Thread: Will solder hold?

Hi Guys.

I have just made this gate from steel, I used a soldering iron to stick all the metal together, it was a 200 amp jobbie which by my reckoning a is pretty powerful gizmo.

It should hold together shouldnt it?

Good iron to leave burn marks like that.

Nice one Al, I take it you bent all the scrolls with your new bender from Metalcraft?

Don't think that one will be coming apart in a hurry

I used the muscles in my arm as the form and held the rod in my teeth.

Gees you blokes are too good, I cant put nuffin past youse.

Here it is before hangin.

Originally Posted by Brickie

Hi Guys.

I have just made this gate from steel, I used a soldering iron to stick all the metal together.

Does that mean if you want it to come apart you can just apply an Oxy at one end and slowly all the bits should fall off?

That gate looks like asian sign language to me.

What does it say brickie?

A lot of work in them, well done
Not my cuppa though, as they look a bit like a dogs breakfast, still good work

Originally Posted by jow104

That gate looks like asian sign language to me.

What does it say brickie?

Love you long time white fella

Originally Posted by Brickie

Love you long time white fella

Your doorbell will be busy then.

No one else can read it.

Back in a mo, there is someone at the door..

Hi

Originally Posted by Brickie

I have just made this gate from steel, I used a soldering iron to stick all the metal together, it was a 200 amp jobbie which by my reckoning a is pretty powerful gizmo.

It needed to be powerful to heat up THAT size metal. However that does not mean that the joint is "stronger".

That's a LOT of work. I would have used THAT job to justify a welder to SWMBO

It should hold together shouldnt it?

If you have used soft solder, which I presume you have, seeing you used a soldering iron, then I have some bad news for you

That solder WILL slowly deteriorate. It make take a few years but it will eventually break down. That's why the old soft soldered gutters began to leak and needed to be repaired/replaced. If you keep the gate painted (the joints specifically) with an oil based paint then it will last a bit longer.

Hi

Originally Posted by Brickie

I used the muscles in my arm as the form and held the rod in my teeth.

Gees you blokes are too good, I cant put nuffin past youse.

Here it is before hangin.

I noticed there is no diagonal bracing and there is no bracing within the design itself, you might find that the gate will droop under its own weight.

Originally Posted by MrFixIt

Hi I noticed there is no diagonal bracing and there is no bracing within the design itself, you might find that the gate will droop under its own weight.

That was my first observation. Whilst there is a lot involved in the scroll work, it does look structurally weak and will sag. A triangular structure should have been used in the initial design.

Unfortunatley with solder NO

Unfortunatley because of design (or may I humbly say, lack of it) unfortunatley looking at a failure.

Regards.

Den

Originally Posted by cub3

Unfortunatley with solder NO

Not the best photo, but i doubt it was solderd, even a bricklayer wouldnt be that silly. It would be arc or mig