Twangcat

Greetings to the Forum. I'm trying to read all I possibly can related to lugged frame construction before I attempt my first build. I have a lot of questions but I keep finding answers so I'm only going to ask one for now.

In my internet travels I ran across muggyweld.com and in particular their SSF-6 silver soldering rods (a misnomer I suspect because the working temperature of the material is over 1200* F). Their online video demos of the product are, of course, quite compelling (https://muggyweld.com/steel/) as to its utility in all sorts of applications, and the claimed strength is 70,000 PSI. Natural curiosity has me wondering whether this stuff is suitable for silver brazing a lugged chromoly bike frame. I'd be grateful for anyone's opinion or personal experience with it in a bike frame application.

Thanks,

Cliff
Raleigh, NC

unterhausen

why that brand of silver in particular? Their approach to sales makes me really suspicious. Silvers used in bike frames are typically 56% or 45% silver. The 45% generally doesn't flow as well unless it has cadmium, which is a bad thing.

Twangcat

Thanks for your reply. I have no particular allegiance to the brand, just curious about it relative to bike frame construction. They do make a 56%, cadmium free product... Perhaps the link brought up something different. Regardless, I agree with your sentiment about their advertising. It seems a bit hyperbolic to me, which is why I wanted other expert opinions.

unterhausen

according to my browser, the only place they mention 56% was on the captions to the videos, which explains why I didn't see it. I see elsewhere you've decided to move on. I think your best bet is Cycle Design, although Henry James sells good stuff too. The local welding supply seems to be somewhat risky as a silver supplier (low fuming bronze too, for that matter). The only thing the LWS people around here know about brazing is related to air conditioning work, so they may well steer you wrong. Otherwise I'm a big fan of going to the LWS.