Copper Soldering

Hello

I wan to solder a a copper rod that is approx 13mm to 0.9mm copper sheet

any advise on this? Can I use silver solder with my propane gas torch?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions, Mari

Yes Mari, you can use any silver solder and your usual flux and pickle.

The only difference you will note is that copper becomes very soft when heated and you might have to take steps to work harden it by doing some of your intended bending afterwards, or in the case of round wire, twisting it.

You can also use only easy and extra easy solder, to avoid heating the copper too much, because it can become difficult to manage when soft.

The other thing is to use solder sparingly, or by sweat soldering, because it can look pretty messy. It helps to plate the solder when finished, by immersing it in old green looking pickle with the addition of an iron nail. Dennis.

As Dennis said you can use any silver solder when soldering copper, but I hope you have a decent propane torch as you will need quite a lot of heat to solder 13mm. diameter rod to the 0.9mm. thick sheet.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Goldsmith

As Dennis said you can use any silver solder when soldering copper, but I hope you have a decent propane torch as you will need quite a lot of heat to solder 13mm. diameter rod to the 0.9mm. thick sheet.

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The enormity of the copper rod has only just sunk in. If it is correct, you might consider using tubing instead, because otherwise the heat required is likely to buckle the thin sheet. Also let it air cool afterwards. Dennis

Two small tips for soldering the big copper rod to something much ligther:

- red hot first the big rod with the torch, while keeping the thin sheet hot (touch it with the flame from time to time)
- place an steel screw or something like that over the sheet to help excess heat escaping, cos you can end up fusing the sheet while the solder flows from the rod to it.

I am curious to know what you are making Mari, any chance of a sketch?

James