Silver Soldering?

[Ji in Hawaii]

I have done a TON of sweating copper water lines and can practically do this blindfolded but I have never silver soldered a firearm so please excuse my ignorance but can a propane torch be used for silver soldering? Do I need a special flux? Should I apply a thin layer of silver solder on both surfaces (Barrel, and Poly-choke) first or will capillary action be more than adequate to get a good bond? Can I legally cut the barrel to less than 18" so the total length WITH the sweated on Poly-choke is 18.5"? I want to have a barrel as short as legally possible. Thank you for your patience.

[Mescalero]

Be careful on the length thing Ji,
get expert advice, this could go south quick.

[Ji in Hawaii]

I just found this Midway USA how-to video, and it looks like the same technique can be used for installing a poly-choke.
What do the experienced here say?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFBZChfA ... uT5YlQI%3D

[Ji in Hawaii]

get expert advice.

Yup, that's what I'm asking and waiting for.

[awp101]

get expert advice.

Yup, that's what I'm asking and waiting for.

That's the problem. Used to be, the Revenooer Men said silver soldering was OK (IIRC it was something like a 1400*F melting point) to permanently add a muzzle device that brought a barrel up to legal length. That's why I was able to add a 1.5" FH to the M4gery I built 6-8 years ago using a real, M4 (14.5") barrel. Over the past year or so, I have been hearing they no longer consider that copacetic but I can't find anything in writing one way or the other.

BTW if any Revenooer Men are reading this, that rifle went to a new owner a couple of years ago...

And BTW pt 2: I'm following this thread as I have a couple of silver solder jobs I need to do and like Ji, I've sweated copper to copper, copper to steel (fun) and steel to steel but it's always been small tubing (sealed systems), never anything like this.

[Cliff]

I believe they make a low tempurature Silver Soldering. Will work with a propane torch. It has been around for a while and have heard good things about it. One other thought is common soldering. The British have used it for years on many of their firearms. It is all in prep. I am no expert. Take care and hope it goes well for you. ATB

[harry]

http://www.brownells.com/userdocs/learn ... Solder.pdf

[Ji in Hawaii]

http://www.brownells.com/userdocs/learn ... Solder.pdf

THANKS!

[Chuck 100 yd]

What harry said +1
Brownells force 44 is good stuff.
If you need more strength go to their Silver Braze. It takes more heat but is almost as strong as welding. You can get that extra heat by buying a cylinder of Mapp gas for your torch.
A call to Brownells tech line will bring you any how to sheets you will need for free.

[Rusty]

Ji, even though you want to keep your barrel as short as possible I don't think I'd go less than say 18.25". If you cut it to less than 18 and install the choke what would happen if you were in the field and the choke came off? You turn into an instant criminal.

Call me chicken if you like, I always like to err on the side of caution.

[Pitchy]

Which is why you want it attached very good, you don`t want it coming off and becoming a projectile.

[kimwcook]

Ji, even though you want to keep your barrel as short as possible I don't think I'd go less than say 18.25". If you cut it to less than 18 and install the choke what would happen if you were in the field and the choke came off? You turn into an instant criminal.

Call me chicken if you like, I always like to err on the side of caution.

Excellent thought process. I'm with ya.

[Mescalero]

Thought that was what I said at the beginning.

[KCSO]

Real sivler soldering, better described as silver braze needs a hi temp torch and a propane torch wo't do the trick you need either oxy acetelene or a oxy propane outfit. You can use MAPP gas and Oxy but those outfits burn up a tank of oxy for every little job. It takes a little practice to get the heat just right and get a good flow. If it's just for one job I would take it to someone who knows how and have it done.

[Hawkeye2]

The minute you cut the barrel below the legal length even if it is not attached to the gun (so long as the rest of the gun is in your possesion) when you do it you ARE a criminal. Now it isn't likely tha bATF will knock on your door with a tank at that time but I wouldn't tell anyone of my intentions till long after I was done with the project. I personally would like a mechanical connection of choke to barrel before silver soldering to make sure it can never come off. The "low temp" silver bearing solders don't have the strength to do the job.

[Sixgun]

http://www.brownells.com/userdocs/learn ... Solder.pdf

I read that and it way too complicated for me. I'll just continue to use JB Weld. -----Sixgun