[Boatanchors] Yoiks! A restorers worst nightmare

[Glen Zook]

The problem with soldering aluminum is not with the
heat.  It is the fact that aluminum oxides within
microseconds of being exposed to the air and normal
solder won't work without using some type of flux that
keeps the air from the aluminum.

There are special fluxes available that allow aluminum
to "take a tin" and then you can solder it without any
problem.  Also, using plain old motor oil (i.e. SAE
30) will work.  You put on some oil and then use a
soldering gun within the oil to heat the aluminum
while applying the solder.  After the aluminum is
"tinned" you can then solder to it in the "normal"
way.  Of course clean off the oil when done.

Glen, K9STH


--- Dick KF4NS <kf4nsradio at verizon.net> wrote:

Why couldn't I have broken a part that was easily
replaceable? It is Heath part number 255-8 and is an
aluminum spacer 4 inches long with 7/16 inch of 6-32
threads on each end. Please check your parts boxes and
see if you have something like that. The only
alternative is to try to jury rig it with solder or
maybe even a metal based filler compound. I already
tried to solder it with the 140W gun but not enough
heat to hold the aluminum to the copper enclosure.
Hate to use a torch because, well you know why.









Glen, K9STH

Website:  http://k9sth.com


 
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