19 replies to this topic

[tiger99]

I have never heard of a thin layer of solder detatching itself due to minor flexing of the shell. The solder, if properly done, forms a metallurgical bond. People have been soldering things successfully for hundreds of years. But I don't know what will happen in a deseamed job, unless the stiffness of the flanges has been properly replicated internally.

[mad mk1]

you could fill it with water and place it in a chest freezer, keep an eye on it as we all know what water does in the freezer :)

I have seen this done on a bike exhaust that was caved in and it looked almost like new when it was done.

simon.

[tiger99]

Yes and no. The modern, and very expensive, way of tinning the surface is by applying solder paste, which is an expensive mixture of finely powdered solder and liquid flux, with a depressingly short shelf life, and heating it until it melts and tins the surface. You then add more solder from a stick to build it up to the level you require. But before solder paste was invented, it was done by applying flux, the favourite brand was Fluxite, heating and rubbing with the solder stick until it was tinned. The materials are cheaper, and it worked perfectly adequately for a century or more. When complete, the metallurgical bond is exactly what solder paste would have achieved, and it will not fall off. It only falls off when not tinned properly in the first place, usually due to a lack of cleanliness.

You do not build up the layer by using paste. In fact that is impossible. You use a stick of solid solder for that, always, regardless of how the tinning was achieved.

[tiger99]

Well, it seems that my granny does not know how to suck eggs, or more likely just does not use the same terminology as everyone else for it.

Oh, and Merry Christmas!

Edited by tiger99, 26 December 2012 - 04:38 PM.

[mini-luke]

Did the old fluxtie really used to smell nice or does my old man have rose tinted glasses?

Bit late tiger it was yesterday ;)
Seeing as we're all in such good spirits, maybe you'd like to post some of the leading you've done. Or even a bit of the welding...........

Yes, I hear you are a dab hand at TIG now