Solder question?

**jeffsoptical** · 03-29-2006, 05:57 PM

:bbg: Has anyone else had trouble soldering the Polo and Chaps Ralph Lauren frames? I've tried soldering the ones that list as stainless steel. I use 10K gold solder and the frames behave like they're titanium. Also I've read about using argon gas in a tent to solder titanium frames. I use the little torch with propane and oxygen to solder. I can't see that the argon gas would help when using an oxy torch since titanium reacts with oxygen.

Thanks,

Jeff

**okoart** · 03-29-2006, 06:14 PM

Leave this kind of work to professionals.

Ask for Neil

Eyewear Repair Express

2712 Clairmont Road

Atlanta, GA. 30329

404-486-0603

CDOT · 03-29-2006, 07:43 PM

[QUOTE=okoart]Leave this kind of work to professionals.

i disagree if you show interest in specialized repair go for it .
research and practice makes perfect.

**Johns** · 03-29-2006, 11:28 PM

Originally Posted by okoart

Leave this kind of work to professionals.

Ask for Neil

Eyewear Repair Express

2712 Clairmont Road

Atlanta, GA. 30329

404-486-0603

Professional "what" ? From the question, hw sounds like he has a pretty good handle on what he was doing. I'm sure he appreciated your professional "help".

Your answer sure gave me some insight into your company.

Thanks.

**chip anderson** · 03-29-2006, 11:37 PM

Try palarium (Hilco) or at least use a flux (after proper cleaning and stripping of coatings in the areas to be welded) with your gold solder.
As for titainium (I can't weld this stuff, even though I tried in welding class) but the instructor informed me that you needed a tig welder with argon gas.
Chip
All the tig welders I saw were far too heavy amperage for a puny little eyewire.

**JERRY HUANG** · 03-30-2006, 12:22 AM

Jeff,

1. How "little" is your propane torch?? Possible to reach up 900 degree??

2. Was the surface of your frame clean?? Has the surface coating removed first??

3. Did you apply acid base flux before soldering?? For better adherence, u need to rough the surface by using corase file and file both solder points evenly, then apply acid base flux.

4. Did you "burn" the Polo frame??

5. Swap to silver brazing alloy (solder) or use 60%-70% tin with 30%-40% lead solder for better coloring result and achieve better metal strength.

Do everything you can to prevent oxidation!:cheers:

**okoart** · 03-30-2006, 01:33 PM

Originally Posted by Johns

Professional "what" ? From the question, hw sounds like he has a pretty good handle on what he was doing. I'm sure he appreciated your professional "help".

Your answer sure gave me some insight into your company.

Thanks.

Nice reply JOHNS—I bet that felt great.:angry:

Shows me your true colors.

Neil@ Eyewear Repair Express has done some really amazing work and would gladly answer Jeffs question.

That’s just MY opinion.

Thanks for YOUR insight:hammer:

**Matthew** · 03-30-2006, 05:20 PM

For stainless steel i use butane only, Stainless heats up very quick, i use a low heat solder paste from Sadler brothers.

So far so good, stainless welds fine for me with this combination.

**beertv** · 04-03-2006, 12:49 PM

I am not sure if this will help, but I have had great luck working with butane only torch and the soldering sticks from Grobet, #SO 415, 12 sticks to a pack I think. This is really expensive stuff and needs to be used in a well ventilated area! But I have found it to work on frames that otherwise would not hold well using other solder.

Good Luck

:)

**Aarlan** · 04-03-2006, 03:42 PM

Why don't the Cont Ed classes cover useful subjects like this? I would love a Soldering class (preferably hands on!), rather another on "tips for dispensing"...

AA

**Matthew** · 04-03-2006, 05:05 PM

Partly because not many want to solder anymore, they would rather sell new frames.

**HarryChiling** · 04-03-2006, 05:28 PM

I think someone mentioned it earlier to rough up both points with a file, and I use a mini torch and pallarium from hilco easy stuff and has the flux rolled into a sheet of the solder for you. As for titanium, I have heard that it needs to be welded in an argon enviornment, never tried it myself and the reason why it won't work with a regular torch is because titanium oxidizes at higher heat and thats what you need to do to get the solder to flow. As for the CE on soldering, I have not seen one, but you could try Hilco for their video on soldering.

**chip anderson** · 04-03-2006, 05:55 PM

Not taught in classes anymore (you can get tapes from Hilco) because we are salespeople, not opticians.

**spartus** · 04-03-2006, 08:15 PM

Actually, last year at Vision Expo West, they did have a class on soldering. Had I gone to it, I definitely would have taken the class. Probably going this year, so here's hoping.