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(Silver) soldering

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petertha:

--- Quote from: Randy on July 08, 2025, 11:48:53 AM ---Kenny Have a look at Mc-Mastercarr that is where I buy my silver solder and flux.

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Can you reference some specific silver solder & flux product numbers you use & prefer? MCM doesn't really 'make' anything which is not a bad thing because they generally source good stuff & ordering is so 1-stop convenient (depending on where you live). I've been tempted as my Harris Stay-Silv is running low. I'm just curious what brand/product is under the MCM label? There are some every good UK specialty suppliers and (in these crazy times) shipping & dinger fees might actually be tilting the scales favorably in that direction. Thought I'd ask as I'm weighing options.

https://www.mcmaster.com/products/soldering-flux/brazing-flux-2~/

internal_fire:

--- Quote from: petertha on September 18, 2025, 05:20:15 PM ---I'm just curious what brand/product is under the MCM label?

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In general McMaster-Carr avoids brand names. I suspect this is for flexibility in maintaining inventory at the lowest possible price. In my experience items shipped quite often have a well-known brand name. I do not think I have ever been disappointed in the quality of anything I ordered.

Gene

crueby:
Petertha, what country are you in? If the US, I've gotten the Harris Black flux from Amazon, as well as the different grades of silver solder (from extra easy to hard). Lots of jewelry tool suppliers carry both. Rio Grande is one of the big catalog places, they sell the solder by the ounce based on the current commodity prices.

petertha:
I'm in Canada. Yes Amazon has Harris white & black flux which I'm using now & prices are reasonable because I have Prime. Silver solder is more hit & miss. Again using Harris (Safety-Silv I think?) through Amazon but the prices can vary. And yes, my local jewelry tooling place offers some products too. I am able to get McMaster items here, it took some wrangling but seems to be working smooth now. The only thing is shipping & FX dictates I do larger combined ordered which is less frequent. I don't have any particularly specialized silver solder needs at present so these arrangements are working fine. But OTOH I have seen some very well stocked places in UK that offer more niche variations of solders, fluxes, torches... I don't think they require hazardous shipping so should be OK shipping. I buy other unrelated items from England & it side-steps CAN/USA tariff issues which seems to be a fluid issue, but that's another subject. Thanks for the useful comments.

tghs:
Rio Grande and other jewelry supply places sell silver solder in 22ga wire, works well for model work needs, small bits can be placed where needed so you don't end up needing get your work hallmarked or stamped silver plated.. they also sell alloy blends that will color-match your work for less visible solder joints.. :cheers:

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