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Help! My boiler leaks

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crueby:
Ouch!

I gotta go with Kozo on this one (as in most things). The strength of silver solder is inside a clean close fitting joint. Extra pools of solder on the surface do nothing but waste solder and hide other problems, it adds no strength to the joint. As you mentioned, the threaded stay rods/bolts worked well as is - they are a nice close fit with surface area between the two pieces where the solder can wick in. The hard solder, unlike soft electrical solder, does not fill wider gaps with any strength, it will stretch and crack in thick sections. The wicking into the joint is key - when you heat up the two pieces of metal, after the flux goes clear, you can see the solder flow and wick into the joint. It wants enough solder to flow all the way through the joint, but not a lot more. Same with heat - after it flows well, you dont want a lot more heat for a long time, though if there there is not an even heat, the solder will flow onto and stick to the side that is hot enough, and ignore the other piece that is still too cool. Its an art of balance. If you've ever used superglue, some of the same lessons apply - a clean thick close fitting joint with just enough glue, too wide a gap or a knife edge on one side or a big blob of glue doesn't work. Dirt or oxidation/ruse are bad too, will prevent a solid connection.

Wrecks:
Thanks, Creuby. That makes a lot of sense. And it’ll save me a lot of money spent on solder.

tghs:
can't remember where I read it, most likely when researching boiler making,, something to the effect of "you use enough solder to make nice tight joints, no so much as your final product needs hallmarks" :cheers:

rick41:
Wicking Loctite will plug small boiler leaks.
Rick

crueby:

--- Quote from: rick41 on November 15, 2023, 06:08:46 PM ---Wicking Loctite will plug small boiler leaks.
Rick

--- End quote ---
But won't the heat break it down? Especially around the firebox area.  How hot can the wicking type resist? Could be good for pipes and other fittings if its okay above the temp of the steam. Which number loctite is it?

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