Soldering Brass

Model Railroader General Discussion (Model Railroader)
1

I have a brass 0-4-0 Dockside locomotive.
The rods broke off of the piston.
Is there anyway, or does anyone know if, it can be soldered?
I’m thinking krazy glue but I would rather do it another way.

Thanks

Gordon

2

If it is brass or copper, it can be soldered, but not zinc.

First you have to remove the paint and/or clear coat, and get it clean.

Then you need to find someone with a resistance soldering unit…

krazy glue (CA) will not hold it. Cyanopoxy [url[http://www.mrhobby.com/Cyantips.html[/url] might…

3

Thanks Nigel.
It is definately brass,
There’s no paint or clear coat on it.
My Dad had this locomotives long before I was born, 35 years ago & I don’t see any clear coat on it.

Gordon

4

If it is still brass looking, it likely does have a clear coat of laquor on it otherwise it would tarnish. If painted, remove pain near joint. You do not need a resistance rig. The secret is to be able to hold the two pieces securely and use a soldering iron. Possibly modeling clay would work. Use a little paste flux on both parts. Get the two parts hot with the iron and flow a small amount of solder into the joint. Let completely cool, remove from the holder and file to shape.

5

How much money do you have? Reason I ask is “resistance soldering”. This is a method that solders things that require intricate detail or is in those hard to get at places. It’s clean and tidy and costs about $300 cdn. Absolutely amazing!

If anyone see one on E-bay let me know SVP

6

Fergus;

You might want to join http://groups.yahoo.com/group/brasslocobuilders/ ; there is a great deal of discussion on resistance soldering units, and in the files sections, documentation on how to build one.

If you want to go even more basic than the one described, a soldering gun like this one http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=42685 can be used as the power unit…

7

Actually, there’s a simpler way that doesn’t require and soldering at all. If the model is a “real” varney Dockside engine, Bowser now owns all the tooling for it, and is making new ones as we speak. They have ALL the parts available for it for sale as individual items.

Go to their website to look up the parts, or for their phone number to talk to a real person about your parts needs

www.bowser-trains.com

Hope this helps!

8

I agree with orsonroy! I saw somebody saying he needed a “resistance soldering rig” and wanted to rebutt this opinion. However, I think cp5415 is talking about the part called the crosshead and English/Bowser can fix you up.

Mark DeSchane

9

You have to be some what experienced with Resistance Soldering (normally know as Resistance Welding). If you have a small gap between the welding tip (which is copper) and the ground you can literally blow a hole through what your trying to weld together. Clean tips, correct settings and propper pressure are needed to ensure good consistant welds.