A soldering question

[Carl Martin]

With that many tubes, you wont have enogh grades of silver solder to play with, plus silver gets hot overall anyway to take a solder properly, so the lines between using a hard med and soft solder become a bit blurry with silver, unlike gold.
Glue is a big no no, your only real option is to measure the O/D of the tubes, and get a drill that size, or just under (and a round file) and drill right through the ring, and use tight fitting holes and push the tubes right throug, slightly protruding inside, and then solder all at once as they will stay in place. Then use saw to sut off protrusions inside, and file flush.
with a hard solder, yo'ull never see the join, plus, with solder over run this is a better way to do this task, even with one tube than flush mounting on surface.

Thats assuming of course she wants 8 visible holes on the inside.

[minnie]

Really glad you succeeded with the pins. If you have work that is difficult to secure with binding wire they are a good option.

Just to reiterate for others.To hold tricky work in place support it by pushing dressmaking pins into a soldering block to support the work.

Quicker and a lot safer than plaster etc as stated before it must be completely dry and can be dangerous.

[Filament]

With that many tubes, you wont have enogh grades of silver solder to play with, plus silver gets hot overall anyway to take a solder properly, so the lines between using a hard med and soft solder become a bit blurry with silver, unlike gold.
Glue is a big no no, your only real option is to measure the O/D of the tubes, and get a drill that size, or just under (and a round file) and drill right through the ring, and use tight fitting holes and push the tubes right throug, slightly protruding inside, and then solder all at once as they will stay in place. Then use saw to sut off protrusions inside, and file flush.
with a hard solder, yo'ull never see the join, plus, with solder over run this is a better way to do this task, even with one tube than flush mounting on surface.

I held it all in place with steel pins and soldered it all in one go. It worked with great success.

Here is a photo of where I am with it so far:

[minnie]

Hi
I am so glad you took my tip of using pins.

The piece looks fabulous.

I think there are a lot of myths about soldering using the grades of solder etc. I only ever use hard solder in all my work.

The trick is in the preperation and how you protect pieces that don't need heating etc.

1st myth all the work needs heating, NO.

[Carl Martin]

Hi
I am so glad you took my tip of using pins.

The piece looks fabulous.

I think there are a lot of myths about soldering using the grades of solder etc. I only ever use hard solder in all my work.

The trick is in the preperation and how you protect pieces that don't need heating etc.

1st myth all the work needs heating, NO.

Absolutely spot on Christine.

[minnie]

Thanks Carl

Soldering is about control not flooding everything with heat etc. As I mentioned I only use hard solder,it is not through any lazy practice etc but there is no need to grade down if you cut the pallions correctly and use the heat and flux to each join and consider the previous solder join and work around it.

I have made .6mm tiny rings and joined them with hard solder.

The construction of a large piece as in the discussion should present no problem in soldering.

[swageblock]

Probably too late.
I would drill/burr a recess [about 0.5 mm diameter larger than the tube] on the ring to mark each position.The one at a time melt solder into each recess and place the tube as the solder melts.If you quench between each soldering and smear the completed ones with grease/tripoli/tippex the solder wont melt and the recess will kee all in position.
Tony

[Emerald]

Thanks Carl

Soldering is about control not flooding everything with heat etc. As I mentioned I only use hard solder,it is not through any lazy practice etc but there is no need to grade down if you cut the pallions correctly and use the heat and flux to each join and consider the previous solder join and work around it.

I have made .6mm tiny rings and joined them with hard solder.

The construction of a large piece as in the discussion should present no problem in soldering.

umm sorry but i dont think i agree !