Brazing/high temp silver soldering with 999 Ag wire?

Having done some small silver soldering before and looking to do some brazing is it possible to use un-alloyed silver wire eg 999 fine Ag for joining copper and brass or steel?

Also is there any cost saving in using fine silver wire bought say on a real rather than filler rods which may be steeply maked up in price?

Copper to copper is certainly possible with fine silver - that's how I attach things I'm going to enamel together.

I use plain borax for the flux.

I suspect brass will be 'tricky' as IIRC the melting point of silver is above the melting point of brass.

Can't say about the price comparison for sure, but a reel of fine sliver wire I bought was about £30 and I expect it to last me for a good few years yet.

Dave

Hi Jon,

This post baffles me!

Why would you want to make joints at 1000°C , probably using a fine hot flame (oxy acetylene?) when you can be using simpler equipment and making your joints at a considerably lower temperature.

You would also be able to use more readily available filler metal with an intrinsic value of approximately 50% of fine silver. What's not to like?

Are you simply looking for a cheaper method of making your joints?

Can you get fine silver fuse wire from say your local DIY shed? Don't try to explain what you are trying to do 😀

Find a supplier to the amateur silversmith for the rods and wire. However they tend to restrict themselves to standard or sterling silver and not fine silver. Don't expect their overheads relating to distribution to be any different!

Then follow Dave's advice.

Regards

Keith