What do I need to solder copper and SS?

[ant]

Depends on your soldering skills but in theory, yes you can. You don't want silver solder for soldering though, it is for higher temp brazing. I know the name seems misleading. Soldering is done with low temp lead free solder.Brazing uses a borax based flux and soldering uses a zinc chloride flux.

[Almanac]

I'm assuming, Ant, that you do realise Chubby78 posed the question on Jan 16 last! but I admire your dedication in the face of passed time

That said, it has been my experience that SS to Copper requires Silver Soldering skills and heat above what propane or butane alone can deliver. m

AM

[ant]

lol yes but I have only just logged on again after being caught up in bills and work for a long time. Even though he may have finished or abandoned or, like myself, stalled his project; the question and answer still stand for other people reading the thread for information. Also answering helped me get the info back in the front of my mind. I get most of my information from reading the posts of others who have gone before me and like to try and help a little to pass the information on.

So far I have brazed copper to stainless with borax flux and silver solder. I used a brazing hearth which uses propane and forced air. Different silver solders have different melting points. Some will work with propane alone I believe. I plan to try and use soft lead free tin based solder with a soldering gun and zinc chloride flux next. The beer people reckon it works. Time will tell if I can do it. I'll let you know either way.

Having said that i think Chubby was actually wanting to solder stainless to stainless as he mentioned a stainless bowl and a presumably stainless stockpot lid. If the lid was ally then the answer would be no. You would need an ac tig or that technoweld stuff to have any chance at all with that. Still be dubious and would never want ally anywhere in a build myself. Horrible toxic stuff.

[googe]

Copper to ss is quite easy with soft solder and propane aidanmac, just takes time to get the ss up to temp, slow and steady. We use aqua safe soft slider and bakers fluid flux in aus, don't know what the eqivelant would be over there?.