How to solder brass and steel - Metals and their processing

Features of using brass for soldering

Brass is used to repair various electrical devices and mechanisms. To do this, the metal is melted and strong connections are made on its basis. However, not every beginner knows how to properly use brass for soldering.

Conditions and scope of soldering

Brass soldering is a popular technological process that is often used in radio electronics, assembling various circuit boards and mechanisms. Some compare it to welding, but these are completely different procedures. When a master solders individual parts using non-ferrous alloys, the metal elements being connected are not heated to the melting temperature.

Brass solders are similar to wire rods that are made from refractory metals. The master, using a heating tool (soldering iron or gas torch), heats the joint and supplies solder to the heated area. The alloy is melted, creating a strong weld.

Application area:

Electronics production.
Use in repair shops.
Manufacturing of cutting tools.
Jewelry production.
Restoration of antique products.
Assembly of heat exchangers, refrigeration equipment.

This common technological process has many features. For example, soldering cast iron with brass will seem extremely difficult for novice craftsmen. To create strong connections, you need to become familiar with the soldering process in more detail.

Features of the technology

When working with brass solder, a craftsman may encounter a number of difficulties. This is due to the fact that the alloy contains zinc. When heated, this metal forms an oxide film that is difficult to remove from the surface of the weld. In addition, pores form inside the joint, which negatively affect the strength of the finished part.

When using brass soldering wire, you need to add a special flux to the heating area. A popular domestic substance for protecting seams from the formation of oxide films is borax. Different types of brass require different types of fluxes to be selected.

At home, you can make a high-quality protective composition yourself. To do this, you need to mix 20 grams of boric acid with the same amount of borax. Pour the mixture with 200 ml of water, boil, and use for work.

Work order

To properly solder different metals and alloys, you need to become familiar with the technological process step by step. The alloy of zinc and copper requires the master to carry out preparations and perform a number of actions. Having learned to work with a special tool, you can connect parts made of non-ferrous metals and steel.

Preparation

Soldering brass at home to connect individual parts requires preparation. It consists of several stages:

Initially, the connection site must be cleaned of dirt, rust, and plaque. To do this, use a metal brush, sandpaper, and a file.
After cleaning the work surfaces, they need to be degreased. Alcohol and gasoline will do. The solvent may leave marks on the surface of the parts.

Once the preparation is complete, you can start using brass solder.

Soldering brass with a gas torch

Soldering brass with a gas torch:

After preparing the parts, it is necessary to place them on a non-flammable material next to each other.
Grind the solder with wire cutters and pour them onto the future joint.
Heat the burner and direct the flame to the parts to be joined at the joint.
When the solder begins to melt, remove the burner and wait until the alloy forms a seam.

It is important to understand that the connection cannot be overheated. This may cause deformation of metal parts.

Brass soldering is a popular technological process that is used both at home and in production.
It is important to consider that zinc evaporates from the alloy during heating, which is why it is necessary to use a protective flux. First experience in brass soldering

Features of using brass for soldering Link to main publication

Source: https://metalloy.ru/obrabotka/pajka/latunyu

Soldering steel with brass at home

Soldering is one of the methods of joining two parts, in which only the connecting material is melted, and the surfaces of the elements themselves are completely preserved. Using this method, you can connect dissimilar materials, rather small elements, fragile microcircuits, connect or grow wires, attach hard alloy plates, and carry out anti-corrosion treatment.

Most often, alloying is done using brass, which is an alloy of zinc and copper. Therefore, before starting work with a soldering iron, you should study the features of using this material.

Soldering brass - some features

Most often, brass soldering is performed with a gas torch, and borax, tin or other similar materials are used as solder. At home, you can use a soldering iron or a special graphite electrode for this work.

In principle, soldering brass is similar to processing cast iron, copper, and steel. However, it has its own subtleties and features that must be taken into account.

When soldering brass, it is very important to choose a flux . During the joining process, the oxide film must be removed from the surface of the alloy being processed. An ordinary rosin-alcohol flux is not capable of doing this, so it is necessary to use more active components containing zinc chloride as a base.
Solder for soldering brass should be selected especially carefully . To work with an alloy that has a high copper content, copper-phosphorus and silver components are excellent. You can use brass itself, but you need to take into account that its melting point as a solder should be lower than that of the base alloy. Quite often, brass is joined using hard solder, for example, L - CuP 6. Such joints are very strong.

Brass soldering process

For maximum efficiency of work, it is necessary to prepare the following materials and tools:

gas burner;
copper;
graphite crucible;
silver;
asbestos base;
boric acid.

In some cases bronze may be needed.

Solder preparation

First of all, it is necessary to prepare tenol, which will contain two parts of silver and one part of copper. To do this, using a gas burner, copper and silver will need to be melted and the required amount of material weighed out. Next, the alloys are placed in a crucible and heated with the same gas burner.

Molten copper and silver are mixed using a wire, and the crucible is placed in cold water. The solidified solder is flattened and cut. Then shavings are rubbed from it with a large file.

The dimensions of the graphite crucible should be approximately 20x20 millimeters. It can be made from graphite coals (contact trolleybus elements).

Flux preparation

To do this, take 20 grams of borax powder and 20 grams of boric acid powder. The ingredients are thoroughly mixed and poured with 250 milliliters of water . The resulting mixture is then boiled and cooled.

Ready-made compounds can also be used to connect brass parts. Among the domestic ones, the following fluxes have proven themselves well:

Among the imported ones, we can mention flux pastes from the German manufacturer Chemet.

The solder and flux are ready, now you can proceed directly to soldering. To do this, the prepared parts must be carefully placed on an asbestos base and begin the soldering process.

the surface of the parts to be joined with flux and very carefully sprinkle with solder shavings.
Now the elements to be soldered need to be warmed up slowly . This should be done slowly and carefully so that they do not overheat and become deformed.
First, you need to heat it up a little so that the solder melts a little and grabs the parts . Then up to about 700 degrees. Solder will flow into the cracks and solder the elements tightly. At this stage, special attention must be paid to the melting point. The melting difference between brass parts and solder is only 50 degrees, so care must be taken not to overheat the materials being processed. Otherwise, you can get one large ingot.
The resulting seam should have the same color as the material being soldered . This happens due to the diffusion of the base metal into the solder.
The last stage is cleaning the resulting product from flux residues in the form of sagging and glassy drops. To get rid of them, the product must be washed in three percent hot sulfuric acid. To do this, the elements should be immersed in it for a short time and then rinsed thoroughly with running water. You can heat sulfuric acid in a quartz glass test tube by placing it on a gas stove. In order not to interact with the acid, it is recommended to tie the treated parts to something before cleaning.

If we compare this soldering method with connecting elements using tin, then it is no different in simplicity. But the time will not be wasted, since the connection will have increased reliability and strength.

Brass - soldering with a soldering iron

Brass and copper, or brass and copper-containing materials, can be joined by low-temperature soldering using a 100-watt soldering iron.

The solder must be tin-lead alloy POS60 or higher. Phosphoric or soldering acid can serve as a flux.

Before working with brass, remove the oxide film and degrease the surface. Soldering should be done with the soldering iron well heated.

In addition, before soldering, it is necessary to pay careful attention to surface treatment with flux, which is carried out immediately before bringing a heated soldering iron with solder.

Using a soldering iron, you can join brass using silver solders (PSr40 and higher) . However, the power of the soldering iron should be from 0.5 to 1 kW, and the heating temperature should be from 500C. It is recommended to use a borax-based flux, or you can use concentrated phosphoric acid.

In this way, you can fill various defects formed in solid brass products (radiators).

Brass soldering

Brass alloys as solder are quite often used in construction when working with most metals. With their help, you can connect parts made of copper, steel and even cast iron.

For example, cast iron elements are quite difficult to weld, since this requires a special electrode, flux and serious heating . At the same time, they can be joined quite easily using brass solder.

A very common method is brass soldering when connecting pipes end-to-end, where it is very important that their internal cross-section remains constant. After using this method, the external dimensions remain practically unchanged, the internal cross-section is preserved, and the joint is reliably sealed.

Using brass solder, you can connect various parts of cooling systems in electronic devices, copper tubes of a liquid cooling system in powerful servers.

However, it should be borne in mind that brass seams are inferior in strength to welded joints, so they should be treated with care.

In some cases, tinning or brazing steel is used. It is used to apply an anti-corrosion coating to the surface of steel parts . Tinning is most often suitable for processing small individual products; it is practically not used on an industrial scale.

When joining parts made of low-alloy and carbon steels, hard soldering is sometimes used, where the brass solder must have a melting point above 450 degrees.

When soldering brass alloys, it should be borne in mind that zinc fumes, which are toxic to humans, may be released. Therefore, there must be good ventilation in the room where work will be carried out.

If you have all the necessary materials and tools and strictly follow the recommendations, the results of brass soldering will be the most positive. You can do all the work yourself, without resorting to the help of specialists, which is very expensive.

Nikolay Ivanovich Matveev

Source: https://respect-kovka.com/payka-stali-latunyu-v-domashnih-usloviyah/

Soldering brass: features of the soldering process with a gas torch and soldering iron, the use of brass as solder

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Most often, alloying is done using brass, which is an alloy of zinc and copper. Therefore, before starting work with a soldering iron, you should study the features of using this material.

How to solder copper and steel

Soldering brass, which allows you to obtain high-quality and reliable connections, is a technological process that involves the use of a gas torch, as well as special solder.

The latter is wire, the material of which can be tin or an alloy of this metal with lead.

If you thoroughly study the features of such a process, as well as prepare all the necessary equipment and consumables, then you can successfully perform it even at home.

Brazing process for brass parts

Brief instructions

In order to perform high-quality brass soldering at home, it is not enough to simply study the theoretical basis; it is also advisable to watch a video on this topic.

The need to independently carry out such a process often arises, because almost every home has brass products that are not insured against breakdowns.

The influence of copper on the properties of steel

Considering the fact that the services of qualified specialists are not cheap, it makes sense to study this process using both the recommendations presented below and videos that are easy to find on the Internet.

Of course, parts should be cleaned before soldering.

So, the algorithm for soldering brass is as follows.

A thoroughly cleaned area of the future connection must be treated with a flux containing borax and boric acid (1:1) mixed with water.
After this, the treated joint should be sprinkled with solder shavings.
Then you can begin heating the seam being formed using a gas burner or blowtorch. Care should be taken not to overheat the parts, which could lead to their deformation.
After the solder melts under the influence of the flame of a gas burner, it will fill the gap between the parts, ensuring their reliable connection.

Thus, soldering brass is not so difficult; the main thing is to choose the right consumables and strictly follow the above recommendations.

Source: https://steelfactoryrus.com/kak-spayat-med-i-stal/

How to solder stainless steel to brass?

Any connection of two metal parts is a priori not a simple procedure. Soldering stainless steel with copper refers to this type of procedure.

Working with stainless steel is even more difficult than with other types of materials, since it is quite difficult to melt and combines very poorly with other materials. Therefore, to solder stainless steel parts, you need to use proven methods that have been proven over the years.

When soldering any other material, as a rule, no problems arise, but not with stainless steel.

The entire soldering process is clearly regulated by state standards, however, there is one unusual feature.

Each type of metal is connected differently to a particular material; accordingly, for each type you need to use different solder and flux, which will be selected exclusively for this material.

But if you need to connect non-homogeneous (different) metals, you need to use fairly rare, highly specialized consumables.

This type of stainless steel soldering is widely used both in large industries and in domestic settings. It can be used to create sealed containers, solder copper parts, etc. This soldering method is not as common as others, but you still need to know how to do it and all its features.

Can you solder stainless steel with copper?

To begin with, it must be said that this process has an increased level of complexity. But despite this, it is possible to solder stainless steel using copper.

Most often, joints are made of parts made of one metal, that is, if you connect parts only from stainless steel or only from copper, the quality of the seam will be high.

But sooner or later a situation will arise when you need to solder these two materials together, and in this case you have to give in to the quality of the final result.

To perform this manipulation, special solders were created; with their help, it is possible to create connections of sufficiently high strength and it is quite enough to use the item in standard mode. If when soldering any other material there is no mandatory need to use flux, then complete preparatory procedures are required, including tinning.

Like any other soldering method, this one has its advantages and disadvantages . First, it’s worth considering the advantages of using :

using this soldering method it is possible to solve quite complex technological problems;
there is simply no alternative to this method that would allow joining copper with stainless steel at the same level;
The soldering process itself does not take much time; it does not require highly specialized tools; a regular torch will be sufficient;
modern technologies make it possible to create solders that cope quite well with joining dissimilar metals;
Stainless steel can be soldered to copper both on an industrial scale and at home.

Minuses:

the quality of the final result is at a fairly low level compared to other soldering methods;
Certain difficulties arise when selecting the right type of solder;
the flux used is very quickly subject to the oxidation process, so you need to start soldering immediately, without delaying the heat treatment;
in most cases, “light” solder is used for soldering, which significantly increases the complexity of the procedure due to the fact that there is a need for precise adjustment of the temperature regime used.

Methods for soldering stainless steel with copper

In order to make a connection of this kind, you can use several different methods. Oddly enough, they differ not in the type of solder, but in the tool with which the procedure will be performed. Most often, preference is given to connecting using a soldering iron or a gas torch.

The soldering iron is most often used when working with small parts. With its help, this is quite convenient to do, largely due to the fact that during operation the tool does not heat up much, which reduces the risk of burning through the part.

But there is also a downside to this method: the soldering iron is significantly inferior to the torch in power, which makes processing parts made of hard metals simply impossible.

In addition, it is difficult to process large surfaces with a soldering iron, since it will take quite a long time; most likely, by the end of the work, the flux will already oxidize.

The gas burner is used much more often. It can be used not only for soldering stainless steel with copper, but also with brass, nickel and other solders. A gas burner allows you to process fairly large surfaces, creating connections with a high level of tightness. The high speed of operation does not allow the flux to oxidize.

How to choose solder?

The final result of the quality of the work performed largely depends on the choice of a certain type of solder. It ensures complete filling of the treated surface. The most common and affordable method is to use brass solder to solder stainless steel to copper. In some particular situations it can be used even without using flux.

Important: the use of this type of solder is in many ways inferior in physical properties to other methods, however, due to its availability and simplicity, it can be used for soldering simple connections that will not incur a high level of responsibility.

In addition to the above method, you can also use solders from the following materials:

copper-phosphorus material - it can significantly improve the quality of the final connection, but the cost of this solder is quite high;
tin-silver material - the use of this type of solder is best suited for joining stainless steel with copper, however, the use of this method is associated with high financial costs;
To create the simplest connections, you can use ordinary radio consumables, but it is best to choose specialized material.

Polish a stainless steel refrigerator

How to solder stainless steel to copper?

Soldering stainless steel to copper using brass or solders from other materials occurs as follows.

You must first prepare the surface for processing; to do this, you need to completely clean it of various contaminants, traces of corrosion, erosion, etc. You can use almost any solvent for this.
After this, you need to prepare the flux for work and tinning the parts in the area in which they will be connected to each other.
As soon as the flux is evenly positioned on the parts at the joints, you need to put the solder in the right place.
Next, you need to heat it with a burner until the consumable material begins to melt. Particular attention must be paid to this step, since you need to monitor the solder: it is necessary that it spreads evenly over the entire surface of the joint. It is worth noting that this step must be completed quickly enough; everything must be done before the flux begins to oxidize.
At the end of the operation, you need to let the soldering area cool down. To do this, you do not need to perform any intervention; the parts must cool naturally.

When performing the entire work process, it is imperative to follow safety precautions. The entire work process must be carried out strictly with protective gloves, since direct skin contact with solder can negatively affect its condition. This manipulation should be carried out by a professionally trained person who has experience and the necessary knowledge behind him.

Source: https://varimtutru.com/kak-spayat-nerzhaveyku-s-latunyu/

How to solder brass: expert advice

Brass products are often found in everyday life. When repairing them, owners have to resort to soldering technology. Since this method of joining metals has specific features, beginners may have difficulties during the work. Therefore, they are interested in how to solder brass. If you know the technology and follow the recommendations of specialists, anyone can cope with this procedure. You will find information on how to solder brass at home in this article.

About the composition of alloys

In everyday life there are many different parts containing brass and bronze. Despite the external similarity of these copper alloys, they have different compositions. Brass is a copper-zinc alloy to which tin, aluminum and other metals are added during production. Bronze is a compound of tin, aluminum, lead and other substances with copper. The composition of brass with the addition of tin is close to bronze, but the metal base is dominated by zinc.

What are the features of using copper alloys?

Many beginners ask the question of how to solder bronze and brass. The interest is due to the fact that soldering is associated with some difficulties. During thermal exposure, active evaporation of zinc alloy occurs, resulting in the formation of a dense film of zinc and copper oxides. It is quite difficult to destroy it. According to experts, rosin will not cope with this task.

The master will have to use special fluxes. If you use tin-lead solder, there is a risk that the joint will have low mechanical strength. Unlike copper soldering, in this case the strength indicator will be one and a half times lower.

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The reason for this is evaporating zinc. The choice of soldering method for bronze parts will depend on its composition. Bronze with a high content of tin and nickel should be soldered using tin-lead solders.

Bronze containing aluminum and beryllium is best joined with special solders and fluxes.

About fluxes

Their task is to remove the resulting film from the surface of the metals being joined and prevent its further appearance. According to expert reviews, rosin is suitable for soldering copper products. The situation is different with brass. How to solder this alloy correctly? Which flux should I choose? Beginners often ask such questions. Experienced craftsmen advise using a more “aggressive” flux than rosin.

Since metals are used as additives in the production of brass, fluxes with different compositions should be used for soldering. To work with the most common brands of brass L63 and LS59, a flux containing zinc chloride and boric acid is intended. For LKS80 with lead and silicon, the best option would be a borax-based flux containing boron, potassium and fluorine. Ready-made formulations are available on the shelves of specialized stores.

Experts recommend paying attention to PV-209, PV-209X and Bura fluxes. Anyone who wants to save money can prepare flux at home.

According to numerous consumer reviews, this composition can work with different brands of brass. Preparing flux is not very difficult. You need to take 20 g of borax powder and mix it with boric acid, which will also require no more than 20 g. The dry composition of the substances is thoroughly mixed. Then the mixture must be filled with water (200 ml). Before use, the mixture should be boiled and cooled.

About solder

With the help of this molten metal soldering is carried out. In a liquid state, it penetrates into the metals being soldered and then cools, resulting in a connection. The melting temperature of the solder must be lower than the melting temperature of the metals themselves.

For those who are wondering whether it is possible to solder brass with tin, experienced craftsmen recommend using solder with good adhesion. Conventional alloys containing tin and lead are best used in cases where high mechanical strength is not required.

Solder is also suitable when the appearance of the joint is not important.

About solder compositions

The choice of solder depends on the brand of brass. Silver solders PSr12-PSr72, brass PMC36-PMC54 and copper-phosphorus are recommended for brass with a predominance of copper in its composition. If there is more zinc in the metal, then you need to work with silver solders from PSr40 no lower.

With phosphorous compounds, weak zinc phosphorus compounds are formed, which reduces the mechanical strength of the solder. For parts that are not subject to shock and vibration during operation, MPC brass solders are suitable.

Note that brass can easily dissolve, so craftsmen using silver and phosphorus solders should reduce the heating and soldering time.

To work with permanently fixed parts (radiators and pipes), experienced craftsmen recommend using special hard solders with complex compositions. According to numerous consumer reviews, L-CuP6, which melts at a temperature of 730 degrees, is very popular. You can also prepare solder at home.

How to do it

When soldering brass, it is best to use silver solder. It is desirable that the melting site be a special crucible adapted for significant thermal effects.

Contact carbon elements for trolleybuses can be used as a material for crucibles. When heated, they are of no value, and a home craftsman can use them to make solder. In this product, a recess of 20 x 20 mm should be made.

Next, a groove should be made to it. It will be easier to remove the solder if its width is 0.5 cm.

Solder is made from silver and copper (2:1). After taking the required amount of metals, they should be placed in a crucible. Their heat treatment is carried out with a gas burner. Some craftsmen pre-crumb the consumables. In this case, the melting procedure is much simpler. Next, a steel or ceramic (porcelain) rod is added to the composition. You can solder brass when the homemade solder has completely hardened.

How to perform soldering with a gas torch

How to solder brass? The procedure is as follows:

Before starting the process, the metals must be heated. This work is performed on heat-resistant materials. Experts advise using an asbestos plate.
The parts to be soldered must be aligned with each other.
Wipe the surfaces at the soldering site thoroughly with flux.
Cut silver solder. Ultimately, it should be in the form of shavings that should be poured onto the junction of the metals.
Adjust the flame in the gas burner. To set the solder to metal surfaces, the joint is first heated with low heat.
Set the gas burner to 750 degrees for main heating. A red tint should form on the brass surface. Solder fills all the gaps, then it spreads throughout the entire joint.
Turn off the burner and allow the product to cool down. The procedure is considered completed correctly if the result is a seam that differs little from metal.
Wash the joint to remove any remaining flux.

How to solder brass with a soldering iron

This method is the most common because it is the easiest to perform. For those who do not know how to solder brass with a soldering iron at home, experts recommend following the following algorithm of actions:

At the very beginning, you need to clean the parts to be connected. Metal surfaces must be free of various foreign deposits and contamination.
Place the parts on a special fireproof stand. You can make it at home using improvised materials.
To remove all defects in the brass surface, treat the joint with flux.
Sprinkle crumbs of solder on top.
Warm up with a soldering iron.

Very often, beginners ask the question of how to solder copper to brass with hard solder. Experts advise using low-temperature soldering, which can provide a high-quality connection.

For this purpose, you will need a soldering iron with a power of no more than 100 W and phosphoric acid. Before work, the surface of the product is thoroughly degreased and the oxide film is removed from it. It is better to connect metals using POS60 tin-lead solder.

To start soldering brass, the tool should be warmed up well.

To work with silver solders, you will need a soldering iron, the power of which varies from 0.5 to 1 kW. Degreasing is carried out with flux - concentrated orthophosphoric acid. Borax-based flux is also considered quite effective. In the soldering zone, a temperature of at least 500 degrees is formed.

Works with stainless steel

According to numerous reviews, home craftsmen often have the opportunity to solder stainless steel with brass. Since the presence of nickel and chromium in the compositions of steel alloys does not exceed 25%, working with such materials is less labor-intensive. In addition, this composition ensures reliable connection of stainless steel parts with other metals.

The exceptions are magnesium and aluminum. If the stainless steel has a significant nickel content, then as a result of its heating to 700 degrees, carbide compounds are formed. The longer the heating, the more intensely they form. For this reason, soldering should be done as quickly as possible.

The risk of formation of these compounds will be minimal if titanium is added to the alloy during soldering. According to experienced craftsmen, you should be especially careful with riveted stainless steel. This is due to the fact that cracks may appear on the surface of the metal.

To prevent their formation, soldering is performed after preliminary annealing of the parts.

Progress

Soldering stainless steel is performed as follows:

First, the surface is thoroughly cleaned with sandpaper or a file.
Next, the soldering area is treated with flux, namely soldering acid.
Then the surfaces need to be tinned - apply a thin layer of solder containing tin and lead to them. It happens that it is not possible to apply solder the first time. In this case, you will have to use a brush containing metal strands. They will be much more convenient to remove the oxide film that prevents tinning.
Using a soldering iron and solder, solder the parts.

Finally

The soldering process may seem complicated only at first glance. There will be no problems if you master the technology and work with properly selected consumables.

Source: https://FB.ru/article/399813/kak-payat-latun-sovetyi-mastera

Welding brass with acetylene at home

You will need borax flux - a white powder that looks like salt. It is sold by the kilogram in plastic bags. Brass wire, sold in rods. The cost of wire is high, but if you weld it from time to time for household needs, a small bundle of rods will last for a long time.

Welding technology

If you need to boil thick-walled parts, you need to do cutting. It can be U-shaped; X-shaped, or the most common one with an opening angle of 45 °C. If the parts are thin-walled, cutting is not required; the necessary penetration will be ensured. Both acetylene and propane can be used for welding, since it does not require high temperatures to melt brass. The only thing is that massive brass products, if such are found on the farm, will have to be heated with propane longer.

Mouthpiece - nozzle for the burner, select the smallest one (No. 1). The flame should be small. The flame is adjusted in the same way as for welding ferrous metal, only a little softer.

First, the brass product is heated. If the parts have thin walls, you need to control the process so that the metal does not fall through, this can happen if it is heated too much. We heat the part not red hot (although it does not heat up to that color). The rod is then dipped in flux and fed to the joint. A drop “falls” from the rod, lands on the joint, and this drop must be “smeared” with small oscillatory movements of the torch. And so you gradually move forward.

Visually check the absence of pores. If they appear, it means there is not enough flux. Add flux and it’s time to melt. The process of welding brass with acetylene is not much different from welding carbon steels.

Read the article “Selection of filler rod and features of argon arc welding (TIG) of black steel, stainless steel, aluminum, copper and its alloys, magnesium”

Source: https://rem-serv.com/payka-stali-latunyu-v-domashnih-usloviyah/

Soldering steel with brass at home - Metals, equipment, instructions

Taps, hardware, pipes, decorative interior items and many other products are made from brass. This material is obtained by fusing copper, zinc (in different proportions) and various additives.

Soldering brass ensures a reliable and high-quality connection of parts. Soldering involves the use of a special tool in the form of a gas torch, as well as solder made from a mixture of tin and lead. In some cases, tin alone is used to make brass solder.

Advantages and disadvantages

If you have the necessary tools and materials, and after learning the basic techniques for handling brass, you can solder this material yourself.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTDDAng7shE

Soldering brass products has several features. This technology involves the use of specially prepared solder, which is introduced into the gap between the parts and plays the role of a “grasping” element. In addition, the equipment through which the solder material is melted is essential.

Typically, a gas torch is used for soldering, which ensures that the solder wire melts at temperatures lower than the melting point of the brass itself. Using this technology, it is possible to reliably solder individual workpieces of similar or dissimilar materials in structure.

In some cases, the use of brass soldering is the only possible way to obtain permanent contacts.

It is unacceptable to compare soldering with welding procedures in which each of the metals being fused is subject to melting. In this case, only hard solder with tin is exposed to thermal effects, and the condition of the parts being connected remains unchanged.

This feature allows you to process brass products of very small size and weight without causing any damage to them.

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When carrying out soldering, it must be taken into account that this process involves the use of softer consumables than when welding. As a result, the joints obtained by soldering are considered less strong compared to welded seams.

In cases of working with brass, zinc completely evaporates from the solder body (due to its strong heating), as a result of which the seam becomes porous, which significantly reduces the quality of the joint formed.

In addition, when soldering brass parts, it is important to correctly select their relative position (in this case, preference is given to “overlapping” joints).

Application

Modern technologies for processing copper and zinc alloys are widely in demand in such industries as:

electronics and electrical engineering;
instrument making and tool production;
production of refrigeration and ventilation equipment.

If you have everything you need (solder of the required quality, flux and soldering torch), you can tin the brass surfaces in order to protect them from corrosive destruction. The tinning procedure is also in demand when repairing heating and plumbing systems made on a brass basis.

Depending on the type of solder used for soldering, connections are divided into high- and low-temperature. This division allows the use of more refractory joints for soldering workpieces operated at high temperatures.

Using high-temperature soldering is impossible at home, since this situation requires special equipment.

Features of soldering homogeneous workpieces

In everyday life, there is often a need to solder two brass blanks that are identical in structure. In this case, the correct choice of flux composition, which differs from the traditional combination of rosin and alcohol, becomes of paramount importance.

Due to the low activity of the components, a conventional composition will not be able to dissolve the oxide film that forms on the surface of brass. So for the soldering option under consideration, a more active flux based on chlorine and zinc will be required.

All the details of its preparation can be found in the table, which shows several types of zinc chloride mixtures.

In addition to the types of flux considered, when soldering brass, compositions based on borax and potassium fluoride-boron salt can be used. Mixtures prepared from them occupy no more than 5% of the total volume of the solder bath and have excellent activity indicators.

Activity refers to the ability to create ideal conditions for the penetration of molten solder into the gaps between parts during soldering.

Along with the problem considered, we should not forget about a competent approach to the selection of solder supplied to the joint in the form of calibrated wire of one composition or another.

In the case where soldered brass products are intended to be used in a gas environment, it is advisable to use special types of solders made on the basis of copper phosphate and silver alloys. They are also suitable for soldering red brass with a high percentage of copper content.

Sometimes wire made from brass itself is used as solder. However, in this case, it is possible to solder a brass part only if the melting point of the brass wire is lower than the same indicator for the workpieces being processed.

General procedure

Before you start soldering brass parts yourself, you should thoroughly clean them of foreign deposits and contaminants. Next, you need to place them on a fire-resistant substrate, the function of which can be performed by river pebbles poured into an old bucket.

The general procedure for soldering brass can be represented as follows.

first, the place of the intended connection of two parts is treated with a flux of suitable composition, after which finely planed crumbs of solder material are poured onto it;
after this, you can start heating the brass (only at the joint!) using a previously prepared burner;
After melting the solder material and filling the gaps between the parts with liquid composition, turn off the burner and wait for the joint to cool down.

During the soldering process, overheating of the workpieces is unacceptable, which can cause their deformation. In general, independent brass soldering is not something completely inaccessible.

To master this technology, it is enough to correctly select all the necessary consumables and strictly follow the recommendations given.

Source: https://spb-metalloobrabotka.com/payka-stali-latunyu-v-domashnih-usloviyah/

Features of soldering brass at home: solder and equipment

Soldering brass is a popular technology characterized by its universality of approach. As a working tool, you can use either a soldering iron or a gas torch. The process is not particularly complicated or has strict requirements. Having studied the features of the technology, the connection of brass products can be done even at home.

The essence of technology and its features

First of all, you need to familiarize yourself with the features of the soldering procedure. This technology, as a method of creating permanent connections, is not as popular as welding, since the strength of soldering is somewhat lower.

The formation of a weld occurs when a filler material called solder melts. After crystallization, the frozen composition reliably connects the workpieces.

A distinctive feature of soldering is the approach of impact on the working surface . When choosing solder, the main indicator is the melting temperature, which should be lower than that of the base metal. It does not change its state of aggregation, the properties remain unchanged. This allows you to connect workpieces with heterogeneous composition.

This is the difference between welding and soldering. When carrying out work, the weld pool includes the base metal and filler material. Together they form a seam, which invariably affects the quality of the metal that has been exposed to temperature. It is not without reason that when building a strip foundation, the frame is secured using wire rather than welding. Soldering does not affect the parameters of the base metal, which distinguishes it favorably from other joining technologies.

Let us highlight the main features of soldering:

solder is used as a filler material;
the products being connected do not melt;
materials do not interact with each other;
Suitable for connecting miniature elements.

The method is widely in demand in the field of high technology , due to the low temperature effect on the surface, which is the main indicator for temperature-sensitive components of boards and electronic circuits. Requirements for the quality of work are set out in GOST 17325-79.

Types of brass

There are two types of brass, differing in chemical composition:

Double. As the name suggests, the alloy consists of two elements - zinc and copper in varying proportions. Moreover, zinc plays the role of an alloying element. According to technical requirements, such compositions have special markings indicating the type of alloy and the percentage of elements. For example, L 63 is a two-component composition, with a copper mass fraction of 63%. zinc does not exceed 37%.
Multicomponent . Special formulations containing many impurities, the composition of which depends on the application. It is very difficult to select the optimal brass solder for such alloys, especially without knowing the exact ratio of the chemical elements in the composition.

Fluxes

A competent choice of flux is the key to a quality connection. It cleans the surface of traces of oil, dirt and oxides and prepares it for soldering. Due to the characteristics of the material in question, it is not advisable to use neutral compounds based on alcohol and rosin. Experts recommend using active flux to effectively remove the oxide film.

An important factor is the chemical composition of the alloy . For the classic two-component material L 63, it is enough to use a solution of zinc chloride in boric acid. For multi-component alloys, it is better to purchase a universal flux for working with brass - PV 209 and PV 209X. When choosing a ready-made composition, you should carefully study the instructions with recommendations for use.

Solder

Beginning craftsmen do not know which brass solder to choose to achieve the best results.

Let's look at the main brands:

For soldering brass and copper, experts recommend using solders of the copper-zinc group. When choosing, you should pay attention to the melting point. For example, for PMC-48 it is 880 Cº.
Copper-phosphorus solders of the MF group are distinguished by their affordable price. Performance characteristics are slightly lower than those of compositions with the addition of silver.
The PSR group of silver solders belongs to the hard grades. The resulting connection is highly resistant to mechanical and vibration loads.

When soldering steel with brass, the L-63 alloy is used, which has proven itself best . Release form: brass wire for soldering. It is used exclusively for working with hard-melting materials.

Brass solders with flux deserve attention. Their cost is higher than that of classic compositions, but the price is compensated by ease of use and a reduction in the number of defects in work.

DIY cooking

Many craftsmen prefer to prepare solder with their own hands at home. A mixture of two parts silver and one part copper has proven to work best .

After taking measurements, the metal is melted in a crucible and by stirring it is achieved to obtain a homogeneous mass. Cooling takes place in cold water.

The finished solder is given the desired shape, after which it is cleaned using a large file.

Soldering iron

The main difficulty in working with brass, as opposed to soldering other non-ferrous metals with a torch or soldering iron, is the oxide film that forms during the evaporation of zinc after heating the brass.

alloy using a soldering iron, you need a high-quality device with a power of at least 1000 W. This requirement is due to the high melting point of brass and the solders used. The exception is copper and brass alloys, whose melting point is much lower.

The best choice is a soldering station with a function for adjusting temperature parameters. The use of such equipment makes it easy to select optimal operating parameters without the risk of surface overheating.

Using the burner

A gas torch can be used to solder brass . Special requirements are placed on the placement of the workpiece - it must be placed on a surface made of heat-resistant material.

The preparatory stage does not differ from a similar procedure before soldering with an electric soldering iron.

The process begins with gradual heating of the surface in order to increase the wetting properties of the solder. After this, the workpiece is heated to operating parameters, the achievement of which is characterized by the appearance of a characteristic red tint on the surface.

The use of flammable gas does not have any particular advantages over electrical power sources.

Stages of work

Step-by-step instructions for the process of soldering brass at home are as follows:

Cleaning and degreasing the joint.
Surface treatment with flux.
After completing the preparatory procedures, add solder, crushed to the state of chips, into the heating zone.
We begin gradual heating of the surface. It is important that the flame constantly moves to avoid overheating.
After forming the seam, we stop processing the workpiece and wait for it to cool under natural conditions.
Wash off the remaining flux.

The quality characteristics of a weld depend on the correct choice of consumables and filler materials, as well as compliance with the requirements for the technological process.

Conclusion

To obtain a high-quality connection, it is necessary to determine the composition of the brass. Based on the data obtained, he selects flux and solder for soldering. The work can be performed either with an electric soldering iron or with a gas torch.

Source: https://svarka.guru/payka/tehnik/latun-v-domashnih-usloviyah.html

How to solder brass

Taps, hardware, pipes, decorative interior items and many other products are made from brass. This material is obtained by fusing copper, zinc (in different proportions) and various additives.