I need to do some filling on a bumper. The chrome polishers gave me a rod to do it which Ive used on 4 or 5 smaller holes, but I have a bit of a whopper that’s going to take a whole rod or two. I’ve prepped it but need to go and buy some rods.

Where should I be looking? Local auto factors has come up with zip, and halfords only have arc rods or mig wire.

Ceeway?

Im thinking more what kind of shop/”high street” branch that I can nip to on the motorbike.

Would brazing not be better?

as long as it’s a filler that will take polishing & chroming (i.e. brass) then I suppose so. What’s the difference between silver solder and brazing?

Oh, and I’m using butane so nothing that needs Oxy.

I’ve managed to do some it with the silver solder so want to stick to what I know for now.

Local blacksmiths? There’s a couple in Malvern, might be worth a ring?

01684 569298 – Howsell Rd

01531 640508 – Bosbury

01684 573848 – Upper Chase Rd

was going to try Morgans at Barnards Green.
I’ll ring around,
ta

Any company selling welding kit (proper stuff not machine mart) will stock it dont forget flux as well also some pipe suppliers have it for steam pipes

unfortunately all the welding supply shops are further afield and I havent got the time to drive that far.
I will have to order online and wait on a delivery and do it this weekend I guess.

Nothing at the Morgan Blacksmiths either Stevie.

Cromwells in Blackpole have it listed in the catalogue:
https://www.cromwell.co.uk/shop/welding-brazing-and-soldering/flux-and-solder/1-5mm-silverflo-55-silversolder-stick/p/JMY8754530R

01905458778

aye, but I dont have time to go to the big city, Ive got to pick the kids up from school soon 🙁

If you’d posted up earlier I could have got a couple delivered to work for you to collect today as we have a daily delivery from them. 😐

I was thinking of doing a paging thread 🙂

PS EDIT

Stevie,

why is this
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/55-Silver-Flux-Coated-Brazing-Silver-Solder-Rod-x-250mm-/201576803270?hash=item2eeee9ebc6:g:NS4AAOSwFNZWuHaB

half the price of this?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-5mm-Dia-Silver-Flo-302-Flux-Coated-Silver-Brazing-Solder-per-stick-A212137-/182124504628?hash=item2a67776634:g:D4QAAOSwBLlVXai0

Dunno.. 😳

ah, well, will order a stash and make a mess this weekend. Might need to pack the hole with a nut or the bumper’s going to be 50% silver by the end 😀

Price difference is easy 🙂

1mm vs 1.5mm diameter is more than twice the cross section (Pi x r squared and all that)

Hence twice volume, hence twice the silver, hence twice the price…….

Brass will need a lot more heat, so less chance of distortion with silver. Silver is very “runny” so sometimes harder to build up thickness.

cheers mick.
I guessed something as much, but it didnt say 1mm on the cheaper one.

Anyway, I bought a handful as I have a fair amount to fill.
Lets see what kind of mess I can make with it!

It said 1mm later in the text 🙂

You probably already know but mix the flux into a paste and apply over a much bigger area – will keep everything cleaner / less heat discoloured.

When the flux goes clear, it is almost ready for silver – just needs a fairly faint reddish / orange tinge to the base metal for the correct temperature. If you get it too hot the flux will char and need cleaning off / starting again.

It will run towards the hottest bit so use that to draw it around where you want it to go.

Once cooled, a quick douse or soak in boiling water will get rid of most flux and nasties.

cheers mick

Another prime example of the skills/knowledge available on STW – ace!