Soldering/brazing aluminum

[Modjo]

Hi guys, i don't usually post here but i thought you guys would know the answer to my question.

I'm looking for tools that can solder aluminum (tubes or sheets). would a 100w solder gun from radioshack do a good job? and could it solder really small pieces?

[fastboy]

you cannot solder aluminium,it has to be welded,you could try using brass instead which can be soldered very easily.

dave

[slugbugg]

WOW aluminum is really hard to weld together, go with fastboy's advice and use brass with the higher strength silver solder.

[killer]

:ö:here in the Philippines we have this "Magic Solder (?)" that can solder alluminum piesces together by simply letting the lead thing melt on the allum. parts to be soldered using a regular lighter.
-æ

[Modjo]

i just tried soldering some brass with my 40w iron. seems to work pretty well too. so there's no need to buy a new solder gun.

thx for the help.

[Modjo]

Could someone help me with this. i want to solder two pieces of 1/4in x 1/16in brass at right angles. i don't know how to approach this. I tried soldering the two pieces together by applying flux and solder to the ends of the short piece and the broad side of the long piece. problem is the solder won't melt or bond.

anyone know what the best way of joining the two pieces would be?

edit - i used a 40 watt soldering iron and a 100watt soldering gun to try this.

btw killer, is that "magic solder" the same as
this one? (http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F011%5F009%5F007%5F001&product%5Fid=64%2D010)

thx

[fastboy]

well i use a 40watt iron for my soldering with no problems,maybe the tip on it is too small therefore going cool as soon as you touch the brass,the 100 watt is one of those trigger types yes?,if so they wont work for brass(tip too small)

use wet and dry(sandpaper for metal) on both the surfaces you want to join,tin both pieces(light coating of solder) use the iron on the back of the largest piece,that way the large piece acts like your soldering iron too with a lot of mass behind it it wont go cool as soon as you introduce the other piece.

you need to clamp the big piece on its side(like you have it) so it doesnt move,also try a bit of solder on the back(where you place the soldering iron) to conduct heat better.

[MS_Modifier]

ya you gotta sand the joints because most bras comes with a clear coat on it so it woint tarnish and you gotta sand that off

[killer]

Originally posted by Modjo
i used a 40 watt soldering iron and a 100watt soldering gun to try this.

btw killer, is that "magic solder" the same as
this one? (http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F011%5F009%5F007%5F001&product%5Fid=64%2D010)

thx

:ö: about the "magic solder" i'm not sure if it's the same thing :(, about soldering parts... here's how i do it... first i sand/clean the parts to be soldered, i posistion the parts how i want it to be soldered before i apply a small amount of soldering flux, i prefer to use a 60watts soldering iron, i let the iron to heat up, then i melt a small amount of solder lead on the iron's tip, with the melted solder lead on the iron's tip this will allow me to use my left hand to hold the parts to be soldered, while i hold the soldering iron on my right hand, then i touch the parts to be soldered on with the irons tip only for more or less than a second, you will notice that the soldering lead will flow down the parts to be soldered where you applied flux, but don't let the tip touch the parts for more than 2 or 3 seconds, this will heat up the parts quickly that may melt the solderings other soldered parts, as you could see this parts are so small and heat could transfer through parts very quick! :eek:

-æ

[sawhit4]

you can braze aluminim togeather but you need a torch and it would be very very hard to do small things. brass is cheaper and alot easier.

[arch2b]

building on what killer has said, i tin so to speak all the brass parts before soldering them together. and hold the brass from as far away as resonabley possible as it will conduct heat very quickly;) sanding is essential....something i always forget in my explanations becasue it's so routine

[sawhit4]

if you are goin to try to braze it you could probably make a 1/32 scale chassis with some practice. you will also need a special aluminum brazeing rods

[Timbo337]

I believe the only way to join aluminum together is to Tig weld it, ie. too big for this kind of work. If you want to make a 1/10 scale roll cage, I have been using steel brakeline (get it at automotive stores) and brazing it together. Works very well:D