Bakers Fluid No3

Tip for anyone storing Bakers soldering fluid, transfer to a plastic container or alternatively store the tin in a plastic tub to hold any leakage..

I had a tin eaten through and the flux ruined some dies and tools stored closeby, probable age 25 years !!!!!!!

Emgee

I just bought some Bakers no. 3, ebay, can't have been very dear. Came in a plastic bottle. I use it for soldering steel and similar.

it's been a while since I used Bakers fluid - is it likely to work on nickel?

Borax melts and starts to remove oxides, essential to the brazing process, at 743 degC.

The most common silver solder sold to the model engineer starts to melt at 630 degC.

A major benefit of using a silver solder stems from its low melting point. It is quicker, there is less distortion, less metallurgical degradation. The use of a high melting point flux negates that benefit.

If this benefit is of no interest then don't waste your money. Make your joints with brass.

If it is of interest, along with better oorrosion resistance, colour match, then use a silver solder. But why not then use it properly? Use a flux that prepares the joint for metal flow before the flller metal melts. Why build up increased levels of oxide unnecessarily. You will get better joints.

I believe that Bakers Fluid 3 has undergone two levels of dilution from Bakers Fluid.

A concentrated form is readily available. Pick it up at exhibitions without the high delivery cost incurred because corrosive liquid fluxes cannot be sen in the post.

Keith