Soldering bolt handles

[clowdis]

I have an adjustable bolt jig from Brownells for silver soldering bolt handles back onto bolts. Works OK most of the time but when I start using swept back handles, longer handles, etc. the jig has to be changed and sometimes I'll end up doing the job 3 or 4 times to ever get everything exactly right on a Remington bolt. Does anyone know about a better jig for soldering handles back onto Remington bolts? Thanks!

 

[Rustystud]

Blair I modified a set of vice grips welding on a threaded stub (made of brass) with a .040" vents cut every 90*. the center is drilled and has a pipe fitting. This allows me to grip the bolt handle and body together. Provides a heat sink, and allows for an internal argon perge. I then tac them together clean them up and check them for fit and timing. If all is ok, I finish tig welding them.

My set up is a copy of Scott(s) at Stiller Precision and simular to what I think Dan Armstrong is using.

Nat

 

[clowdis]

Nat,
Sounds good if you're welding, but I was thinking more about silver soldering. Problem is you have to tin both and then put them together in a red hot condition while the solder is molten. I either seem to get it right the first time or take all day to get it right. Got to be a better way. The vise grips could work good for soldering too 'cause you can grip the pliers tighter as the solder melts. I'll try something along those lines and see if I can improve.

 

[Rustystud]

Blair when soldering one uses flux. Heat both surfaces hot enough to melt the solder (1,100* for silver solder). Insert the solder to the joint and remove the flame. The solder will melt upon contact of the two pieces being soldered. The melted solder will be drawn into the joint. When perfected very little clean up is needed. I suggest one use heat stopping paste and a wet towel to protect the rest of the bolt. There are several good U-Tube videos on the net demonstrating this process.

Brownells sells both the flux and silver solder wire for this purpose. It comes with good directions.

For two piece bolts I still think tig welding is a better process. Dan armstrong only charges about $45.00 and his turn around is less than a week.

An even better option is the new PT&G one piece replacement bolts. You fit them by removing material from the back of the bolt lugs.

Nat Lambeth

 

[Preacher]

No real need to keep both pieces red hot for a good joint..
Heat both pieces again after they have been tinned and held together and you'll do fine with the silver flowing as it should..

 

[Dans40X]

Tinning silver brazed joints is not the certifiable option.
Clean parts
Flux
Fixture
Heat
Braze
Tedious cleanup

Too large of a heat sink/fixture will hinder even heat transfer.
Both parts need to be with in 50-75 degrees.
If too hot,flux will burn(turn black) on the edge.
Game Over!!
Trying to add flux is a waste of materials.
Start from scratch by cleaning flux/silver from parts.

If you're heating a bolt to 1400+ degrees(red hot) it is a paper weight!