best way to solder the wsw tube back onto the wiper tab

[Michael L.]

Guys,

I need to re-solder the wsw tube back onto the tab on my wiper for my 69. I've looked into getting a jewelers torch but for this single job it may not be prudent to invest a couple of hundred dollars. I have a soldering gun and regular propane torches but wasn't sure they'd get the job done. Any advice?

Mike

[Dick W.]

Re: best way to solder the wsw tube back onto the wiper tab

Guys,

I need to re-solder the wsw tube back onto the tab on my wiper for my 69. I've looked into getting a jewelers torch but for this single job it may not be prudent to invest a couple of hundred dollars. I have a soldering gun and regular propane torches but wasn't sure they'd get the job done. Any advice?

Mike

Propane torch used with care. Proper preparation of the materials to be soldered together and tinning are very essential

[Terry M.]

Re: best way to solder the wsw tube back onto the wiper tab

Propane torch used with care. Proper preparation of the materials to be soldered together and tinning are very essential

Proper preparation means CLEAN, CLEAN, CLEAN. And a word to the wise: Keep the heat away from the windshield glass.

[Tom L.]

Re: best way to solder the wsw tube back onto the wiper tab

I used a torch like this to do mine this past summer. As others said surface preparation and appropriate solder and flux are important. I used plain old 50/50 solder and paste flux.

https://www.esslinger.com/pencil-butane-torch/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6-Sur6OV2gIVTyOBCh2MgwUUEAQYASABEgJwoPD_BwE

[Michael L.]

Re: best way to solder the wsw tube back onto the wiper tab

The solder job I did on this wsw tube didn't hold so I've been trying now for days to get this wsw tube soldered back on. I've been crazy meticulous about making sure it's clean and using flux but I just can't get it to stick to either the bracket or the brass tube. I'm on my third tube having burned through the first two. Is there a special kind of solder I can use? I've heard there is a 60/40 solder that's used for crafts like stained glass. Would that work better? What about brazing it? Is there a special technique to use? I've tried heating the bracket first and then dropping some solder in it then laying the tube in and topping it off with more solder. Nothing has worked. What kind of solder did they use at the factory? I can't believe that they fussed like I am to get this thing to work. Thanks for your assistance.

Mike

[Gary C.]

Re: best way to solder the wsw tube back onto the wiper tab

Anybody tried using JB Weld?

Gary
....

[Russ S.]

Re: best way to solder the wsw tube back onto the wiper tab

Wouldn't pass judging.

Anybody tried using JB Weld?

Gary
....

[Tom L.]

Re: best way to solder the wsw tube back onto the wiper tab

If you burned through the tube you're getting everything WAY TO HOT. Soft solder does not require the metal to get even close to cherry red which it would have to be in order to burn through a brass tube. At the temperature required to melt the tube you've also destroyed the flux rendering it useless. Since you have some scrap tubing to play with try flattening the tubes, cleaning them and SLOWLY heating them and practice soldering them together. As they heat up, which won't take long, touch the solder to the metal. When the heat of the metal, not the flame, melts the solder you know you're at the right temperature. Add only a little solder, you won't need much. If drops of solder are dripping off onto the bench something isn't right. Hope this helps and good luck!

[Eric F.]

Re: best way to solder the wsw tube back onto the wiper tab

I'd try using silver solder. As mentioned by others everything needs to be very clean, including the oil from hands. However, my best suggestion would be to take the items you want to solder to your local welding supply store and ask them what they would suggest. They would have the best information for the process once they can see materials you are trying to join. They will also more than likely give you a crash course on soldering the materials.
Eric

[Joe L.]

Re: best way to solder the wsw tube back onto the wiper tab

Wouldn't pass judging.

Russ------


Once painted, I don't know how anyone could discern the difference.

[Patrick H.]

Re: best way to solder the wsw tube back onto the wiper tab

Russ------


Once painted, I don't know how anyone could discern the difference.

Or, once painted you'd lose a point for Finish, since the tubes weren't painted on Day 1.

You can darken the brass rather than paint it, but that's a whole other discussion.
And yes, I think you could use an epoxy if you knew what you were doing.

[Michael L.]

Re: best way to solder the wsw tube back onto the wiper tab

Thanks for all the advice. For cleaning I blasted the surfaces and then wiped them down with wax and grease remover that I use for paint prep. For the tube finish I used the advice of someone when I asked previously about how to achieve the correct finish and I used brass black that I think worked really well achieving the correct color, and it clearly doesn't look painted since it isn't. With all my struggles to get it soldered some of the brass black was rubbed off but I can easily re-apply it. I realized I had gotten them too hot when I melted the tubes but that was after MULTIPLE attempts at lower temps with a small butane torch that wasn't working so out of frustration I stepped up to my propane torch which promptly melted the tubes. I have some limited experience sweating on copper pipe fittings so understand you want to heat the metal and let it melt the solder, not just melt the solder with the torch but everything I have tried failed. I think this is good to hash out for future guys who are having this difficulty, but I ultimately gave up and took it to my local radiator shop where they solder things all day long and they did it in five minutes for free. It looks pretty good, perhaps not exactly like the factory (too much solder in my opinion) but I'm satisfied with it.

Mike

wsw tube.jpg

[Owen L.]

Re: best way to solder the wsw tube back onto the wiper tab

Thumbs up! You should be able to file down some of the excess solder if you desire.

Just for discussion's sake, when soldering anything you need to have the metal up to solder-melting temperatures - as you already mentioned. The problem arises when you are working with different metals and/or masses. The arm bracket will have a much longer heat time than the brass tube because of its composition and the mass of the metal that must be heated; the arm acts as a heat-sink. Brass is a very good heat conductor and readily comes up to temp quickly - especially given the small tube's mass.

I believe I would have tried this in two steps: first heat the arm bracket and tin that with a coating of solder. Then place the flux-coated tube, reheat the assembly so the brass is to temp, and place a bit more solder to fix it in place. If it works as I expect, the newly placed solder on the tube will flow into the solder on the tinned arm bracket.

I've not done this task, but I'm an expert in all discussions I have on the internets!

[Michael L.]

Re: best way to solder the wsw tube back onto the wiper tab

Thanks Owen. I thought about trying to tweak the solder appearance, but decided against it because I've already invested way too much time and effort on this. I did try heating the tab first and laying down some solder, but I didn't do it in the staged way that you suggested. I layed down some molten solder and tried placing the tube in that but no luck. Perhaps your way would work. If I ever have to do this again I'll give it a try before I run to my local radiator shop.

Mike

[Owen L.]

Re: best way to solder the wsw tube back onto the wiper tab

If I ever have to do this again I'll give it a try before I run to my local radiator shop.

Mike

If I recall my '72's wipers, this is in my future... I'll remember the radiator shop success you had!