bit of brass sheeting I found in a very long roll in my garage. I've been using duct tape to hold the brass together but I will try soldering it together instead. I'll let you know how it goes and what methods I try. My first few thoughts are 1) I have a blow torch, 2) I have welding tools, and 3) duct tape still holds brass and brass together...

[CaptainSlug]

If you want something simply just buy some JB weld. It will be stronger than a soldered joint (possibly even a brazed joint) and isn't very difficult to apply.

[Prometheus]

Yeah, I'm assuming you will be using a soldering torch, which uses atmospheric oxygen and propane/acetylene to heat things, where as a conventional blow torch uses compressed oxygen and propane/acetylene to heat things. A conventional blow torch will probably destroy your thin sheets. I would go with CaptainSlug on this one, he probably has the most machining experience of anybody here.

Edited by Prometheus, 04 April 2007 - 03:30 PM.