You can get a Sievert/Goss porpane/air torch that will make the biggest O/A
rosebud you have look like a joke as far as BTU/s go.
I've done silver braising work with both O/A and propane and I'd take the
propane any day. Theses ain't some wimpy 'Bernz-o-matic' thingies on the end
of a can you hold in your hand,. Were talking serious torch here, I've seen
some of these 'weed burners' with 6 inch bell that will put out some serious
heat. The trouble with O/A is it's way too hot but dosen't have the BTU's.

I certianly agree with Dan on the sil-phos approch to copper. I build copper
boilers for 1/8 scale live steam. Were talking serious copper here, 6 or 8
inch Schedule 40, 4 or 5 feet long, with 20+ 3/4 inch flues and 10 pounds
of copper bar in the mud ring, theres a LOT of mass to keep hot.. My local
welding supply house has a Uniweld product UNI-1000 that I use. Same deal as
Sil-phos, 0% silver, %7Phosphorus, %93 Copper.. The stuff is magic on
Copper, no flux, runs like water at 1470 deg.. Works on close joints too
(.001 inch). The nice thing is after the first hydro, when you find the
leaks, you don't have to pickle and flux it, ya just heat it up again and go
in with the rod. I've also done traditional Silver braising work building
up 'weldmenst' out of brass or steal for things like cylinders etc using
high content silver %65-%75.. stick with the Propane, you'll be happier in
the long run.

Dave


"michael" wrote in message
...
Robert Swinney wrote:
Agreed, Jim! O/A is the way to go for silver soldering. You may have to
"tailor" the flame a bit and keep it moving on small parts, but the
technique is easily learned.

Bob Swinney
"jim rozen" wrote in message
...

In article , Dave August
says...


The best choice for Silver Soldering/Braising is a propane torch.

I've never had much luck with air/propane on anything other than
tiny pieces. I would actually recomend O/A for anthing larger than
about one cubic inch of material.

Jim


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Oxy/propane works well. I've not used much acetylene since trying out
propane. The lower heat is an inconvenience sometimes, but usually not too
big a deal.

buckshot