Preview: Silver Solder for Projects and Repairs with Harry Bryan

29 Responses So Far to “Silver Solder for Projects and Repairs with Harry Bryan”

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  Ed Sturgeon says:

  Always love hearing from Mr. Bryan!

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  Robert Whitehouse says:

  Harry saved my badly welded, but expensive, carbide tipped band saw blade. Marvelous thing worked 200+ mahogany laminates but broke at its weld. I took out the temper, filed a scarf and brazed it with Harry’s guidance. It lives again!
  I build a Albury Runabout with strip planking. The ring nails must be tapped 7/64″. Sooner or later the drill cannot make it straight down with a 3″. I grabbed a 3/8″ steel rod from the home center. Chopped it to 18″. Bored a 7/64″ hole in the center of a fresh cut face (coating with flux) about 1/2″ deep. Hit a new 7/64″ bit with #1000 emery also immediately coated with flux. Popped it in and silver soldered it into place. Presto! An 18″ long 7/64″ drill bit. \]
  Thanks HaRRY!

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  David Thorne says:

  Hello Harry great stuff. I have been wanting to try silver solder for some time now but haven’t been
  able to find the solder and flux. Can you help with a supplier?

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  Peter Brackenbury says:

  Who knew I’d be out hunting for a torch and silver solder this weekend and be dreaming of finding a hand operated drill press.

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  James Cornwell says:

  Always learning new tricks from Harry. Please keep ’em coming!

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  Tim Moulis says:

  I’m 59 and have been in construction/woodworking/metal works all of my life and yet always feel the part of an apprentice when watching Harry’s videos. Thank you Harry Bryan

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  Jerry Kirschenbaum says:

  As a failing “solderer” (?) of many years now….I am dumbstruck. Thank you OCH and Harry B.
  Another vital lifeskill addressed by common sense and fresh thinking……and another bit of civilization that will now survive for one more generation and not be lost in the darkening depths of human achievement. Someday this will be refined so that one can fix a faint crack in the steel frame of Elon Musk’s orbiting Tesla convertible…..no joke…..I am ever-thankful and reborn for the Bryan Technique.

  Jerry Kirschenbaum.

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  John Homer says:

  Would the A45 solder work fusing silicon bronze and stainless steel together? Would that be strong enough to use on a pin for an oarlock? Thanks great information

  • 

    Harry Bryan says:

    John,
    Yes, the A45 will join bronze and stainless. Your challenge will be to get enough heat. The bricks I use are a lightweight insulating firebrick, the type used in a potter’s kiln. They are a great help in preventing heat loss from this relatively small torch.
    Harry

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  Charlie McLaughlin says:

  A pleasure to watch.

  Thanks Harry, and OCH !!

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  Stuart Weibel says:

  I want that drill press :-)

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  William McCaffrey says:

  I make custom knives and use silver solder for bolsters, guards and other. The surfaces must be absolutely clean before applying the flux and heating. In Harry’s examples, both surfaces were freshly filed.

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  Maurice Johnson says:

  75 last july, and still learning :) Thanks Harry

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  Sean Carlin says:

  Thank you Harry, I was just thinking of picking up some of these products to start the learning, your video came at a great time. Thank you!

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  Edward Bardoe says:

  Great, I am sure I will never solder anything but a video of a true workman is a rare thing to be treasured.

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  Marc LaFrance says:

  Brilliant! Please keep filming Harry.

  I silver soldered some common drill bits in Harry’s course at WBS and then looked at my $20+ Klein electrical long bits with complete distain! Had I known… 🤨 But this is how we learn!

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  Ron Molk says:

  Thanks, Harry. Oh, what one could absorb by spending time with you–about tools, and about life. More videos, please.

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  Nick DeMarco says:

  Surface tension, not capillary action. 🙂

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    William Foster says:

    Nope. The flux, in addition to preventing oxidation, lowers the surface tension of the solder and allows it to flow more easily. Capillary a young
    Toon is what draws the molten solder into the joint.

    • 

      William Foster says:

      Thank you auto-correct. Ha!

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  Les Cocker says:

  Reminds me of my grandfather’s workshop. Always fascinated me as a young boy and I am the proud owner of some of his old tools

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  Mark Weber says:

  This is maybe a really basic question – what kind of gas is used in this process?

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    Edward Barker says:

    MAPP Gas, hotter than propane.

  • 

    Ralph Wernett says:

    MAPP GAS WHICH IS HOTTER THAN PROPANE GAS.

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    Harry Bryan says:

    Mark,
    The yellow cannister shown is MAAP gas and should be available in your local hardware store. The blue, propane cannisters will work as well for small projects.
    I should have described the torch which is a Bernz-O-Matic trigger start torch. It is rated for both propane and MAAP gas. I feel that the instant on. instant off feature is important for safety and for saving fuel.

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  Matthew Evjen says:

  I work as an aircraft mechanic and have a sailboat as a hobby, I’ll definitely be using this technique in my work! I love learning these ways of keeping old tools going or making your own rather than buying new. that dab of solder is a lot cheaper than a new blade for sure! Thanks!

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  Jeff Patrick says:

  I’ve been using silver solder for many years but it’s always informative to watch another’s methods. I learned a thing or two watching this. I love Harry’s simple jigs for creating fit-up.

  It’s worth noting that a variety of solders have different melting points. So when a more complex construction is created one can do the first join with a really hard (high melting point) solder and the subsequent ones with progressively softer solders. Working in this manner allows joins to be made without really complicated jigs or clamping. One only has to deal with one joint at a time.

  Also, especially great for boat work, silver solder joins bronze, brass, and copper very well.

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    Joel Schwalb says:

    Having 47 years experience in silver soldering, or silver brazing, and also using gold and platinum solders, I can say that Harry’s advice here is solid. There are a multitude of uses for silver solder in both repair work and construction of new objects.

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  Bradford Preston says:

  Thanks for another worthwhile visit to Harry’s shop. It reminds me of an tool making uncle showing me how to make band saw blades from coil stock when I was a kid.