Soldering Radiator

showcrop · Mar 31, 2015

There was a thread a few day ago about soldering a tank onto a radiator. Someone posted about the need for zinc in the solder. I have an expansion tank that I need to solder back together and I would like to know if I should get some solder with zinc, and where would I find it. I can't find the old thread.

37chief · Mar 31, 2015

I use 50-50 solder. I believe that is 50% lead, and 50 tin, which may have zinc in it? It works good for me. I use acid for soldering, not flux. Every thing needs to be super clean. Lead solder has been banned around here. I bought some on ebay a whole ago. Stan

Mike M · Mar 31, 2015

I have used acid core solder with good results on radiators and gas tanks. I usually just buy whatever I find at the hardware store.

MikeJM · Mar 31, 2015

The zinc was used with hydrochloric acid (aka muriatic acid) to "kill" the acid to make zinc chloride which is a common soldering flux.

showcrop · Mar 31, 2015

(quoted from post at 14:33:03 03/31/15) The zinc was used with hydrochloric acid (aka muriatic acid) to "kill" the acid to make zinc chloride which is a common soldering flux.

yesMikeJM, but how important is it to do that? Or is just regular plumbers acid paste good enough?

Texasmark1 · Mar 31, 2015

Solder is Tin and Lead. Hard solder also called high temp, as it withstands high temps, is 95% tin and 5% lead and takes high temps to
melt it and make a joint. Electrical grade is around 63/37. Solid core is around 50/50. Your radiator will do fine with solid core
50/50. Follow the directions in the other post.

Mark

ObsoElitist · Mar 31, 2015

If professional radiator rebuilders wont use that stuff, why do you want to? Using the right stuff makes the job much easier and less likely to leak.

oldsarge · Mar 31, 2015

California;right??????????

ObsoElitist · Apr 1, 2015

Are you talking to me? 8) Semper Fi, Sarge. I use 70/30 eutectic lead solder bought from a radiator shop supply house when i built reproduction vintage radiators and repaired old ones for a living. You probably wouldn't paint your tractor with Krylon, why would you use plumbing or electrical solder for a radiator? Use the right stuff and you will understand why the alloy and eutectic properties are better.

MikeJM · Apr 1, 2015

(quoted from post at 23:10:37 03/31/15)
yesMikeJM, but how important is it to do that? Or is just regular plumbers acid paste good enough?

Regular plumbers flux is zinc chloride, at least the older stuff I use is, it was something that was done years ago if you didn't have any, but had the other two.

Soldering Radiator

showcrop

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37chief

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Mike M

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MikeJM

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showcrop

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Texasmark1

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ObsoElitist

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oldsarge

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ObsoElitist

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MikeJM

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