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I have done solder repair on lacquered saxes so I have a pretty good idea what the results will be. Now I have an old silver plated sax where I am thinking of removing some posts (instead of cutting off the keys). Searching the forum I am not sure if silver plated horns are easier/cleaner to solder than lacquered horns. What do you think? Thanks.
 

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I find that the "stay brite" solder works best on silver instruments. It comes with its own flux. I just cut a small amount solder and place it on the join add some more flux and heat up - allways lees to remove afterwards and if you havent used enough solder then just cut another piece. IMHO a far better method than to heat and then apply the solder and possibly be left with excess solder to clean off.
 

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Discussion Starter · #5 ·
solder

griff136 said:
I find that the "stay brite" solder works best on silver instruments. It comes with its own flux. I just cut a small amount solder and place it on the join add some more flux and heat up - allways lees to remove afterwards and if you havent used enough solder then just cut another piece. IMHO a far better method than to heat and then apply the solder and possibly be left with excess solder to clean off.
Thanks. When you place it on the joint are the pieces being held together? Let's say you are putting on a post. Would you have the post held in place and have the solder run in by capillary action or would you get the solder onto the parts first?
 

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Quote:
Would you have the post held in place and have the solder run in by capillary action or would you get the solder onto the parts first?
Usually you run the rod through the post and screw it in to the matching post. This lines everything up. Then you solder. Same with pivot screws (at least for me).
Hans
 

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hansmartini said:
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Would you have the post held in place and have the solder run in by capillary action or would you get the solder onto the parts first?
Usually you run the rod through the post and screw it in to the matching post. This lines everything up. Then you solder. Same with pivot screws (at least for me).
Hans
I use the rod or the key if the post holds only a pivot screw and hold the parts in place using wire.

I use the capillary action rather than the "tinning method".

good luck and keep us posted
 

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It is very important for cosmetics that you carefully and minimally apply flux ONLY to the area you want the solder to flow. If it runs onto a satin silver finish, it is almost impossible to remove in it's entirety, and buffing this over-run will only make it worse. Also, make sure the bottom of the post flange and the area on the body (where it will be re-soldered) are both as clean as possible.
 

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Flux won't ruin silver plating. Solder will only run where the flux is. If flux is oozing around the post or running anywhere but under the post flange/area to be soldered, there is the tendency for solder to flow onto those fluxed areas, which will run over the top of the plating if applied liberally. One or two pin-drops of liquid flux should do.
 

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I use a water-soluble plumber's paste flux. There will be the original lead based solder under the keypost when it's removed, and unless you remove all that solder, you won't need to add much more. You don't want excess solder squirting out from under the post when you heat it.

I prefer to pre-tin and 'sweat' solder so that no excess solder shows outside. If you try to wick it in from the outside by placing the solder against the joint and heating, there will always be at least a tiny spot of solder left on the outside at that place.

I brush a little of the paste flux on the bottom of the removed post and heat it once with the torch to cause the old solder to smooth out and for the slag to come to the surface. Then clean it thoroughly. The remaining solder should be bright. The same process is repeated for the soldered area on the body tube, taking care not to use too much flux so that the solder doesn't flow out onto the body outside of the original soldered area like others have said. Just heat it enough quickly with the torch so that the solder glosses over smooth. Then clean everything thoroughly. Next, flatten a small piece of new solder - I prefer non-lead silver-tin based solder - between the jaws of a pliers, and snip off a tiny piece. This gets placed between the post and the body when resoldering to make up for any solder lost in the repair process. Lightly brush both surfaces to be soldered with flux, keeping it confined to the solder spot. Use whatever method is most effective to hold the post in position on the body tube. This may be by using the hinge rod (without the keys in place) or it could be a piece of thin bare wire to tie it down. Then heat both the body tube and the post just long enough for the post to settle fully into place and watch for solder oozing out to fill the crevice around the perimeter at the base of the post. If you do this correctly you will see just the smallest line of solder forming a smooth fillet around the base, and it will need no further solder cleanup.

Often though, you may find that the post needs to be reheated to make slight adjustments to the position. Afterwards, clean it thoroughly with warm soapy water to remove all flux residue so that it does not cause corrosion later.

The usual tendency for most people doing solder repairs is to use too much solder, to use insufficient heat applied too slowly, and to do an inadequate job of pre-cleaning and improper flux so that solder blobs up all over.

Do not use rosin flux intended for electronics soldering. It does not work well in this application, and it's difficult to remove.

This is the method, but it takes practice to be able to make perfect invisible solder repairs. You need to be quick and sure with your application of heat too, to avoid causing other soldered parts to come off unintentionally.
 
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