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Posted

I’m looking for advice in joining small metal components, similar to the nut and bolt sculptures you see online (https://www.google.com/search?q=sculptures%20with%20nuts%20and%20bolts&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b-m), but I’m using some slightly larger components e.g. hinges, brackets etc. The components are steel (not stainless), aluminium and brass. Some are old and corroded, others are brand new. 

Cost is starting to be an issue as I’ve had a number of failed tries. So far I’m limited to using a soldering iron and a butane blow torch, what I had available and what was low cost, have tried soldering (does not adhere), tried brazing (cannot get a high enough temperature. Not sure if I should try silver solder, this is what tutorials for nut and bolt sculptures advise but given soldering had zero success I’m doubting this. 

What will work? What is suitable? Do I need to go to welding? Is there some welding solution that is reasonable cost, small scale and can be used indoors (no access to a workshop or outdoor space)?

Posted

Good Morning Garretttt

You NEED to start by putting your locale/area for making a shadow, in your avatar. Then we can suggest someplace loco/local to you. Asking this question, here, will get you no positive answer. It sounds like you need someone to weld something together for you. some dissimilar metals won't weld.

Neil

Posted
On 12/11/2024 at 1:19 PM, Garrett44 said:

The components are steel (not stainless), aluminium and brass. Some are old and corroded, others are brand new. 

Joining dissimilar metals is sometimes tricky. If you are soldering or brazing then surface preparation is paramount.  You must have a clean, unoxidized surface to have a chance there.  The right flux helps a lot.   However, if you are not having much success with those methods you should be thinking about mechanical connections, such as the pop rivets mentioned above.   You could also make your own rivets from bolts or round stock of the appropriate metal and peen them into place (if the rivets are small enough and you can support the bottom side while hammering on the top).  Beyond that you can be creative and use wire wrapping or other techniques.  If done well, it may even enhance the artistic impression of the piece.

Generally speaking, you can't weld steel to aluminum or brass.  As I understand it, this can be accomplished with explosive welding techniques, but that is typically done with flat sheets of metal - and of course requires knowledge and skill in using explosives properly.

Another thing to keep in mind is that dissimilar metals in contact with each other will often experience corrosion due to galvanic activity at the site where they meet.  This is especially true if they will be exposed to moisture, even high humidity.

Posted

  Nuts, bolts and other fasteners are usually galvanized or chrome plated or worse, so use caution.   A mapp gas torch will allow you to get smaller parts hot enough to silver solder and braze, not to mention brazing with brass.  Documentation is available on the internet.  Someday you will be tig welding things and never looking back. 

   You can also use mechanical fasteners as mentioned.  Where there's a will there's a way:

https://www.beautifullife.info/art-works/edouard-martinets-insect-sculptures/

Posted

Welcome aboard Garret, glad to have you. If you put your general location in the header you'll have a much better chance of meeting up with a member for some hands on help.

That is WAY too vague a question to get much of a good answer and your google search link is a black hole of nothing useful. 

How about a cut and paste picture of what you want to do. Remember to reduce the file size IFI has a size limit, I find a couple k max is plenty to let folks see what you're showing. 

Frosty The Lucky.

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