Page 1 of 1
Rad shell repair...really
Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2001 6:51 pm
by ross macpherson
Gentlefolk,
At the risk of feeling the lash of the Badger's rapier like wit I dare ask
the following....
I bought a TD radiator shell at GoF West a couple years ago to replace the
correct but butchered one on my TC. A DPO has attempted to fill some minor
damage on this shell with what looks like solder. I should mention that
this shell has had the chrome professionally removed. Is the solder-like
fill going to be safe to plate? What is the best method of filling brass to
be plated?
TIA
Ross
Re: Rad shell repair...really
Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2001 8:37 pm
by Bill Harkins
What is the best method of filling brass to be plated?
I would suggest silver soldering depending on how much filling you need.
Bill Harkins
Fallbrook CA
Re: Rad shell repair...really
Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2001 10:02 pm
by Chip Old
On Thu, 15 Feb 2001, ross macpherson wrote to MG TABC List:
> I bought a TD radiator shell at GoF West a couple years ago to replace
> the correct but butchered one on my TC. A DPO has attempted to fill
> some minor damage on this shell with what looks like solder. I should
> mention that this shell has had the chrome professionally removed.
> Is the solder-like fill going to be safe to plate? What is the best
> method of filling brass to be plated?
It depends on what type of solder it is. Silver solder works well, but I
doubt that common 50/50 tin/lead solder will.
--
Chip Old 1948 M.G. TC TC6710 XPAG7430 NEMGTR #2271
Cub Hill, Maryland 1962 Triumph TR4 CT3154LO CT3479E
fold@bcpl.net
Re: Rad shell repair...really
Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2001 10:33 pm
by Pete Thelander
Ross et al,
My NE shell required considerable repair work. It was all done in LEAD
- block sanded by hand. It then got a heavy coat of copper - again hand
sanded and polished - and finally the chrome. Came out fine. Just
don't let anyone try to use any form of power buffer - the lead can be
melted.
Pete Thelander
ross macpherson wrote:
> Gentlefolk,
>
> At the risk of feeling the lash of the Badger's rapier like wit I dare ask
> the following....
>
> I bought a TD radiator shell at GoF West a couple years ago to replace the
> correct but butchered one on my TC. A DPO has attempted to fill some minor
> damage on this shell with what looks like solder. I should mention that
> this shell has had the chrome professionally removed. Is the solder-like
> fill going to be safe to plate? What is the best method of filling brass to
> be plated?
>
> TIA
>
> Ross
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Re: Rad shell repair...really
Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2001 11:44 am
by Emgeeguy@aol.com
In a message dated 2/15/01 8:53:36 PM Central Standard Time,
arm@telus.net
writes:
Is the solder-like
fill going to be safe to plate? What is the best method of filling brass to
be plated?
I used soft solder on three radiator shells prior to plating, per the
suggestion of the plater. The solder was used to fill small nicks, scratches,
etc., not large areas or deep holes. It worked out fine. One shell has been
on my TC for about 6 years and shows no sign of anything funny.
Larry
Re: Rad shell repair...really
Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2001 1:05 pm
by Bill Harkins
Is the solder-like
fill going to be safe to plate? What is the best method of filling brass to
be plated?
I used soft solder on three radiator shells prior to plating, per the
suggestion of the plater. The solder was used to fill small nicks, scratches,
etc., not large areas or deep holes. It worked out fine. One shell has been
on my TC for about 6 years and shows no sign of anything funny.
One aspect of the soldering is to be very careful not to apply too much heat to avoid distorting the shell. If at all possible find a plater that can also do metal repair not easy to find and let him be responsible. Bill Harkins Fallbrook, CA
Re: Rad shell repair...really
Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2001 1:56 pm
by Emgeeguy@aol.com
In a message dated 2/16/01 3:06:07 PM Central Standard Time,
bharkins@tfb.com
writes:
If at all possible find a plater that can also do metal repair not easy to
find and let him be responsible
Right. This is the best way. I found a guy in San Diego, but he was terribly
expensive. That's why I elected to do it myself. Chris Nowlan (C.
Nowlan@aol.com) used the San Diego guy; contact him if you want his name.
Larry
Re: Rad shell repair...really
Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2001 3:24 pm
by Stan Kurzet
> Is the solder fill going to be safe to plate? What is the best method of
filling brass to
> be plated?
The solder will plate. However, it would produce a superior result if it
was copper plated first.
The best way to do this is with a tin-smith's soldering iron rather than a
torch. One must be quite expert to use a torch without warping the shell.
A soldering iron allows room for lack of expertise and still get an
acceptable result with a much lower risk of warping the part. Get a piece
of brass sheet stock about the same thickness as the shell, put some dings
and scratches in it like the ones you want to fill, and experiment. If you
can walk and chew gum at the same time, the necessary technique will come to
you in good time.
The most important thing is to clean the surface properly before attempting
to fill. Use a very fine bronze bristle brush to brush the places to be
filled. Follow the scratch marks to be filled, in line with the scratch
rather than across. Brushing across fills the scratch with debris. Apply a
thin coat of rosin based soldering flux paste to the area. After the work
cools, the excess will clean off with alcohol, dry cleaning fluid, and with
more elbow grease, plain water.
The key here is that it is a lot easier to dress out the solder with files
and abrasive paper than it is to try to get close to the finished product
with the soldering iron. Use jeweler's rouge and a buffing wheel on a
drill motor to finish the job.
Cheers,
Stan
TC 2569