Soldering Stainless steel - Page 77

**BargainFittings** · 02-03-2012, 01:14 PM

I encountered the same issue when I ordered the reducing coupling. It was slightly bigger than the OD of our 1/2" NPT couplings.

My solution was to measure my OD of the coupling with a caliper and made a mark on the reducing coupling where I wanted to stop pulling it through.

**l3asturd** · 02-03-2012, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BargainFittings

I encountered the same issue when I ordered the reducing coupling. It was slightly bigger than the OD of our 1/2" NPT couplings.

My solution was to measure my OD of the coupling with a caliper and made a mark on the reducing coupling where I wanted to stop pulling it through.

I did that exact thing this morning and have successfully converted my boil kettle to soldered fittings. Thanks again Joe and Wayne.

By the way, bargainfittings.com is awesome, I just spent another $140 there today. I may have a problem.

Still have a little cleaning but it turned out well. Practiced with 2 sacrificial couplers on some scrap stainless before I attempted this one.

And yes, this wasn't the ideal place to put a valve, right over the hole in the bottom of the kettle. Wish I would have read about that before a I drilled a year ago.

**BargainFittings** · 02-03-2012, 10:00 PM

Stuff some foil in the hole

**DustBow** · 02-06-2012, 02:30 PM

Is this correct product?: http://www.amazon.com/Stevens-International-SBSK-Silver-Solder/dp/B0015H6JYS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328541994&sr=8-1
thanks
--Dusty

**l3asturd** · 02-06-2012, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DustBow

Is this correct product?: Amazon.com

thanks
--Dusty

How many connections are you doing? What type of connections? Do you plan on practicing first? If you're dimpling coulings in, you might only get a few connections done with that kit. It's the right stuff it's just very small. Although I'll admit the 1lb roll of solder i bought is overkill. But was only $20. The pint of flux was $17. Lifetime supply I suppose.

**DustBow** · 02-06-2012, 07:01 PM

Not sure yet, would definitely be a good idea to practice a couple first before anything on my BK. I found a link in this thread for a kit from Home Depot too. I just wanted to make sure this was the right stuff - I have gift cards to Amazon from Christmas so anything brewing related I can find there is "free"

**Bobby_M** · 02-06-2012, 07:41 PM

The half ounce kit at $14 is not so bad considering the full pound is $80+

**l3asturd** · 02-06-2012, 09:04 PM

Here's the stuff I used to solder. I paid just over $40 total for both. After practicing twice on the scrap stainless I had, I was ready to try it on my boil kettle. Turned out great.

Here's everything I used from drilling the holes to finishing the solder. The only thing not pictured is 40 grit black sand paper.

Here's how I held the kettle to keep the dimple as level as possible to the solder wouldn't want to wander while molten.

I dimpled the coupling from the outside in. Used one wrap of solder around the OD of the coupling, heating for about 30 seconds from the INSIDE of the keg, then let cool for 15 minutes before cleaning with the same flux.

I also plan on re-applying Barkeepers Friend to everything before I use this kettle again.

**forcabrew** · 02-09-2012, 02:10 PM

Wow after 2 days straight reading this thread and watching nostalgia's great video I am going to start practicing my soldering. I'm in the middle of my first all grain electric build with all weldless fittings and hope that soon enough my soldering will be good enough to use on my keggles. Great thread with tons of information. Thanks all

**BargainFittings** · 02-09-2012, 03:33 PM

This will test how good my soldering skills are with my fermentation vessel triclover setup.