Silver Soldering Flux?

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Silver Soldering Flux?

This topic has 11 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 9 March 2021 at 16:51 by Bill Phinn.

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8 March 2021 at 15:19 #30116
Bo’sun
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@bosun58570
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8 March 2021 at 15:19 #532591
Bo’sun
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@bosun58570
Hello,

I've just completed some Silver Soldering but mixed up too much flux. Rather than throw it away, can it be ground up and used again?

Not trying to save money, but it just seems a waste to bin it.
8 March 2021 at 15:38 #532595
Brian H
Participant
@brianh50089
I keep my Tenacity 5 ready mixed with a drop of washing up liquid and Isopropanol in a sealed container. If it dries out I just reactivate it with a drop of Isopropanol so I cannot see any reason why grinding it up and keeping it for future use should not work.

Brian
8 March 2021 at 15:51 #532601
Speedy Builder5
Participant
@speedybuilder5
The old borax brazing flux was just a block of borax and another lump which you ground together with a bit of water.

Flux paste
8 March 2021 at 16:03 #532604
Paul M
Participant
@paulm98238
Always reused flux in the past without any problems. As you mentioned, just break it it up and gradually add water until its like toothpaste.
8 March 2021 at 20:09 #532648
Keith Hale
Participant
@keithhale68713
Brian is spot on!

Liquid detergent and water is enough. The isopropanol is unnecessary but it works for him.

Flux paste is like mustard. Colman's made a fortune from the stuff made at Sunday lunchtime and washed away! There was more thrown away than consumed😀!
8 March 2021 at 22:28 #532674
Nigel Graham 2
Participant
@nigelgraham2
Doesn't taste as nice though…..
9 March 2021 at 09:23 #532725
John Rutzen
Participant
@johnrutzen76569
I always understood that easyflo flux goes off when it's mixed with water. An engineer in our club told me they used to mix it twice a day at the works because it had lost some of it's properties by lunchtime! I just mix tiny amounts as I need it.
9 March 2021 at 09:54 #532736
roy entwistle
Participant
@royentwistle24699
I've always mixed mine with Meths and I I keep it in a 35mm film canister and use again softening with a drop of Meths if need be
9 March 2021 at 10:12 #532741
Gary Wooding
Participant
@garywooding25363
The water (or other liquid) that it's mixed with has no effect on it's efficacy, it's just used to hold the powder in place until it melts. I just grind it up and add some more liquid as required.
9 March 2021 at 10:18 #532742
Bo’sun
Participant
@bosun58570
Thanks All,

Seems like a vote for it being re-cyclable.
9 March 2021 at 16:51 #532798
Bill Phinn
Participant
@billphinn90025
Posted by John Rutzen on 09/03/2021 09:23:31:

I always understood that easyflo flux goes off when it's mixed with water. An engineer in our club told me they used to mix it twice a day at the works because it had lost some of it's properties by lunchtime!

Perhaps it is simply that in a busy shared workshop a pot of mixed flux can get contaminated very quickly, with grungy brushes being dipped into it etc.

I keep some Easyflo mixed in a small lidded jar. After not being used for a while a few drops of water gets it to the right consistency very quickly. There might be molecules of the stuff in that pot that have been remixed countless times, but it still works as it should. I keep a few paillons of silver solder in the pot as well. I know they'll be guaranteed clean when I fish them out and usefully primed with flux.

Edited By Bill Phinn on 09/03/2021 16:52:47
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