I've got a brass lampshade where the neck is connected to the body, but it sustained some damage during shipping. I have an electronics soldering iron and some flux-core electrical solder, so I'm wondering if that's enough to fix it. Should I be looking for a special type of solder or soldering iron? What techniques should I use? I'm a bit out of my depth here, so any advice would be greatly appreciated! Also, I've added a picture of the current state of the joint here: [IMAGE](https://imgur.com/a/uizPiH7).
3 Answers
It sounds like you might be better off using brazing instead of traditional soldering. Brazing requires higher temperatures and can provide a stronger joint, which is crucial for something like a lampshade. Just keep in mind that brass will absorb heat quickly, so you'll need a more powerful soldering iron for this job. If you go that route, consider a soldering iron with a larger tip for deeper heat penetration. Alternatively, you could use a strong structural adhesive which might work well too! If it can hold a car fender, it should be good enough for a lamp.
If the joint is structural, consider using silver solder instead of regular hardware store solder. It does require more heat, but it will create a very strong bond, comparable to welding! You can typically find silver solder sold by the foot online, and it's worth the investment for durability!
Would this kind of silver solder do? [Link](https://www.amazon.com.au/Lead-Free-Silvergleem-Solder-Wire/dp/B002E1O9L4)
Most likely, the original solder is lead-based, so you can use lead-based electrical solder if you have it. However, for this type of project, you definitely need a heavier-duty soldering iron because the brass will suck all the heat away before you can actually melt the solder. If you have a soldering iron that looks more like a gun, that could help. Also, don't overlook structural adhesives – they can be a great alternative for this kind of repair!
I’ve got a two-part epoxy that’s similar to modeling putty. Would that be considered structural adhesive too?
Yeah, I actually have a bigger soldering iron that might do the trick, but I'm worried about damaging the lampshade further if I mess it up. Do you think epoxy would absolutely work as an option?