stainless steel and silver solder

[Tal]

I've been around for sometime now and don't post very much. I with JVO host the North of the 49th Metal Meets in April. The last meet we reshaped the back fenders for my '37 Nash.

The question: I wish to silver solder a stainless steel fitting to stainless steel tubing. Can this be done and will it hold air pressure of a couple hundred pounds? I prefer not to TIG in this case.

Thanks
Tal

[oldgoaly]

The silver brazing rod I would use, HVAC type 4-6% unless you happen to have some 45%(real good stuff and expensive) Flux? yes I have used Harris brand white paste HVAC type. If you need number of products pm/email I'll look them up pass them along to ya. tt

[greenbaja]

go with the 45% .....it IS expensive ...but runs the best ...and u will def use it again ...it will bond any two metals together ...copper to steel ...etc etc etc ...very handy to have around

[Rasper]

I silver solder a lot of stainless. I use 45% if the color is not important, and 56% if I want a close color match. Also, I always use the Harris black flux, not the white, with stainless. The white can't really stand the heat needed to braze stainless.

R

[James(Western Canada)]

Tal: What exactly are you doing? Because you would be AMAZED at some of the adaptor fittings that are available from Sawgelok or Parker.
And silver solder will get the job done, but so will the right operator on the right tig welder.........

James

[tdi-rick]

I've done this a lot repairing industrial ice machine freezer tubes, both copper to stainless and stainless to stainless.

Use at a minimum 45% rod as the boys above have suggested, I used to use a flux coated rod that was made by a company no longer in business here, but most importantly use 'pickling paste' first to de-oxidise the stainless, you'll get a better result.