Silver soldering

What equipment would I need to do this. blow lamp ? or would i need proper
torch and cylinders of gas and oxygen.

A lot depends on the size of the work. Small items can be done with a blowlamp but larger ones would be better tackled with a decent sized propane torch run from a propane bottle, you don't really neex an oxy-gas setup.

J

Edited By JasonB on 07/12/2012 20:03:52

I was thinking of making a boiler for my static steam engines, when I make them, would it be better to go for propane straight away reather than not have it right with small blowlamp.

I made a roughly 3 1/2" diameter by 9" boiler for my stationary engines and it was at the limit of the large nozzle in the small Machine Mart/Clarke propane torch set. I plan to get the bigger set which should easily be man enough for a 3 1/2" gauge loco boiler.

Packing around with insulation such as skamolex blocks makes a big difference to the speed of heating.

Neil

Hi Ron,

Beginners should steer clear of oxy-gas systems. The heat is too concentrated and you may find it difficult to heat the joint properly to achieve the necessary capillary attraction required to attain the complete penetration of the alloy and strong leak free joints.

Go for propane, it is cheap, effective, efficient and versatile. Get a variable 1 - 4 bar regulator. This will set you up to produce between 84 and 0.25 kw of heat from your burners. The best in the range is undoubtedly Sievert.

Visit the website for more detail to help you to make a informed decision.

Keith

Hi Ron,

I use a large torch (butane/propane mix) for smallish boilers up to about 65 mm diam. These size boilers would suit small stationary engines. If I need larger boilers I would buy the Seivert set from a dealer such as these a bit more expensive but burners can be added as needed. I would add a proper regulator.

Regards

Terry

I intend to build a 4 inch diameter boiler, currently I am using Oxy/ acetaline, which does what I want but I would like to change to just a gas torch as Oxy bottle rental alone spoilsjust about everything. Ive been following your convo regarding the sievert torches, Sounds just what I need for silver soldering, After looking at their website and comparing torches I was kind of hoping that somebody could advise me which would be the best model for both heating and pinpoint jobs. Sorry to hijack your thread Ron

Regards

Andy

Ive got oxy propane, oxy acetylene and propane. I have two propane torches, one is old and branded Calor (I thought you cooked with that??) the other is a new sievert. I find the sievert inadequate for anything bigger than a 31/2 gauge boiler, except for pree heat. Dont attempt anything with OA unless you know what your doing, at best you will burn the metal and at worst it will end up as a molten blob! OP is much more refined and easy to handle (does the 200m exclusion zone apply to propane in fires?).

I use oxy with MAP gas obtained from CWB a plumbing wholesalers in Caldicot Gwent.

The heat is almost equivalent to Oxy/acetylene and there's a range of very small (jewellers type) to very big nozzles available. Advatage is no rental costs on the bottles.

The guy who owns the place tells me plumbers who work with air conditioning love it because the gasses last a long time (compared to what was available previously).

Works really well on a 3.5" boiler.

Ive used a ''sievert'' torch & all its nozzles for 40 odd yrs with complete satisfaction & larger jobs I pack with thermalite blocks or carbowool [yes I know it's carcinagenic alledgedly] but since obtaining a ''flamefast'' air / gas brazing hearth I only use the sievert occasionally, they sometimes crop up on fleabay & are well worth having. I have the large gun & also a small one for fine work. Flamefast wanted £30 a gun to convert natural gas to propane,needless to say I didn't bother I just use it as it is it burns o-k but is just a little sensitive to control but I'll live with that for£60.

Ive Just changed over to Oxy and LPG, its a lot cheaper that the hire of acetyline bottle, Had to buy the proper regulator but I`m sure it will be a save in the long run. The heat isnt as much as acetyline but using a larger nozzle it does the job ok.

Andy