Chris_R
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| posted on 30/10/04 at 09:51 PM |
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Soldering fuel tanks
Just out of interest, has anyone soldered a tank together?
Cheers,
Chris.
A bit of slapstick never hurt anyone.
http://www.chris.renney.dsl.pipex.com/
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Mark Allanson
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| posted on 30/10/04 at 10:18 PM |
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I welded mine, I think you would be ok with copper or brass, but you would really struggle with mild steel
If you can keep you head, whilst all others around you are losing theirs, you are not fully aware of the situation
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Hellfire
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| posted on 30/10/04 at 10:54 PM |
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I've found soldering very unsuccesful, especially on plastic. It either runs off, or through the material you're trying to solder.
I've not attempted trying to solder aluminium as welding seems a better practise.
Using brass or copper would cost the earth and weigh down the rear of the car, but would no doubt be succesfully soldered.
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Chippy
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| posted on 30/10/04 at 10:59 PM |
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Soldering
It actualy works quite well. The trick is to tin all the surfaces that you are going to join first, and then solder together. Tinmans solder gives the
best results, as it is very hard. One advantage is that as you use a great deal less heat, you do not get the distortion that welding gives. Way back
all fuel tanks were soldered, mind you I am talking of WAY, WAY back.
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Chris_R
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| posted on 30/10/04 at 11:34 PM |
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Was Interested to see what everyone thought as I bought The Car Builders Manual today (foreword by Uncle Ron) which suggests using solder to patch
steel tanks with a large electric iron, or when fabricating them from scratch using a gas blow torch. It also recommends 20 swg if you're making
your tank from steel or 16 swg if you use alu.
A bit of slapstick never hurt anyone.
http://www.chris.renney.dsl.pipex.com/
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Hugh Paterson
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| posted on 31/10/04 at 09:39 AM |
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Suppose you could always try yer hand at brazing it in lieu of solder, once again less heat than welding, works a treat on thin tinplate strong joint
too.
Shug.
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mangogrooveworkshop
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| posted on 31/10/04 at 11:01 AM |
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Considering what it carrys I will go with the stainless glued together by shug with his super trooper tig.....
Steve keep up the good work keeping shug practicing.
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MikeRJ
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| posted on 1/11/04 at 11:58 PM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Mark Allanson
I welded mine, I think you would be ok with copper or brass, but you would really struggle with mild steel
Did you MIG it or use gas?
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Mark Allanson
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| posted on 2/11/04 at 07:48 PM |
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I used MIG, I used it very hot to avoid any leaks, I got a little distortion, but not enough to worry about. I love using sexy ahotalene, but I
don't have the kit anymore, rentals got too expensive for occasional use. We don't even have it at work now!
If you can keep you head, whilst all others around you are losing theirs, you are not fully aware of the situation
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Hugh Jarce
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| posted on 6/11/04 at 03:05 AM |
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I used to frequently solder up cracks in my BSA and CCM MX tanks. I would first empty out any petrol and then purge the tank by holding the neck over
the end of the exhaust of a running car for a few minutes.
I would then solder with tinman's and a blowlamp. Always worked perfectly on steel tanks. The aluminium ones were also soldered using some
sticks of trick stuff who's name I can't remember.
The pay isn't very good , but the work's hard.
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