[Noisebridge-discuss] soldering copper sheet metal

[jim]

     I've uploaded photos of my failed attempts to
solder copper sheet metal :

http://www.systemateka.com/Copper/


     Each of the three jpg files shows the same things
from different camera POVs.

     The longest copper strip separates the foreground
attempts, tried various types of glues from the
background attempts, tries with various types of
solder and flux.

     The soldering iron advertised 950 degrees F; the
(blue) propane advertised 2000 degrees F; the (yellow)
MAP advertised about 3000 degrees F.
     Each got the copper (30 gauge and 24 gauge) hot
enough to melt the solder. The propane was hot enough
to get the copper bright rid. The MAP was hot enough
to vaporize the copper and let a little drop of
molton copper fall.

     My interpretation of the dark brown residue on
the pieces in back is that is cooked rosin.

     I've tried various glues: goop, water weld,
super glue, krazy glue, liquid nails.... None of
them hold enough to resist being pulled apart (with
mild force).

     I believe it'll be best for us to find someone
who can do the work: we have various models to show.

     Anybody interested in taking this project on? My
guess is four to eight hours total, flexible time.

Hopefully, with thanks,
jim




On 11/01/2015 03:34 AM, jim wrote:
>
>     oh: yes, I want to solder the pieces together.
> I've tried with clamping--no dice.
>
>
> On 11/01/2015 03:28 AM, jim wrote:
>>
>>     yes. I've cut small pieces of 30 gauge and also 24
>> gauge and have tried to tin them (tin 'em first, then
>> solder them together, yes?) with horrid results: a dark
>> brown crust develops that shows little round pin-head
>> sized circles and the solder just sits in a ball and
>> then rolls off.
>>     I've used two different types of flux and various
>> types of solder (tin-lead, silver...).
>>     I've gotten the copper bright red with a propane
>> torch. I've used a soldering iron.
>>     I've washed them with alcohol, paint thinner, and
>> muriatic acid; I've also washed them with a solution
>> of lye and sodium carbonate and borax. I've sanded
>> them with fine and with coarse paper, by hand and
>> with an orbital sander.
>>
>>     In the past I've soldered electronic circuits and
>> copper pipe successfully.
>>     A couple of experienced people say it sounds like
>> the surface of the copper sheets is contaminated, but
>> golly! After all that scrubbing and washing and flux
>> and heating?
>>
>>
>>
>> On 11/01/2015 03:08 AM, Cere Davis wrote:
>>>
>>> So ur just trying to solder copper to copper?
>>>
>>> On Oct 25, 2015 4:37 PM, "jim" <jim at well.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>         I've soldered electronics and plumbing and
>>>     am stuck trying to solder copper sheet metal.
>>>     I've used a soldering iron and a propane torch.
>>>     I've used alcohol, acetone, and paint thinner
>>>     to clean the copper as well as fine and coarse
>>>     sandpaper to clean the surfaces. I'm using
>>>     electronic flux (haven't yet tried plumbing
>>>     flux).
>>>         The soldering is not working: solder does
>>>     not flow or adhere to the copper, and there's
>>>     a brown residue that appears after heating.
>>>     Using a torch for forty or fifty seconds
>>>     results in flame that does not immediately
>>>     expire.
>>>
>>>         Anybody got tips?
>>>
>>>
>>>
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>>>
>>
>>
>>
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>
>
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