AK Sponsor
Posted: 9/28/2007 6:48:19 AM EDT
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Okay I finished a pistol build a few weeks ago. My last step is to demill the upper handguard front retainer off the cut down gas tube and to fit it onto the shortened gas tube so i can attach the shortened handguard. I was thinking that silver soldering would work to hold the retainer in place as i don't have a welder. My question is will a regular soldering iron/gun work to melt silver solder or is a blow torch necessry?? I have never silver soldered....... Any ideas of where to get the silver solder, and whichever heating tool that is needed? thanks |
| A plumbing supply store for the solder and use mapp gas for heat. The gas and torch are available at Home Depot. Don't know much about the AK, but consider the temp of the part you are soldering will be operating at and purchase solder for a proper heat range. That will also tell you what gas to solder with. |
| One thing that you can not forget with silver solder. The surfaces can not be clean enough. I suggest roughing w/sandpaper and then wipe w/a damp towel. As you heat the metal put your flux on right before the solder. I use a syringe when soldering finger guards on my knives. Remember, you can't get the surfaces too clean. |
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Use Silver Fusion paste, it is already mixed with flux. Expensive but worth it, you can get it from Brownells. A little goes a long way. Tips: Clean the surface well before starting. Rub chalk over surfaces you don't want the solder to stick to. Use HEAT STOP paste around the work area to prevent heat damage. MAPP Gas is good, MAPP/Oxy better. Protect your eyes. |
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You also do not need High Temp Silver Solder for this job - go for strength, not legal crap (as in Silver Soldering a barrel extension). Brownell's has a very GOOD high strength Silver Solder that melts a little over 425F. This requires a simple Propane tourch, and has a very high tensile strength. I've used this many times, and it works VERY well - even to Silver Solder a fake Bayo Lug to a gas block :) http://www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=645&title=HOMOGENIZED+SOLDER See the 70PA product. |
would this melt though when baking certain finish's in the oven??
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