Work Holding with Sacrificial Nut and Bolt

[editor@glue-it.com]

Very simple work holding with a sacrificial nut and bolt. When silver soldering you don’t want your best engineers clamps in the path of a blow torch. Also, you don’t want the thermal mass of a large clamp.

I often have this problem and resort to a piece of wire that wraps around and is twisted tight. Or I try to balance a fire brick on top to hold it all together. The other option is to use a mechanical joint as well such as a rivet. However, sometimes these are not great options for other reasons.



Even after heating this to 650°C the bolts came apart very easily



I know this is a bit mundane, but sometimes we all need a prod to get us thinking outside of the box.

[mklotz]

Mundane or not, it's an excellent technique

When constructing model engine "solderments", it's not unusual to hold the parts together with brass screws for soldering and then mill away the exposed part of the screw after soldering. Done carefully the join is undetectable.

[katy]

I don't get it, what are you soldering? (Sometimes the obvious goes right over my head.)

[DIYer]

Thanks editor@glue-it.com! We've added your Silver Soldering Clamp to our Clamps category,
as well as to your builder page: editor@glue-it.com's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Silver Soldering Clamp by editor@glue-it.com

tags: soldering, clamp

[editor@glue-it.com]

I don't get it, what are you soldering? (Sometimes the obvious goes right over my head.)

Hi Katy, this is a small brass dish made from flat sheet and I'm soldering the flange on the sides together, plus I'm soldering the base in. The tube is for a supply of liquid into the dish. The bolts are temporarily holding the flange together and thus clamping and locking the base plate as well whilst I silver solder (650°C). Hope this helps

[katy]

Thanks, that makes sense, still smilin', Ken

[wombat50]

Yes, I was also wondering what was actually being soldered?

[wombat50]

Sorry, only saw your concise explanation after posting my question 🤗

[editor@glue-it.com]

Sorry, only saw your concise explanation after posting my question ��

ah, sometimes pictures are not 1000 words

[mklotz]

ah, sometimes pictures are not 1000 words

How true! A picture of the word "word" would only be worth a single word.